Profitable 2020: Top 10 Financial Certifications for Your Career Boost

The financial credentials validate the professionals’ skills and expertise in specific areas of the financial industry. For those individuals who want to enhance their career prospects in 2020 or take up a job role in the field of finance, it is essential to consider adding one or two of these certifications to their resume. However, getting one requires some work. In most cases, you will be required to pass an exam and complete some coursework. In addition to this, adherence to the professional ethics standards is also a prerequisite to maintain these certificates. Many of them require that you earn the Continuing Education Units (CEUs) in order to sustain their validity. Although the process of obtaining these certifications is rigorous, the reward you get by earning them are worth the investment you put in.

No doubt, there are various financial certifications in the industry but you need to choose the best one to be able to explore all the career options available to you. Therefore, in this blog post, we will share some of the best credentials to explore when looking to expand your skill set and improve your worth in the marketplace in 2020.

1. Certified Public Accountant or CPA

This certificate is aimed at the financial analysts, accountants, and tax preparers. It is one of the most recognized and widely accepted financial credentials in the field. It is administered by the AICPA (the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants). To earn it, a candidate is required to pass one test that consists of four 4-hour sections. This exam is rigorous and requires adequate preparation to ace it at the first attempt. The professionals with the CPA badge have the relevant skills in providing financial advices related to organizing investments and minimizing taxes.

2. Certified Financial Planner or CFP

The specialists with this certification are highly knowledgeable in various subjects across the financial domain. They have the skills required to evaluate the full financial portfolio of their clients and they can offer customized financial plans after this evaluation. To obtain the CFP credential, you have to go through the course before passing the exam with two 3-hour sessions.

3. Chartered Financial Consultant or ChFC

This is also one of the top financial credentials to consider for your career growth in 2020. It was designed as a good alternative to the Chartered Financial Planner certification. The individuals with this badge have the capacity to work in a niche market such as small business financial planning and divorce financial planning. To get the ChFC certificate, the applicants have to go through the 14-month course offered by the American College of Financial Services. After this training, they will be tested on the knowledge they have gained.

4. Financial Risk Manager or FRM

The professionals with the FRM credential are the risk management specialists. They work mostly as the risk analysts in banks. They also work with the private individuals who want to get investment advices. Earning this certificate requires that you pass two eight-hour parts of the exam, which is administered by the GARP.

5. Chartered Financial Analyst or CFA

A chartered financial analyst is a seasoned expert in security and investment. The CFA certification is offered by the CFA Institute and is regarded as the most recognized and respected investment management credential in the world. To obtain it, a candidate is required to develop competence in ten investment topics and pass three levels of the exam. The CFA certified professionals usually take up the job role of investment managers.

6. Chartered Investment Counselor or CIC

This certificate is intended for those specialists who work in the field of portfolio management and investment counseling. To get this badge, you must work in the Investment Adviser Association and possess a minimum of five years of experience. You also need to have professional and character references and should have worked as a fiduciary in the course of your career.

7. Certified Management Accountant or CMA

The individuals with this certification are highly experienced in management accounting. They work in the corporate organizations and are not so much involved in private accounting practices. These specialists have the relevant skills both in management and accounting and they have the capacity to make highly strategic financial decisions in the businesses. To obtain the CMA credential, you must deal with two parts of the exam that has 6 different domains each. It is important to mention that this test is administered by the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA).

8. Chartered Life Underwriter or CLU

Thia is one of the best financial certificates for the insurance agents. The professionals with CLU have competence in estate planning, risk management, and life insurance. To earn this certificatin, an individual has to go through eight courses offered by the American College of Financial Services. It is also important to mention that there is no exam required to get this badge.

9. Chartered Mutual Fund Counselor or CMFC

This credential is designed for those candidates who have the relevant skills in mutual fund management. The CMFC certificate requires that the learners complete the year-long training course and pass the prerequisite exam that is offered by the College for Financial Planning.

10. Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst or CAIA

The specialists with this sought-after certification manage alternate investments such as hedge funds and real assets. To earn it, you have to go through the charter program offered by the CAIA Association. The program requires your full understanding of the content so that you will be able to pass the associated exam. You will be awarded the CAIA credential after the completion of all the requirements.

Conclusion

Now you know the top 10 financial certifications that you can explore to boost your career in 2020. It is important to mention that these credentials are for the IT and non-IT professionals. This means that if you are working in the field of Information Technology and are looking for a financial certificate for the IT specialists, you can explore the options highlighted above. You can find the details of these badges on their official pages.