Investments & Wealth Institute Certifications: Boost Your Assets Under Management (AUM) and Wallet Share

In a highly competitive industry, where every edge counts, the difference between a typical career and an outstanding career often rests on a fundamental metric: where does your financial planning and wealth management expertise truly rank when compared to your peers?

For financial advisors who want to demonstrate an elite professional pedigree to current and prospective high-net-worth (HNW) clients, earning an advanced certification from the Investments & Wealth Institute offers a reliable and proven path to success.

Recent research conducted by CEG Insights and published in the Investments & Wealth Review (January/February 2025) underscores this advantage. In a study of 1,093 financial advisors, teams and professionals holding Institute certifications demonstrated significant outperformance versus peers without Institute certifications. Two key metrics covered in the study revealed that:

• Teams that employ Institute-certified advisors consistently have much higher assets under management (AUM) than teams without Institute-certified advisors.

• Institute certified advisors typically capture a greater share of their clients’ investable assets — known as wallet share — when compared to their non-certified peers.

Each of the Institute’s designations — the Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®), Certified Private Wealth Advisor® (CPWA®), and Retirement Management Advisor® (RMA®) certifications — were shown to correlate with superior performance on these measures.

A Certified Difference Maker: Higher AUM

While some advisory practices are currently reassessing the tradition of pricing models based on AUM, there is no doubt that AUM remains a critical benchmark for quantifying success in the industry. While many individuals and teams struggle to break past smaller portfolio sizes (e.g., $400,000 or less), those teams with members who hold Institute certifications consistently outperform against the AUM measure.

For example, teams that include a CIMA certified professional manage an average of $659 million dollars —$267 million more than those without Institute designations (these teams typically manage around $392 million). This isn't just a marginal gain; it’s a transformative 67% leap that can redefine an advisor’s career trajectory. The advantage of Institute certification holds true for teams with RMA and CPWA certified professionals as well. Teams with RMA professionals manage approximately 28% more AUM than teams without any Institute designations, and teams with CPWA certified professionals manage approximately 23% more AUM than teams without any Institute designations. Teams that hold all three certifications manage an average of over $612 million dollars, which is 56% more than teams without any Institute certified representation.

For financial advisors looking to bridge the gap between a typical practice and an elite one that successfully caters to HNW clients, pursuing an Institute certification could be the decision that makes all the difference in the world.

Don’t Forget: The Wallet Share Matters Too

The idea of wallet share — or the percentage of a client's total investable assets managed by an advisor — is one measure of the relative strength of the advisor and client relationship, with higher wallet share signifying a more robust and trust-based engagement. While many advisors focus on acquiring new clients, elevating wallet share within existing relationships can also serve as a strategic path to growth. As more and more HNW clients seek advisors who can offer holistic financial guidance, striving to maximize wallet share is a deft strategy.

Advisors with Institute certifications consistently outperform their peers in managing a larger share of their clients’ assets. For instance, 28.6% of CIMA-certified advisors manage between 76% and 100% of their clients’ investable assets, significantly higher than the 18.6% of non-certified advisors who achieve this level of engagement. CPWA-certified advisors also excel in this metric, managing over half of their clients' assets in 73% of the time.

These detailed statistics confirm the Institute’s unique value proposition: advanced training and education translate directly into stronger client relationships, larger AUM, and greater share of wallet. By mastering complex investment strategies, sophisticated wealth planning techniques, and advanced retirement solutions, Institute-certified advisors are not only equipped to attract HNW clients but are also trusted to manage the majority of their financial assets. For advisors aiming to deepen client loyalty, enhance the profitability of their practice, and secure their status as indispensable financial partners, an Institute certification is a strategic advantage that consistently delivers results.

Conclusion: Elevate Your Practice with IWI Certifications

The path to serving on an elite wealth management team or becoming a financial advisor serving HNW clients is never going to be easy — but gaining the industry’s leading certifications can make an enormous contribution towards achieving your goals. Whether through the advanced portfolio construction skills of a CIMA professional, the sophisticated wealth strategies of a CPWA advisor, or the retirement planning expertise of an RMA designee, Institute certified advisors consistently outperform their peers in team AUM and share of wallet. These voluntary certifications are proven to be exceptionally powerful tools.

Advisors who invest in themselves through Institute certifications significantly differentiate their practice in the competition for HNW clients. In addition to the proven benefits of Institute designations, Institute certified professionals also join a dynamic membership community, filled with top-tier industry peers and gain ongoing access to Ivy League-quality continuing education, ensuring their expertise remains up to date and their skills stay sharp in a constantly evolving profession.