The AAFM American Academy of Financial Management ®

is a US-based board of standards, certifying body, and accreditation council focused on the finance  and management professionals in the United States and Worldwide.. AAFM has been positively featured or seen in mainstream media including:  Forbes, Investopedia, The  Hindu, The China Daily, The Arab News,  and the Wall Street Journal (2004) The AAFM is noted as having the highest business accredited education requirements for the credentials it confers through its relations with accreditation agencies and for having global associations with top banks, industry and experts. In 2014, the AAFM ® and its certifications where bought by the Board of Standards and the  GAFM Global Academy of Financial Management ® and all certifying powers were transferred to the International Board of Standards.

AAFM American Academy History

The AAFM was founded in 1996 through a merger of the American Academy of Financial Management & Analysts AAFMA and the Founders Advisory Committee of the Original Tax and Estate Planning Law Review. The AAFM has member in over 150 countires.  The International Board of Standards is composed of professors, doctorate level professionals, and industry experts from over 50 countries.

AAFM American Academy of Financial Management Objectives

The AAFM offers multiple professional membership, certifications, and designations. Members must either have come through one of the AAFM-recognized university programs and chapters or through a government-recognized executive educational program, although the board may waive these requirements in some cases for PhDs and Masters Degree Holders. The AAFM board  is a certifying body and graduate society, and has never directly provided training, but has recognized hundreds of approved providers such as AACSB and ACBSP business schools such as New York University, Wharton Business School and Stanford.

AAFM Certifications & Designations

AAFM confers and awards a number of famous trademarked designations which are itemized on the FINRA guide, including Master Financial Planner (MFP) Chartered Asset Manager (CAM), Chartered Market Analyst (CMA), Chartered Portfolio Manager (CPM), Chartered Trust and Estate Planner (CTEP), Chartered Wealth Manager (CWM), and Registered Financial Specialist (RFS). Some of these designations are available to anyone qualified with a PhD, DBA, CPA, national accredited business degree or license in finance, investments, securities, economics, or accounting upon meeting the requirements and good standing payments.

For about a decade, the AAFM has been included in the Directory of Global Professional Accounting and Business Certifications By Lal Balkaran , the  Guide to America's Top Financial Planners presented by the Consumers’ Research Council of America, the  My Senior Portal and the CareerOneStop of the  U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration

1. CWM Chartered Wealth Manager http://www.finra.org/Investors/ToolsCalculators/ProfessionalDesignations/DesignationsListing/DesignationDetails/pc_CWM
2. CAM Chartered Asset Manager http://www.finra.org/Investors/ToolsCalculators/ProfessionalDesignations/DesignationsListing/DesignationDetails/pc_CAM
3. CTEP Chartered Trust and Estate Planner http://www.finra.org/Investors/ToolsCalculators/ProfessionalDesignations/DesignationsListing/DesignationDetails/pc_CTEP
4. RFS Registered Financial Analyst http://www.finra.org/Investors/ToolsCalculators/ProfessionalDesignations/DesignationsListing/DesignationDetails/pc_RFS
5. CMA Chartered Market Analyst http://www.finra.org/Investors/ToolsCalculators/ProfessionalDesignations/DesignationsListing/DesignationDetails/pc_CMA
6. FAD Financial Analyst Designate http://www.finra.org/Investors/ToolsCalculators/ProfessionalDesignations/DesignationsListing/DesignationDetails/pc_CMA_or_FAD
7. CPM Chartered Portfolio Manager http://www.finra.org/Investors/ToolsCalculators/ProfessionalDesignations/DesignationsListing/DesignationDetails/pc_CPM
8. MFP Master Financial Planner http://www.finra.org/Investors/ToolsCalculators/ProfessionalDesignations/DesignationsListing/DesignationDetails/pc_MFP

The AAFM's CWM Chartered Wealth Manager ®

The CWM Chartered Wealth Manager ®  was created by the Board of Standards and this famous certification normally involves about 80 hours of study for qualified degree holding applicants, although holders of certain professional designations, such as a JD, CFA or CPA need only prove their eligibility under the FINRA disclosed requirements ; and anyone with sufficient professional experience can take the exams and become eligible for the designation. Those with a degree that has achieved at least 3 years of relevant experience may also take an AAFM certification course from the law school, pay a fee, and receive the MFP Master Financial Planner or other designations.

