Digital certificates are like SSL (secure socket layer) certificates on websites. Financial advisor professional accreditation organizations, such as the AICPA, CFA Institute and CFP Board are already issuing digital certificates to authenticate professionals. The digital certificate image is encrypted and validated by the Financial Counseling Institute (FCI).

CFP Board, AICPA,  and CFA Institute, all mint digital badges to validate their respective credential holders. The use of digital badges transforms branding for practitioners and clears up consumer confusion.    

According to FINRA’s database, the number of financial professional designations has swelled to more than 200! For financial consumers, it's a nightmare.

How do you know whether to trust a certified annuity specialist, certified mutual fund specialist versus a Certified Financial Planner^®? A digitally validated badge on your website, social profiles, and emails is the solution.  Though use of digital badges is still in its infancy, FCI, powered by A4A,  keep professionals ahead of the emerging trend toward micro-credentials and digital certifications of CFP, CPA^®, CFA^®, CIMA^®, and other financial advisors.      

Pay-to-play five-star advisor badges now run rampant and the major financial media outlets continue to publish advisor rankings that are not based on rigorous research or objective data. They sell reprints of an advisor's ranking to earn revenue and have little credibility.  In contrast, a digital badge validated by an accreditation body cuts through all marketing misinformation

Of the four comprehensive designations earned by financial advisors, the CPA and CFA designations have been around longest. AICPA was founded in 1887 and CFAs were first chartered in 1962. These two senior certifying bodies are integrated into the U.S. regulatory system.

Founded in the mid-1980s, Investment Wealth Institute and CFP Board are relative newcomers as accreditation bodies, but CFP Board certifies 88,726 practitioners, compared to about 10,000 CIMA certificants. In addition, CFP Board has bought mindshare by conducting a years-long advertising campaign on national TV.   

A4A awards digital badges based on a professional's CE attendance record and specialization. Attending the 12-credit Financial Counseling course, which is available on-demand, earns a CPA, CFA, CFP and CIMA professional license to display the Certified Financial Counselor badge on a website home page, social network profile and email signature.