Jose Segura is a Wealth Management Advisor at Wealth Advisory Group, LLC and a Financial Advisor with Park Avenue Securities, LLC. Since 2003, Jose has been educating and working with medical professionals, corporate executives, and business owners to assist in making effective financial decisions. He has a tremendous passion for helping people make informed decisions, so they can meet their objectives in the accumulation, protection, and enjoyment of their wealth.
Jose is a Chartered Financial Consultant® and a Certified Business Exit Planner® He holds securities licenses 6,7,63 and 66, as well as life, accident and health insurance. He received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a minor in finance from the College of Saint Rose.
What Is a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC)?
A Chartered Financial Consultant is a professional designation representing the completion of a comprehensive course consisting of financial education, examinations, and practical experience. Chartered Financial Consultant designations are granted by the American College upon completion of seven required courses and two elective courses. Those who earn the designation are understood to be knowledgeable in financial matters and to have the ability to provide sound advice.
How a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) Works
To be considered for the program, the applicant must already have a minimum of three years working full-time in the financial industry. Also, it is recommended that applicants have a degree related to finance or business before applying, as it will make the program much easier.
The ChFC degree program requires students to complete nine college-level courses or 27 hours of college credit in the field. Students must achieve mastery of more than 100 integrated advanced financial planning topics, including:
- Estate Planning
- Insurance Planning
- Retirement Planning
- Financial Planning Process and Environment
- Income Tax Planning
- Employee Benefits Planning
- Asset Protection Planning
- Estate Tax, Transfer Tax, and Gift Tax Planning
- Applications of Comprehensive Financial Planning and Consulting
There is also curriculum on how rules within those segments change in relation to small business planning, financial planning for households in the process of divorce, or for families who have special needs dependents. Exams for each course are proctored and closed-book, according to the standards of business and finance courses offered at any accredited university.
Once the ChFC designation has been earned, there is also a requirement for continuing education credits to maintain the credential. Holders of the ChFC designation must complete 30 hours of continuing education every two years in order to maintain the designation, as well as adhering to The American College Code of Ethics and Procedures.
An advisor who has received this credential may work with individuals to assist them with retirement savings, in particular for early retirement, and budget planning, or with companies to assess their investment strategies. There may be an expectation that the advisor remains continuously abreast of all financial laws at international, national, and local levels that might apply to the clients they work with and the financial activities they are involved in.
Why Chartered Financial Consultant Designation Matters
The curriculum to earn this professional designation from the American College is made up of courses designed to include a range of financial planning duties and responsibilities. This includes the practical application of the skills learned in real-life scenarios. According to the college, financial advisors who receive the designation may earn a higher income compared with industry peers who do not.
What is a Certified Business Exit planner CExP?
A certified exit planner (CExP) can help even young business owners start planning for their eventual departure from the firm they helped grow. It can be a difficult process and many business owners, still hard at work, may feel it’s unnecessary. But without a clear exit plan, it may be difficult to sell the business at maximum profit, take it public or transfer ownership to a designated successor.
What Does a Certified Exit Planner (CExP) Do?
A CExP helps with exit planning. Exit planning is a term for a strategy that outlines how business owners will sell or otherwise leave their businesses. The process has legal, financial and organizational implications and usually a business needs several years to implement it. It also requires advisors, such as attorneys and accountants, but often business owners need extra help visualizing their exit strategy. It also may be necessary to create more than one exit plan.
Registered Representative and Financial Advisor of Park Avenue Securities LLC (PAS). Financial Representative of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America® (Guardian), New York, NY.