AAFM Global Recognition

According to FINRA Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, eight designations are included in the FINRA guide and "offered and recognized by AAFM.  FINRA does state that it does not approve or endorse any professional credential or designation listed on its website; however, the FINRA had documented for 10 years the AAFM practices of utilizing US Department of Labor accredited exams and education as a pathway to AAFM certification. The AAFM has been listed in the US Department of Labor Occupational Handbook each year since 2004.  AAFM is recognized by the Governments of the UAE and India and in China.  See Union of Arab Securities Authorities and the National Institute of Securities Markets of India  Some US state governments directly recognize professional designations and credentials.  Example, Kentucky recognizes 6 of the AAFM designations in their revised statutes. http://ky.eregulations.us/rule/806kar9:350   The AAFM has been referenced and cited in over 200 textbooks, books and publications in the Google Books Search.

Memberships

The International Board of Standards (formerly known as the AAFM) is a professional member of the following:  AACSB, ACBSP, ANSI, ICE, and the CHEA Council of Higher Education Quality Group.   The IBS International Board of Standards and the IBS Europe Chapter is directly recognized by the TUV Standards  and Accrediting Group in The European Community/Austria. 

Accredited Education Requirements

AAFM certifications have the requirements of accredited program exams and courses from accredited institutions. As AAFM has been a professional member of the several accreditation bodies since 2003, we can state the ACBSP Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs  and AACSB education represents the top 10 percent of business schools globally. As per the AAFM's public disclosures of our requirements on the NASD,  FINRA and Wall Street Journal Websites, all AAFM Certifications require enrollment into accredited program and passing all of the exams. AAFM is the only group in the world to accept course work and exams from accredited business school degree programs, masters and doctorate programs. All business school courses require exams for successful completion, thus, AAFM relies on exams offered by universities and colleges.  Here is the approved AAFM alliance letter from the ACBSP

AAFM Accredited Law School Program

The AAFM is the first in the world to have an accredited Law School program set of courses and assessment that lead to certification. The TJSL ABA Accredited Law School's graduate program where the AAFM certification courses are available from an Accredited US Law Schoool in the USA. See http://mastersinlaw.tjsl.edu/masters-in-law/certifications/

Wall Street Journal

In 2004 and in 2010, the WSJ Wall Street Journal published articles about AAFM detailing the use of wealth management and graduate credentials by financial advisors that discussed the AAFM standards. The WSJ discussed the Global Board of Academic Advisors & Professors and several major individuals listed as honorary advisory board members. The article noted the practice of many standards boards, AAFM included, of awarding credentials based on double accredited education, business school assessment or examination, quoting the AAFM's founder, George Mentz, as evidence of this double accreditation practice. The Wall Street Journal has published and specified the AAFM certification requirements of accredited education and exam assessment in their guide in October 2010. WSJ Certification Guide to FINRA monitored credentials  The Wall Street Journal states specifically the exact AAFM educational requirements, "Eligible candidates must successfully complete at least one of the following:AAFM-approved Global Online Training Package in financial planning and asset managementAAFM-approved degree (graduate or undergraduate) in finance, tax, accounting, financial services, law or a CPA, MBA, MS, PhD, or JD from an accredited school or organization5 or more approved and related courses from an AACSB or ACBSP accredited business school or AAFM sanctioned programAAFM Executive Certification training course"

A claim on the AAFM website that it had a special trademark agreement with both the CFA Institute and the CFP Board, which administer Chartered Financial Analyst and Certified Financial Planner certificate programs, respectively, is documented with signed contracts that are publicly available for viewing. The CFP Board has agreed in a legal contract not to object or interfere with AAFM certification programs. The CFA Institute or the Association for Investment Management Research also agreed in a signed legal contract not to object to various AAFM certifications in a signed agreement personally supervised by Sharon Glover and Jeannie Anderson. See Signed Contract

Honorary Advisors

The AAFM has policy of keeping a Board of Standards and an Honorary Advisory Board. Presently top professors and industry professionals from over 50 countries have agreed in writing to be global advisors to AAFM and the Board of Standards. Some distinguished members of our honorary advisors who have agreed in writing to volunteer for AAAFM in the past have been: Prof. Dr. C. Bergström Stockholm School of Economics, Prof. Dr. G. J. Charreaux Universite de Bourgogne Dijon Cedex, Bourgogne, Prof. Dr. Isam Zabalawi - President The Arab Academy For Banking & Financial Sciences, France, Prof. Harvey Campbell and Jacob Gold   See List of over 100 members of the honorary advisory council.

Continuing Education

The AAFM programs have been recognized over the years for PDU credits by famous organizations such as the CFA Institute and the CFP Board.

See: CFA Institute Credits

See 2010-2011 -  CFP Board Credits for Chartered Wealth Manager and Chartered Trust and Estate Planner

Headquarters

The AAFM is headquartered in Louisiana and Colorado.  AAFM's General Counsel and Lawyer is George Mentz who can be contacted for legal questions.

