Sustainable, Responsible and Impact Investing Designation Now Available From College for Financial Planning

CENTENNIAL, Colo., Oct. 09, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Chartered SRI Counselor™ (CSRIC™) designation, a groundbreaking certification in the fast-growing field of sustainable, responsible and impact investing (SRI), is now available from the College for Financial Planning (CFFP).

Acclaim for the new CFFP program – developed in collaboration with industry-group leader US SIF: The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment – has been swift and widespread, indicating a strong demand for the designation among innovative financial planners and corporate partners.

The seven modules in the new chartered counselor program move from the Foundations and History of SRI through Portfolio Construction, ESG Performance and Risk, Fiduciary Standards, and Future Opportunities. As in other CFFP courses and designations, planners will acquire new skills through a combination of live classes, video on demand and online material and testing.

“As an industry innovator for over 45 years, we’re gratified to see the tremendous response to the creation of the Chartered SRI Counselor designation and are proud to be the first to offer a program in this dynamic, cutting-edge field,” said CFFP President Dirk Pantone. “We’re excited to extend our reach as a trusted resource in financial planning, alongside great partners like US SIF.”

Creation of the new coursework with a respected partner puts education innovator CFFP at the forefront of change and growth in personal investing. More than 20 percent of assets under professional management in the United States – over $8.7 trillion – are now involved in sustainable, responsible and impact (SRI) strategies, according to US SIF.

“The new course will help meet the increasing demand for expertise in sustainable, responsible and impact investing, coming from both institutional and retail investors,” said Lisa Woll, CEO of US SIF. “The designation is a key way for advisors to demonstrate expertise to clients. The take-up of the designation will also create an expectation that financial professionals become educated about sustainable and responsible investing.”          

Additional information on the CSRIC™ designation launch and interviews with the program’s creators are available upon request. More information about CFFP can be found at www.cffp.edu/CSRIC, or by calling 1-800-237-9990.

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 65,000 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 155,000 students have graduated from the College’s programs. For more information, visit cffp.edu.

About US SIF: The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment

US SIF: The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment is the leading voice advancing sustainable, responsible and impact investing across all asset classes. Its mission is to rapidly shift investment practices toward sustainability, focusing on long-term investment and the generation of positive social and environmental impacts. US SIF members include investment management and advisory firms, mutual fund companies, asset owners, research firms, financial planners and advisors, broker-dealers, community investing organizations and nonprofit organizations.

US SIF is supported in its work by the US SIF Foundation, a 501(C)(3) organization that undertakes educational, research and programmatic activities to advance the mission of US SIF, including offering training on the Fundamentals of Sustainable and Impact Investment. The 9^th Annual US SIF Conference will be held in Minneapolis June 10-12, 2019.  The biennial Report on US Sustainable, Responsible and Impact Investing Trends will be published on October 31^st.