REGISTERED FINANCIALPLANNERS INSTITUTE
REGISTERED FINANCIAL
For financial planners in early or mid-career, getting the Affiliate Registered Financial Planner designation is a practical and forward step for their financial planning career. It’s a basic or intermediate credential tied to the core values of RFP designation, acting as a "stepping stone" for those working toward Registered Financial Planner.
To earn your designation, you need to pass a multiple-choice Exam. Once you're an ARFP designation-holder, you are then strongly required to participate in RFPI's Continuing Education Program (CEP) to help stay up-to-date with the latest best practices in financial planning.
The RFP Exam is a 100-question multiple-choice Exam to test your mastery of financial planning. You have 2 hours to complete the ARFP Exam, which is graded on a pass/fail basis.
The ARFP Exam is offered in the fourth Sunday of March/ June/ September/December.
The ARFP exam fee is $75. If a candidate fails the exam, she or he must retake the exam and pay the corresponding $75 fee.
Once the candidate passes the exam, $75 annual dues plus one-time processing fee of $25 is required when applying the ARFP designation.
While studying time varies per candidate, RFPI recommends an estimated 40 hours of preparation time to be successful on the ARFP Exam.
Ability to upgrade to the RFP designation once meeting all educational and experience requirements. After completing the required after-session training and passing this exam, the ARFP designation-holder can apply the RFP designation.
After 3 years in marketing, I dreamed of switching to insurance but lacked core knowledge until I got my ARFP designation. This entry-level certificate gave me essential insurance and financial planning basics, bridging my career gap. It let me understand clients’ protection needs quickly, build confidence in conversations, and start my new insurance journey smoothly. ARFP designation truly made my industry shift possible!
Lily
Candidates must fully complete an application form and meet any other qualification criteria as applicable to the RFP designation.
All qualifications and experience will be reviewed and then the decision to assign the appropriate designation will be made.
To renew the ARFP designation, it is required to pay the annual dues and complete a minimum of 20 continuing education units (CEUs), which will be reviewed by RFPI.
A designation holder may be expelled, suspended, or disciplined if she or he
1. Violates RFPI’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, laws or regulations in the country or in the region where she or he practices.
2. Has been found guilty of discrediting to the financial planning profession.
3. Fails to complete at least 20 CEUs every year in the relevant fields of financial planning.
4. Fails to be in good standing.
Should you be interested in partnering with RFPI in ARFP designation in your region, please contact us via email at info@rfpi.com for further details on potential collaboration.