Investments & Wealth Institute Announces Acquisition of Retirement Management Advisor Designation
Investments & Wealth Institute™ acquires Retirement Management Advisor℠ designation,
adds to premier investment and wealth management educational offerings
The Investments & Wealth Institute℠ (formerly IMCA) has announced its acquisition of the Retirement Management Advisor℠ (RMA℠) designation to enhance its existing education offerings for advanced investment and wealth management practitioners.
Previously administered by the Retirement Income Industry Association (RIIA), the RMA designation offers an “across the silos” approach to retirement income planning structured across all disciplines – not just insurance. The program gives an advisor practical tools, techniques, and methodologies that guide his/her decision-making. The result is a set of knowledge and skills that can satisfy their clients’ retirement income needs and wants while complying with the industry’s increasing regulations.
“The RMA acquisition adds to our current educational offerings and leverages training that focuses on building custom retirement income plans to mitigate risks and master the retirement planning advisory process,” said Scott Thayer, CIMA®, chairman of the board, Investments & Wealth Institute. “With the knowledge gained through the RMA designation, advisors can learn advanced strategies and options to better assist clients who are preparing for or living in retirement.”
“The Institute has a stellar reputation delivering high quality education through its Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®) and Certified Private Wealth Advisor® (CPWA®) designations, and we believe it is best positioned to take the RMA designation to the next level,” remarked Francois Gadenne, RMA®, CFA, co-founder, chairman, and executive director, RIIA. “We are excited for our members and designees. Through the Investments & Wealth Institute, they will continue to receive ongoing retirement content education, and they will receive high quality resources and support from a world-class organization.”
“Most of the retirement planning educational options available to advisors today were developed with a tilt toward specific product solutions,” explained Sean Walters, CAE, executive director and chief executive officer, “The RMA curriculum touches all of the knowledge domains within our Investments & Wealth Competency Matrix, so including this program into our offerings is a natural fit. Going forward, participants will be able to choose whether they want to earn an advanced certificate through the online course, or progress further and earn the right to use the RMA certification.”
In order to earn the RMA credential through the Investments & Wealth Institute, candidates must complete an online course component (Level 1), complete an in-person executive education offered in collaboration with premier business school instructors (Level 2), and pass a 100-question examination. To maintain the credential, RMA designees must meet ongoing CE requirements and abide by the Investments & Wealth Code of Professional Responsibility.
Over the next two years, the Institute plans to bolster the RMA curriculum, add new faculty, and to migrate the certification process toward industry best practices, so it can meet accreditation standards for personnel certification programs, as it has done with the CIMA certification program.
Pre-enrollment for 2018 courses is available at investmentsandwealth.org.
About the Investments & Wealth Institute
Established in 1985, The Investments and Wealth InstituteTM is a professional association, advanced education provider, and standards body for financial advisors, investment consultants, and wealth managers who embrace excellence and ethics. Serving individual members and certificants in 37 countries around the world, Institute members collectively manage more than $3 trillion, providing investment consulting and wealth management services to individual and institutional clients.
Since 1988, the Institute, formerly known as IMCA, has offered the Certified Investment Management Analyst® certification (CIMA®), which meets international accreditation standards (ANSI/ISO 17024) for personnel certification. The CIMA certification consistently distinguishes those who meet a global standard of competency and skills in investment management from those who do not. The Institute’s Certified Private Wealth Advisor® (CPWA®) certification is suited for wealth management professionals working with high-net-worth clients. In 2016, IMCA’s educational programs hosted more than 6,000 professionals.
The Investments & Wealth InstituteTM, IMCA® and Investment Management Consultants Association® are registered trademarks of Investment Management Consultants Association Inc. CIMA®, Certified Investment Management Analyst®, CIMC®, CPWA®, and Certified Private Wealth Advisor® are registered certification marks of the Investment Management Consultants Association Inc. DBA Investments & Wealth Institute. The Institute does not discriminate in educational opportunities or any other characteristic protected by law.
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