Gyroscopic Investing

If you want to work in the industry, go for CFA.

If you just need advice for managing your own investments, trustworthy forums and blogs are you friend.

blackomen wrote: If you want to work in the industry, go for CFA.

Not a CFP ?

ochotona wrote:

blackomen wrote: If you want to work in the industry, go for CFA.

Not a CFP ?

CFP is fine too and one of the most respectable designations (in addition to CFA and CPA.)  Like the name suggests, it's best for a financial planner or advisor.

Thanks

The CRPC class is relatively easy and fun. A few time value of money brain teasers sharpened up my TVM calculation skills. It's a good review, and I am learning new things. But, as expected, NO discussion of precious metals / commodities as an investable asset class. And it downgrades "timing" as an investment strategy. To be expected. Definitely worth the money, even if I never use the designation as a professional. If the knowledge helps me to avoid one costly mistake, it was worth it.

BTW, the CFP I can't get, because it requires several years of financial industry experience. I am still in geoscience (ah... for the time being). It will all depend on the price of oil.

One day before the deadline, I tested and earned the CRPC designation. I learned quite a bit more than I expected, mostly around how the government is out to screw everything that moves. I'm glad I did it, I am certain it was worth the time and money. I would not have ventured into all of the curriculum topics by myself without the carrot-and-stick of extra letters to put in back of my name, and maybe failing a test. What I learned mostly did not overlap with my MBA, which surprised me. MBA students don't spend any time studying Social Security Retirement and Disability, Medicare / Medicaid, Pensions, etc. all vital for retirees.

Ochotona, MBA, CRPC

ochotona wrote:One day before the deadline, I tested and earned the CRPC designation. I learned quite a bit more than I expected, mostly around how the government is out to screw everything that moves. I'm glad I did it, I am certain it was worth the time and money. I would not have ventured into all of the curriculum topics by myself without the carrot-and-stick of extra letters to put in back of my name, and maybe failing a test. What I learned mostly did not overlap with my MBA, which surprised me. MBA students don't spend any time studying Social Security Retirement and Disability, Medicare / Medicaid, Pensions, etc. all vital for retirees.

Ochotona, MBA, CRPC

Congratuations! And, thanks for the analysis.

... Mountaineer

Estate planning basics, same sex marriages and domestic partnerships, income tax strategies, the list of government fostered pitfalls goes on and on... I leapt up in a rage when I realized my wife's Social Security is going to be dinged because of GPO WEP. I got sad when I saw all of the non-obvious mistakes my Dad made in his retirement which caused him to run out of money.

You don't know what you don't know, until you take a class.

ochotona wrote:Estate planning basics, same sex marriages and domestic partnerships, income tax strategies, the list of government fostered pitfalls goes on and on... I leapt up in a rage when I realized my wife's Social Security is going to be dinged because of GPO WEP. I got sad when I saw all of the non-obvious mistakes my Dad made in his retirement which caused him to run out of money.

You don't know what you don't know, until you take a class.

Sounds like it's worthwhile for my folks (approaching SS age) to seek out a CRPC. Any tips?

ochotona wrote:Ochotona, MBA, CRPC

MBA is about managing people/organizations, no?

I never heard of CRPC before you mentioned it, but it sure sounds more real-world useful than ChFC, CFA or Series xx.

There is no CRPC study guide from 3rd party vendors, but there are for the CFP. A CFP study guide from Amazon will expose you to what the CRPC covers, and more. The CFP is more ambitious than the CRPC. If you want the designation, the course is "only" $1200. Much less costly than Trump University.