FSCP® | Foundational Financial Services Training program cb27 program banner FSCP Financial Services Certified Professional Best For Professionals seeking foundational financial planning, product, and prospecting knowledge. Complete In As Few as Four Months Format Get foundational knowledge in building and managing a financial services practice with our self-paced, online curriculum and support from the nation’s preeminent financial planning thought leaders. See FAQs 100% Online Tuition Starting at $695/course Enroll Now Request Info Request More Information Provide us with your information and we will get back to you with additional details. cb19 icon list Build a Foundation for Success Acquire Financial Services Acumen Learn how to run a financial services practice from the bottom up and chart a path toward future success. Shape Your Own Education Choose from electives on insurance, retirement planning, wealth management, and more to meet your professional goals. Flexible Learning Options Chart your own course and complete the program on your schedule with our 100% online education. cb12 repeater Foundational Knowledge for Career Success Tour the Program Now Join one of the program’s successful alums, Fatima Williams, FSCP , for a video tour of the FSCP Program. Take a Tour cb28 program tabs FSCP Program Overview Enroll Now Take a Tour Admissions Requirements There are no prerequisite courses required to begin the FSCP Program. To meet the program’s requirements and receive the FSCP designation, you must: 1. Successfully complete five courses (three core courses and two electives) 2. Pass each course’s final exam with a score of 70% or higher 3. Agree to comply with The American College Code of Ethics and Procedures Participation in the annual Professional Recertification Program (PRP) is required to maintain the designation. What You'll Learn The FSCP Program offers a 360-degree curriculum for running a financial services practice, with an emphasis on product knowledge, prospecting and marketing, and business planning principles. Your learning outcomes of launching your career in financial services include: Fundamental financial services knowledge and skills Proven prospecting and marketing strategies to build new relationships Practical experience uncovering client needs Foundational business planning for a growing practice Applicable knowledge on a wide range of financial products Course Delivery Complete the five-course curriculum at your own pace and customize it to your personal and professional interests. Our program features: Powerful curriculum covering current trends and market realities, like social media, inflation, recession, and regulatory constraints 100% e-learning providing busy working professionals a structured, yet flexible platform to earn their designation in under 12 months Personalized course options that offer program flexibility tailored to your professional goals All-Online Resources : All-virtual lessons organized in sequential units and supported by short videos, knowledge checks, quizzes, and case studies. Flexible Start Dates : Courses start the first Monday of each month and are accompanied by a “welcome” unit which is available two weeks before your start date. Register up to a month before or as late as two weeks after the course has started. Grading : Earn a final course grade of 70% or higher to pass, and quizzes count toward your final grades. Testing : There is no high-stakes final cumulative exam in the FSCP® Program; each course features its own exams, quizzes, and knowledge checks. Enroll Now Take a Tour cb30 tab content Tuition and Course Overview Single Courses Starting at $695 Courses to Complete Five (three core and two electives) Tuition Single Courses: Just $695 per course Single courses in the FSCP® Program are only $695 each. To complete the full program, complete five courses (three required, two electives of your choice). Eligible courses include: FP 99 Foundations of Financial Planning (REQUIRED) — Provides an overview of the major planning areas that financial professionals need to understand when serving clients. FA 200 Techniques for Prospecting: Prospect or Perish (REQUIRED) — Teaches advisors industry-proven methods for successfully identifying, selecting, and approaching prospects for financial products and services. FA 203 Essentials for Meeting Client Needs (REQUIRED) — Guides professionals in examining the retirement planning process. FA 222 Essentials of Insurance and Financial Needs (ELECTIVE) — Provides multiline agents with strategies for helping clients obtain the various insurance and other financial products they need. FA 257 Essentials of Life Insurance Products (ELECTIVE) — Provides an overview of the two basic types of life insurance policies — term and whole life — as well as their many variations. HS 300 Fundamentals of Financial Planning (ELECTIVE) — Provides an overview of the financial planning process. HS 323 The Tools and Techniques of Life Insurance Planning (ELECTIVE) — Focuses on life insurance policies and annuities and their use in financial planning. RICP 353 Retirement Income Process, Strategies and Solutions (ELECTIVE) — Covers the process of creating an effective retirement income plan, including evaluating client goals, possible risks, and overall management strategies. WMCP 