ACSFP - FAQ

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Here are a list of the most frequently asked questions, with answers, that we receive:

Why have the CSFP-Chartered Senior Financial Planner designation?

The CSFP-Chartered Senior Financial Planner designation is only available to Licensed Insurance Agents. Earning your CSFP-Chartered Senior Financial Planner designation will give you all the latest strategies in the areas of Retirement Planning and Asset Protection and in many states will earn you CE credits as well. The class room learning experience or the online course, combined with the online tools, training, and information available through this website makes the CSFP-Chartered Senior Financial Planner designation unparalleled in the industry. Having the CSFP-Chartered Senior Financial Planner designation diploma on your office wall and the CSFP-Chartered Senior Financial Planner logo on your business card is a sign to all clients, potential or existing, that you will be able to properly guide them with their Asset Protection, insurance, and Advanced Retirement Planning strategies.

In addition to the clout associated with the CSFP-Chartered Senior Financial Planner designation, all active members will receive the ACSFP quarterly news bulletins, containing current information, new tax laws, relevant legal cases, new and innovative industry products, and general strategies recommended by the ACSFP in the areas of Insurance, Asset Protection, and Advanced Retirement Planning. ACSFP members can always call our toll free number or email the ACSFP Board to get difficult questions answered involving retirement planning, insurance, and asset protection, from industry leading experts.

Not only do all active ACSFP members receive our news bulletins, but they also receive a Login and Password for this website and Index Blaster; Index Blaster is a database solution, developed in house by the ACSFP, that shows calculations of past performances for the following US Indices: DJIA, S&P 500, Nasdaq 100, Russell 2000 and the S&P 400 MidCap, and the DOW Euro. Once logged in to this website, ACSFP members can utilize many valuable online tools and information that is not available to the general public.

What is Advanced Retirement Planning?

Advanced Retirement Planning is the utilization of market and fixed investments, insurance, wills, and trusts, to meet your individual client's needs and goals. In addition, it is the ability to properly determine each individual client's "tolerance for risk", a topic discussed in detail in the classroom. Tolerance for risk takes into account many factors, such as age, goals, and health.

An example where many people suffered from not properly using Advanced Retirement Planning strategies was 2000-2002, when the market tanked. During 1995-1999, many people, including seniors became over dependent on the high returns from the market. Then came 2000-2002, the "Bust-Period", where these people lost billions of their hard earned savings and retirement dollars. Unfortunately, many people had too much of their savings and retirement dollars invested in variable investments only. Some may never regain all of their losses. Large sums were lost because many received incorrect financial advice from people who didn't even utilize the most basic principle in Advanced Retirement Planning, "tolerance for risk."

Why is there a need for Asset Protection?

Many people who own property and have assets are concerned about bypassing probate and protecting their assets and property from motor vehicle accidents, personal injuries occurring on their property, lawsuits, con-artists, dishonest relatives, business liabilities, malpractice claims, and the many other liabilities that exist today. Seniors are especially vulnerable to these potential asset draining misfortunes, and need to take extra precautions and plan differently than younger people who are still working. Many seniors are also concerned about the Medicaid "Spend-down" rule. Our classroom course will teach you about these problems and their logical solutions. Having the CSFP-Chartered Senior Financial Planner designation means you will be able to correctly steer your clients in the right direction so they can protect their assets from the many hazards that exist today.

What are the Continuing Educational (CE) Requirements for the CSFP-Chartered Senior Financial Planner designation?

Unlike other designations, the CSFP-Chartered Senior Financial Planner designation is only available to licensed Insurance Agents. In order for an ACSFP member to continue to use the CSFP-Chartered Senior Financial Planner designation, holders must complete their mandatory CE hours approved by their home state Department of Insurance, and remain in good standing with the ACSFP Board.

The ACSFP Board requires that every ACSFP member submit a current copy of their resident insurance license, showing the license expiration date, in order to renew their CSFP-Chartered Senior Financial Planner designation each year.

Who has approved the CSFP-Chartered Senior Financial Planner designation Course for Continuing Educational (CE) Credits?

Our three day classroom course has been approved by many State Departments of Insurances for insurance CE credits: CA (25 hrs), CO (24 hrs), FL (24 hrs), GA (24 hrs), IA (24 hrs), ID (19 hrs), IL (24 hrs), KS (12 hrs), LA (24 hrs), MO (24 hrs), MS (24 hrs), NV (24 hrs), OK (16 hrs), TX (22 hrs), WI (24 hrs).

Our three day course has also been accepted by CFP Board for 24 CE credits.

Who is the CSFP-Chartered Senior Financial Planner designation endorsed by?

The CSFP-Chartered Senior Financial Planner designation and the ACSFP is endorsed by NAFEP - National Association of Financial and Estate Planning - www.nafep.com.

How long has the CSFP-Chartered Senior Financial Planner designation been in existence?

The CSFP-Chartered Senior Financial Planner designation became official on June 23rd, 2003. The planning and development of the designation, which consisted of writing the ACSFP text book used during the class, preparing all of the training materials provided to our members, the creation of the classroom Power Point presentations, and getting the class approved for Continuing Education (CE) credits started in September of 2000. Stewart Davidson, President of the ACSFP Board, has been in the Insurance Industry for over 36 years, and has been teaching and training licensed Insurance Agents in Advanced Retirement Planning and Asset Protection for over 12 years.

Is the ACSFP a Senior Citizen Organization?

No, the use of the word "Senior" in the CSFP-Chartered Senior Financial Planner designation does not mean that the ACSFP is a senior citizen organization, nor does it mean our members target "senior citizens." As our webpage, course content and printed materials, including our code of ethics show, we do not target senior citizens, nor does the ACSFP teach a curriculum specific to senior citizens. The use of the word "Senior" in Chartered Senior Financial Planner implies that our members have been educated in more advanced retirement planning, insurance, and asset protection strategies, not the age of a target client base.

Does the ACSFP provide Private Classes?

Yes. We have performed private classes all of the country for large insurance agencies and other insurance related organizations. We normally require a minimum of 30 agents.

Does the ACSFP accept Corporate Sponsorship for Classes?

Yes. Corporate sponsors need to have an outstanding history in the areas of insurance, financial planning, and customer satisfaction. Please contact us to inquire about corporate sponsorship.

Can a consumer file a complaint against an ACSFP Member?

Yes, our website allows any consumer to file a complaint against an ACSFP Member, which the ACSFP Board will then investigate. If any ACSFP member is found to be in violation of the strict code of ethics they have agreed to then they will be terminated and lose all rights associated with the CSFP-Chartered Senior Financial Planner designation and ACSFP membership.