Investments & Wealth Institute

CERTIFIED SUCCESS℠

IWI is the partner you need to enhance your skills as a financial advisor, demonstrate your knowledge and ethics—and rise above the competition.

It’s time to raise your standards, maximize your potential and certify your success.

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Raise Your Standards. Maximize Your Potential. Certify Your Success.

Premier financial advising and wealth management certifications empower you to demonstrate sophisticated capabilities and expertise that deliver visible client value—and build client trust and loyalty.

Do you want to deliver the sophisticated investment advice, services and solutions today's investors need?

The Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®) certification is the highest level of investment education client-facing advisors can get.

Why CIMA?
hatem zarrouk cima certification advisor

Do you want to provide U/HNW clients with wealth planning that addresses their unique and complex needs?

The Certified Private Wealth Advisor® (CPWA®) certification is designed specifically for advisors who work with—or aspire to work with—high-net-worth (HNW) clients.

Why CPWA?
alyssa dalby financial advisor with cpwa certification

Do you want to differentiate your retirement advice with elevated capabilities and specialized knowledge?

The Retirement Management Advisor® (RMA®) certification gives advisors the tools and knowledge to build custom retirement income plans, mitigate clients' risks, and master the retirement planning advisory process.

Why RMA?
moe allain rma certification advisor

Not sure which certification is right for you?

Help Me Choose

The Latest Online Courses for Financial Advisors

Build your expertise and accelerate your career, while completing CE requirements: Connect with the investment and wealth management topics your clients are thinking about now.

College and Student Loan Planning Essentials

15 CE HOURS

Due to the rising costs of higher education and all-time high student loan debt levels, individuals and families are relying more than ever on advisors to help them navigate the financial complexities associated with saving for and paying for college. This course is designed for advisors and financial professionals who wish to become more knowledgeable in the areas of education funding, financial aid planning, and student loan advising.


Private Wealth Essentials

15 CE HOURS

This program focuses on the specific needs of high-net-worth (HNW) clients and covers five core areas: Tax Strategies and Planning, Portfolio Management, Asset Protection and Risk Management, Charitable Giving, and Estate Planning. Each of these areas is examined in conjunction with the needs of HNW clients fitting three different profiles: the executive, the closely held business owner and the retirement client.


Using BeFi to Build Trust and Manage Investor Behavior

5 CE Hours

To build high-trust client relationships, the demonstration of one’s technical skills is nowhere near enough. This is because the demonstrated ability of the advisor is about the past. Yet, the decision to trust is primarily about the future – what the advisor will do next. Will the advisor understand me? Will the advisor have my best interests at heart? Will the advisor care for me and be honest with me? The objective of this program is to equip advisors with the behavioral knowledge to be able to elicit positive responses, build trust, and manage investor behavior with confidence.


Using BeFi to Build Trust and Manage Investor Behavior financial advisor course

Social Security Planning

1 CE HOUR

Advisors must understand the implications of when and how to take Social Security retirement benefits when creating holistic, goals-based retirement income plans. You can immediately use the information presented in this microcourse to open the Social Security discussion with every client who is 50 years of age or older.


40%

of IWI-certified advisors serve a core market with more than $2 million in assets

$7.3M

is the mean assets per client of CPWA advisors—3.9x higher than non-CPWA practices

42%

of IWI members are part of practices managing $250 million or more in assets

52%

of practices with more than one CIMA professional advise high net-worth and ultra-high net-worth clients

$394M

is the average AUM of an IWI-certified advisor. Nearly 5 times the average advisor.

Source: Cerulli Associates, 2022 Member Profile

Premier Online Courses for Financial Advisors

Access the knowledge, insights, and skills you need to fully serve your clients with online education from the Investments & Wealth Institute.

Choose from more than 100 CE-approved options, from timely, one-hour microcourses to focused, short courses and certificate programs. It’s all here for you—wherever and whenever it fits your life.

Empower Your Growth→
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Where Connection Meets Knowledge: Conferences & Events Transform the Financial Advisor Profession

Engage and connect with leaders, innovators, and peers at premier events that address contemporary investment, wealth management, and retirement issues.

Join IWI throughout the year in our industry-leading live and virtual conferences and events.

Evolve Your Experience→
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Investments & Wealth Institute Membership

Whether you’re a seasoned professional, growing your career, or finding a new path, IWI is your source for lifelong learning and exploration.

Experience what it means to be part of a community of professionals committed to raising standards, maximizing potential, and certifying success.

Career. Community. Opportunities. You belong here→

Partner Solutions for Financial Advising and Wealth Management Organizations

Whether you’re looking for event sponsorship and marketing opportunities, a place to promote your industry leadership, or team certification and education options, IWI can help you elevate your organization’s voice, expertise, and influence.

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Investment & Wealth Management Publications & Resources

Get advanced insights and find practical solutions for the challenges - and opportunities - advisors and their clients face today.

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Investments & Wealth Monitor→
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Retirement Management Journal→
journal of investment consulting technical publication
Journal of Investment Consulting→
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Research & Whitepapers→
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Exceptional Advisor Podcast→

The CIMA® designation not only helped me with my clients (advisors) but it opened new doors. I started being invited to investment committee meetings and included in due diligence calls. I was seen as the person who had the skill set to impact the conversation. The behavioral finance piece of the CPWA® designation launched my process of having more in-depth conversations with my clients about the softer aspects of money; what they value and how best to overcome potential roadblocks.

Mike Kurz
CIMA®, CPWA®, RMA®, CFP®, CAIA

To reduce barriers for entry into the financial advisory profession, IWI provides scholarships that improve access to our premier certifications and education for those who are underrepresented in our industry.

Learn more→
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