360 Introduction to Goal-Based Planning (ELECTIVE) — Introduces goal-based wealth management through a theoretical framework guided by the life-cycle model of optimal investing, borrowing, and protection. FA 200 Techniques for Prospecting: Prospect or Perish (Required) Teaches advisors industry-proven methods for successfully identifying, selecting, and approaching prospects for financial products and services. Upon completion of this course, you’ll be able to: Identify procedures for creating prospect awareness Target marketing concepts Create prospect qualification and prioritization techniques Overcome the psychological barriers to prospecting Innovative approaches to setting income and activity goals Consider strategic, tactical, and operational business planning FA 203 Essentials for Meeting Client Needs (Required) Guides professionals in examining the retirement planning process. Upon completion of this course, you’ll be able to: Utilize fact-finding, methods of analyzing facts, retirement planning software, and sales tracking Discuss the role of Social Security, Medicare, and tax policies in retirement planning Understand various accumulation vehicles such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, life insurance, and annuities Explain how retirement planning creates estate planning needs and addresses payout options, spousal benefits, and investment strategies. FP 99 Foundations of Financial Planning (Required) Provides an overview of the major planning areas that financial professionals need to understand when serving clients. Upon completion of this course, you’ll be able to: List the most common financial needs and the financial products used to address them Understand the big picture needed to effectively offer financial products and services that are consistent with clients’ overall financial situation and needs FA 222 Essentials of Insurance and Financial Needs (Elective) Provides multiline agents with strategies for helping clients obtain the various insurance and other financial products they need. Upon completion of this course, you’ll be able to: Establish need Gather and analyze information Develop recommendations for products, including disability income insurance, life insurance, long-term care insurance, mutual funds, and annuities Understand concepts of retirement and estate planning FA 257 Essentials of Life Insurance Products (Elective) Provides an overview of the two basic types of life insurance policies — term and whole life — as well as their many variations. Upon completion of this course, you’ll be able to: Understand and identify all variations of life insurance products Comprehend the personal, family, and business uses of life insurance products Grasp policy illustrations, cost comparison methods, and income and estate taxation, Confront ethical issues facing the financial advisor HS 300 Fundamentals of Financial Planning (Elective) Provides an overview of the financial planning process. Upon completion of this course, you’ll be able to: Demonstrate an understanding of and apply the steps of the financial planning process Differentiate between various communication techniques used by advisors Utilize the various financial planning approaches to provide actionable recommendations Review personal financial statements and perform financial statement analysis Build a foundation in quantitative techniques and basic economic concepts Apply education planning and funding techniques to help clients achieve their goals Review and apply the ethics of personal financial planning within various frameworks This course is a bridge to the CFP® Certification Education and Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) Programs. HS 323 The Tools and Techniques of Life Insurance Planning (Elective) Focuses on life insurance policies and annuities and their use in financial planning. Upon completion of this course, you’ll be able to: Understand individual insurance products Examine the organization, operations, and investments of insurance companies Determine how to advise based on client need Have a better understanding of insurance reserves regulation Integrate tools and strategies for annuities This course is a bridge to the Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®) Program. RICP 353 Retirement Income Process, Strategies and Solutions (Elective) Covers the process of creating an effective retirement income plan, including evaluating client goals, possible risks, and overall management strategies. Upon completion of this course, you’ll be able to: Understand the steps in creating an effective retirement income plan Identify retirement income needs, objectives, and goals by evaluating the client's current situation Determine how to choose the appropriate retirement income strategy Evaluate income tax, estate issues, retirement risks, and other threats to achieving client retirement goals Integrate risk management tools, products, and strategies into client plans This course is a bridge to the Retirement Income Certified Professional® (RICP®) Program. WMCP 360 Introduction to Goal-Based Planning (Elective) Introduces goal-based wealth management through a theoretical framework guided by the life-cycle model of optimal investing, borrowing, and protection. Upon completion of this course, you’ll be able to: