CPWA® Certification

Advanced Skills for Affluent Clients

When you’re ready to advance your career—and retain more high-net-worth clients—choose the Certified Private Wealth Advisor® certification.

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What Can CPWA Do for You?

From preserving wealth to managing closely held businesses, the needs and demands of U/HNW clients are unique, complex and challenging - and getting moreso. The Certified Private Wealth Advisor (CPWA®) certification is designed specifically for seasoned advisors and wealth managers who work with - or who want to work with - U/HNW clients.

The curriculum delivers specialized, advanced knowledge that combines:

  • A holistic, multidisciplinary approach to the interconnected challenges and opportunities that significant wealth brings.

  • Deep dives into critical areas of wealth planning and preservation, including sophisticated tax management and wealth transfer tools, as well as legacy planning and family dynamics.

With the CPWA® designation, deliver the advanced knowledge, tools and skills needed to meet - and exceed - the complex needs of U/HNW families.

Differentiate With Increased Credibility

By integrating a holistic approach with deep and focused expertise, CPWA® certification holders have reported greater career satisfaction and higher compensation than non-holders. Learn how it can help you stand out from the competition and build your practice.

Increase Your Professional Value: Download Our CPWA® Brochure
76%

of clients say specialized designations are an important factor in choosing a wealth advisor.

64%

of CPWA® certified advisors say the program has increased their confidence and helped them expand services to HNW clients.

$7.3M

is the mean assets per client of CPWA® certified advisors—3.9 times higher than non-CPWA® practices.

30%

of practices with at least one CPWA® professional realized revenue growth of more than 10% over 5 years.

CPWA® Certification Process & Costs

Completing CPWA® requirements is a commitment.

But you’re worth it.

When you join the community of CPWA® certificants, you’re in the company of elite wealth advisors from around the globe dedicated to creating exceptional outcomes for their clients.

Ready for the challenge?

Get CPWA® Process & Cost Details
  1. Apply and select an education provider

  2. Complete executive education program

  3. Pass the CPWA® certification exam

  4. Complete your certification

Premier Education Providers to Guide Your CPWA® Program

Investments & Wealth Institute partners with Ivy League-quality educational providers to bring intellectual rigor, engaging teaching, and cutting-edge research to our standards-based, ANAB-accredited CPWA® curriculum.

Yale School of Management

Learn from leading faculty and industry experts and leverage comprehensive study materials and exam-prep tools in Yale’s fully online program Wealth Management Theory & Practice.


University of Chicago Booth School of Business

Delivered by distinguished faculty and experienced industry professionals, Chicago Booth’s hybrid CPWA® certification program begins with online study of the course content and concludes with a 5-day in-person session.

View CPWA® Education Provider Details

"The CPWA® certification is a valuable next step for CFP® advisors who want to grow the knowledge base and skill set they need to build and maintain relationships with high-net-worth and other sophisticated investors."

Kevin Sánchez, CIMA®, CPWA®, CFP®
Senior Vice President, Morgan Stanley

Resources to Support Your CPWA® Certification Journey

BROCHURE

Make your case to peers and employers.

CANDIDATE HANDBOOK

All-in-one reference to the CPWA® certification program.

CPWA® CURRICULUM & EXAM OVERVIEW

At-a-glance coursework outline and what to expect at exam time.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Learn about financial assistance for CPWA® candidates from underrepresented communities.

"The CPWA® certification is worth its weight in gold. It’s definitely been the best program that I have ever gone through from a continuing education and expertise standpoint. After completing the course, I saw immediate benefits from the program."

Erik Averill
CPWA®, CFP®, CKA®

Why offer CPWA® Certifications to Your Teams?

The ROI your firm gets from advanced, experienced, and specialized wealth management professionals comes from their expanded capability to drive in-depth conversations—and deliver tangible results.

Greater Asset Management

The average CPWA® certified team practice manages US$438 million in client assets.

Increased Revenue

Practices with CPWA® certified professionals generate 43% higher revenue than those with other financial advisors.

Higher-Value Services

CPWA® certified practices focus a greater percentage of their offerings on services such as charitable, intergenerational, and estate planning.

Ready to take the next step?

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Schedule a Call

Speak to an enrollment counselor.

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Introductory Webinars

Get direct answers in our live presentations.