College for Financial Planning Unveils New Program for Advanced Investments

CENTENNIAL, CO--(Marketwired - Feb 24, 2015) - Seasoned financial advisors can now expand their knowledge of advanced and alternative investments through the College for Financial Planning's (CFFP) new Advanced Investment Product Advisor(SM) or AIPA(SM) program, which will launch on February 26^th.

The AIPA(SM) program caters to experienced advisors who are newer to advanced and alternative investments. The course will fill a knowledge gap for these advisors by providing a thorough overview of a dozen of the most commonly used advanced investment products, such as hedge funds, private equities, commodities, distressed debt, master limited partnerships, and real estate investment trusts. These products have gained popularity among top financial firms, and many of them requested a program addressing this ever-growing genre of investments.

"Advanced investments have grown in popularity with the average investor over the past decade because they can diversify risk exposure and enhance a portfolio's total returns," said CFFP president John Sears. "We want to educate financial advisors so that they can credibly recommend advanced investments to their clients for new, different, and potentially more successful investment strategies."

Jason Hovde, Sr. Director of Certification Programs, commented, "With the explosion in the number of advanced investment products available to the investing public, we felt it was critical to develop a designation program that would provide advisors with the knowledge needed to analyze and truly understand all the moving parts and more complicated structures of these products."

The course is divided into four modules: Investment Companies; Real Assets; Complex Equity and Fixed Income Products; and Structured Products. Enrollment will begin on February 26^th with online classes beginning on May 5^th. It will be delivered via CFFP's exclusive, online MyChoice learning platform, and is worth three graduate semester credit hours and up to 45 hours of continuing education credit with some organizations. Enrollment costs $1180, and students are expected to be able to complete their studies within nine to 11 weeks.

CFFP strongly encourages applicants to have an existing credential -- such as the AAMS^®, AWMA^®, ChFC^®, CIMA^®, CFP^® -- or advanced FINRA licensing prior to enrollment.

Visit the following web page for more information on AIPA(SM): http://www.cffpinfo.com/aipa/

About the College for Financial Planning
Founded in 1972, the College for Financial Planning provides accessible and flexible degree, non-degree, and continuing professional education programs to students nationwide. Shortly after its founding, the College introduced the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification, which has evolved into the world's most recognized and respected financial planning credential, with more than 60,000 professionals in the U.S. having earned the credential.

In addition to its CFP Certification Professional Education Program, the College offers two graduate degree programs that provide more in-depth knowledge of the finance industry. Professional designation programs are also available, with specializations ranging from asset management to retirement planning. The College for Financial Planning is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association. More than 140,000 students have graduated from the College's programs. For more information, visit www.cffpinfo.com.