Describe the role of wealth over a lifetime Observe investing within a life-cycle framework Apply the value of a goals-based approach to investing Analyze the impact of the economic environment on financial markets Identify the CFP® financial planning process and evaluate strategies for managing effective client communication Assess ethical practices and financial regulations Implement a goal-based process for planning and managing client wealth This course is a bridge to the Wealth Management Certified Professional® (WMCP®) Program. cb13 3 column content Why Enroll With Us? You Want a New Career in Financial Services Start Your Journey With The College The FSCP Program delivers a comprehensive curriculum in running a financial services practice, making it ideal for the new professional. You Want to Attract More Clients Increase Your Confidence Learn proven strategies to accelerate practice growth that can be applied to your business beginning day one. You Want Skills for Real-World Application Grow in Knowledge and Business Acumen Our courses focus on multiline skills, business ethics, and meeting client needs – all areas of need for practice leaders. cb31 stats What Your Peers Say Enroll Now 59% Of FSCP® designees report dramatic or moderate impact in their ability to provide portfolio guidance. 69% Of FSCP® designees report significant or moderate improvement in client conversations. 129% Higher growth in client retention than advisors with no designations. Enroll Now cb33 testimonial slider - V1 & V2 My experience with The American College of Financial Services has been transformative. The flexibility of the programs allowed me to balance education with my professional life. I now feel more empowered to deliver value to my clients and community. Arely Solares, FSCP Fatima’s Story The FSCP ®️ Program offers a deeper and wider knowledge of financial services foundations, taking you from product knowledge to competency; from an agent or advisor to a more equipped financial professional. Fatima Williams, FSCP Becoming an FSCP has challenged me, sharpened my skills, and made me a better advisor for the people I serve. This designation represents a deeper commitment to clear, client-focused guidance. Curtis Tran, FSCP As a mission-driven professional passionate about financial education, the FSCP Program gave me practical client-first tools that I could apply immediately in my work. It didn’t just teach me how to better serve families, individuals, and communities — it empowered me to do so with greater confidence, clarity, and care. Anna Mpinga, M.Ed, FSCP 01 00 cb29 comparison chart FSCP Program: See Where We Stand Save time with a quick view of how our FSCP Program stacks up against comparable financial planning education programs. Scroll left to right to compare FSCP Program: See Where We Stand Save time with a quick view of how our FSCP Program stacks up against comparable financial planning education programs. FSCP Financial Services Certified Professional LUTCF Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow SM ADVANCED CURRICULUM Self-Study Learning Format Finish in Four Months LIFELONG LEARNING STACKABILITY (RICP®, ChFC®, WMCP®, and CLU®) Insights of Nationally Recognized Thought Leaders ab7 directory Learn From the Leaders in Financial Services Practice Management David F. Pierce DMIN, MSFS, MSM, MA, AEP®, CLF®, ChFC®, CLU®, Certified Financial Fiduciary® Adjunct Professor Read Bio 01 00 David F. Pierce DMIN, MSFS, MSM, MA, AEP®, CLF®, ChFC®, CLU®, Certified Financial Fiduciary® Adjunct Professor Read Bio cb26 cta grid - v2 There’s Even More to Explore Access the Program Demo Hear from a peer, a professor, and take a tour View Frequently Asked Questions Know what a College education entails cb5 drawers FSCP Program FAQs Financial services refers to a broad range of economic services provided by the finance industry, which includes businesses that manage money, investment management, and financial planning. Financial services professionals are individuals who are educated and trained, through the process of earning various licenses, certifications, and professional designations, to work in these fields and assist clients, whether individuals, businesses, or other organizations. Examples of professionals with financial services training include: Bankers : Services include taking deposits, providing loans, and managing payment systems with commercial banks, credit unions, or retail banks Investment Managers : Services include helping businesses raise capital and helping individuals and companies buy and sell securities like stocks and bonds through investment funds and brokerages Insurance Agents : Services include offering insurance policies or products to provide financial protection against risks and matching those seeking protection with services that meet their needs. Asset Management: Services include managing investments or other assets on behalf of clients, either through advising or directly controlling funds. Financial Planning and Advice : Services include working with individuals and larger entities to create financial plans, make investment decisions, and assist clients with forming a comprehensive picture of their financial situation and goals through counseling and discussion. Other areas in financial services may include accounting, real