Congratulations Trey! – What's with all the C's?

Congratulations Trey! – What's with all the C's?

Great news! Happy and proud to announce that Trey Gevers has passed the CFP® exam! His achievement is even more notable in that the CFP Board recommends 18–24 months of study time to prepare for the rigorous seven-hour exam. Trey started last fall and successfully completed the coursework and the exam in about 9 months.

We have 3 "C" certifications held by advisors at our firm: CFP®, CFA®, CPWA®. Here's what they mean for you.

CFP® (Certified Financial Planner)

CFP® professionals take a holistic, personalized approach to bring all the pieces of your financial life together. They have made a commitment to act as a fiduciary when providing financial advice — meaning they put your best interests first.

The designation requires: completing coursework through a CFP Board Registered Program, holding a bachelor's degree or higher, and passing a rigorous 7-hour exam covering Estate Planning, Risk & Insurance, Investment Planning, General Financial Principles, Retirement Planning, and Income Tax Planning. The historical pass rate is in the high 50% to low 60% range.

CFA® (Chartered Financial Analyst)

The CFA is a globally-recognized designation given by the CFA Institute that measures and certifies the competence and integrity of financial analysts. Candidates are required to pass three levels of exams covering accounting, economics, ethics, money management, and security analysis. Each exam is offered only once per year, so the total program takes at least three years. From 1963 to mid-2022, only about 11% of candidates who started the program ultimately passed all three levels.

CFA charterholders have comprehensive training in financial analysis, security selection, and portfolio construction and management.

CPWA® (Certified Private Wealth Advisor)

The CPWA certification is designed for wealth managers who work with high-net-worth individuals. It focuses on advanced planning strategies for affluent clients, including tax planning, estate planning, and alternative investments. The program requires at least five years of professional experience working with high-net-worth clients and passing a comprehensive exam.

Together, these three credentials represent a depth of expertise in financial planning, investment management, and wealth strategy that we believe makes a meaningful difference for our clients. We are proud of Trey's accomplishment!