Governmental & Book Citations and References

CWM™ Chartered Wealth Manager

CAM™ Chartered Asset Manager

CPM™ Chartered Portfolio Manager

MFP™ Master Financial Professional

FAD™ Financial Analyst Designate

CTEP™ Chartered Trust and Estate Planner

RFS™ Registered Financial Specialist

Read About us on the US Department of Labor Websites:

AAFM ™ US Dept of Labor BLS Listing & Disclosure

American Academy of Financial Management ® AAFM ® Board of Standards - Press Release Statement

The AAFM ®is the global certifying body that issues board certification while also reognizing qualified certification-education programs worldwide. The Founding members have their origins with the Charter Investment Corp of 1951. In 1997, The AAFM ™ and Academy was re-instituted via a merger between the American Academy of Financial Management & Analysts (AAFMA) 1995 and the Founders Advisory Committee of the Original Tax and Estate Planning Law Review ™ 1996. The AAFMA was originally established in as a professional organization for investment managers, lawyers, and analysts. The Law Review was founded to examine strategic wealth and estate planning issues for Law, CPA, PhD, and MBA graduates and to award the wealth management, estate planning, and tax designations. AAFM currently recognizes over 55,000 PhDs, Lawyers, CPAs, AACSB Graduates, & Masters Degree Holders as associates, executive members, fellows, and certified members in over 150 nations. Presently, AAFM has over 200 thousand associate members and candidates. As there had not been a graduate professional financial organization specifically for accredited degree holders, MBAs, CPAs, Lawyers and PhDs, the AAFM ™ has met this need and become the organization of choice for highly educated individuals or industry experts because AAFM requires an accredited college degree for membership and certification.

Furthermore, AAFM ® has various international recognitions from private and governmental authorities. AAFM board certifications are compliance friendly and listed on investor education websites, and , AAFM is recognized by authoritative sources worldwide such as the US Department of Labor BLS Brochures and the Department of Education Registry and Directory. The AAFM ™ Board also has negotiated direct global trademark agreements with the CFP ™ Board of Standards and the CFA ™ Institute. Because of the international recognition, the AAFM and related certification has been seen and featured in the: Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, The Arab Times, The China Daily, The El Norte Mexico, The South China Post, The Hindu National, CNBC, Forbes, Morningstar, and Black Enterprise Magazine.

AAFM ® is the regulatory Board of Standards for the much sought after AAFM ™ Designations and Credentials. The AAFM ™ Executive Designation Programs provide the assurance that the holder has met the suggested criteria for graduate credentials set out in cases such as the: Ibanez US Supreme Court Decision. As for high standards, the AAFM board certification requires passing 6 different levels of certification criteria. Acceptance into the AAFM is a high distinction and requires the holder to possess a graduate level portfolio of skills and knowledge. Acceptance statistics are not high, and the designation when achieved is a high honor strictly for accredited degree and college educated graduates.

The AAFM ®has seen a meteoric rise to affluence and membership in recent years, as financial executives and managers strive to maintain and augment their education, credentials, integrity, and skill sets. The AAFM is the first in the world to extend strategic educational articulation and recognition to 560 double accredited business schools globally through the top business accreditation agencies worldwide: The AACSB ™ International and The ACBSP ™. AAFM is the first to have a direct alliance with an ABA recognized post-doctorate law school program and the RSOF Royal Society of Fellows Worldwide. The AAFM ™ has endorsed and sanctioned some of the the most elite global conferences on economics, finance, tax, investments, law, wealth management, portfolio management, AML, and ecommerce issues.

The Wall Street Journal has published and specified the AAFM certification requirements of accredited education and exams in their guide in October 2010. WSJ Certification Guide to FINRA monitored credentials  The Wall Street Journal states specifically the exact AAFM educational requirements, "Eligible candidates must successfully complete at least one of the following:AAFM-approved Global Online Training Package in financial planning and asset managementAAFM-approved degree (graduate or undergraduate) in finance, tax, accounting, financial services, law or a CPA, MBA, MS, PhD, or JD from an accredited school or organization5 or more approved and related courses from an AACSB or ACBSP accredited business school or AAFM sanctioned programAAFM Executive Certification training course"

The AAFM ® mission is to serve its global membership and stakeholders as a world leader in educating and reinforcing the international knowledge of executives and potential leadership of financial based institutions. AAFM ™ now has representative offices and courses in the New York, Hong Kong, San Diego, Beijing, India, Cairo, Taiwan, Vietnam, Europe, Kuwait, Latin America and South America, Singapore, The Caribbean, Europe, and more. Moreover, AAFM ™ is a registered/listed Civil Society member with the United Nations. AAFM ® mandates consent to high standards of professional conduct, and AAFM activities are International in nature and scope.