estate management, currency exchange, and wire transfers. The Financial Services Certified Professional® (FSCP®) is a foundational financial planning certification offered by The American College of Financial Services. The FSCP® designation focuses on delivering functional practice management tools and foundational financial planning knowledge to enable new financial services professionals or career-changers to launch their career in financial services. Its broad base of knowledge is similar in concept to a designation like the Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow SM (LUTCF SM ); however, the FSCP® Program offers a more advanced curriculum, insights from top thought leaders in the financial services profession, and stackability to move on to future specializations with other College designation programs. The FSCP® Program includes insights on prospecting and marketing in financial services, strategies to identify client needs, broad knowledge of financial products, and foundational business planning considerations. To become a certified financial services professional through the FSCP® Program, you must complete the five-course program, including all associated classwork and a final exam for each course (three core and two electives). These on-demand online courses make earning this professional financial services designation easy on your busy schedule. The Financial Services Certified Professional® (FSCP®) Program can be completed in as few as five months and is considered a foundational designation for a certified financial services professional. According to FUSE Research’s 2024 Designation Outcomes Study, FSCP® designees report 129% higher growth in client retention, 44% higher growth in their number of clients, and 17% higher growth in earnings over a three-year period than their peers with no designations. In addition, the FSCP® Program’s flexible course options can be customized to any learning path as a financial services professional, offering a gateway to such designations as the Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®), Wealth Management Certified Professional® (WMCP®), Retirement Income Certified Professional® (RICP®), and others with shared course requirements. As of February 1, 2024, for the CFP® Certification Education Program as well as the ChFC®, WMCP®, and CLU® Programs, the first course in these programs  will also count in the FSCP® Program as one (1) program elective. If you hold the LUTCF® awarded by The American College of Financial Services, you will need to take FP 99 (FSCP® Certification Course) to obtain the FSCP®. You may display both designations. If you hold the LUTCF® awarded by The College for Financial Planning, you are eligible to receive two credits for the College for Financial Planning’s LUTCF® — one for FA 222 and the other as an elective. The transfer of credit agreement is only valid until December 31, 2023. If you hold the LUTCF® awarded by The American College of Financial Services and the FSS designation, you may apply to receive the FSCP® designation but in doing so must agree to relinquish the FSS designation. The student may display the LUTCF® and the FSCP® designations only. If you hold the FSS designation awarded by The American College of Financial Services, you will need to complete one additional elective course that you have not previously taken, as you have already satisfied the FSCP® certification requirement. A waiver of course credit for certain courses will be granted to individuals who hold the FIC or FICF designation, provided the specific course(s) identified for the waiver of course credit were based on course revisions produced in April 2007 or later. For the FIC Basic Introduction to Life Insurance, course credit will be granted for The American College’s FA 203(Essentials for Meeting Client Needs), provided that the student has completed the FIC designation. Credit for one of the FSCP® program electives will be granted if the student has passed the FICF Graduate I Estate Planning or FICF Graduate II Business Insurance Concepts courses. A confirmation letter from Kaplan is required to receive any of these credits. For questions about waiver of credit towards the FSCP® designation, please contact us at 866-883-4498. As of April 1, 2024, the FSCP® Program no longer features a single high-stakes final exam. Instead, each of the five program courses features knowledge checks, quizzes, and a final exam each student must pass with a score of 70% or higher to move on to the next course. Final course exams are taken through Pearson Vue testing centers. Students visit the Pearson VUE website to schedule their exam and can choose whether to take the exam at one of many in-person testing centers or remotely via Pearson VUE’s online testing system. Click here for more information on scheduling and taking your exam cb20 footer cta Take the Next Step and Enroll As an FSCP , you’ll gain holistic applied knowledge in running a financial services practice, with an emphasis on financial products, prospecting and marketing, and business planning principles to launch your career in financial services. Enroll Now Take a Tour Access FAQs footnotes FUSE Research Network. The American College of Financial Services Designation Outcomes Study. 2024. Based on reported three-year growth.