Industry expertise

Private Wealth Advisor is a designation of distinction awarded by Raymond James to qualified candidates that successfully complete the rigorous curriculum and commit to continued education to stay current on innovative strategies for managing wealth and addressing an evolving investment landscape.

When you work with a Private Wealth Advisor, you can count on having a financial professional dedicated to building a trusted relationship with you, understanding your complex needs and always being ready to address the essential financial matters in your life. Learn more about Private Wealth Management.

These professionals have met extensive experience and ethical requirements, in addition to successfully completing advanced investment management consulting coursework through the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Applying state-of-the-art investment theory, CIMA® professionals provide objective investment advice and guidance to individuals and institutions. They integrate a complex body of investment knowledge systematically and ethically to help clients make prudent investment decisions. Ongoing continuing education requirements must be met, and they must also adhere to IMCA’s Code of Professional Responsibility and Standards of Practice.

This designation represents knowledge of a global fiduciary standard of excellence and application of those standards into our practice. AIF® designees are committed to using the knowledge and resources gained through their training to put uniform, industry-recognized processes in place for developing a personalized investment strategy based solely on your specific investment needs.

Striving for an optimal balance of risk and return, as well as portfolio diversification, a fiduciary must exercise care, skill, diligence and objectivity in evaluating, recommending and reviewing investment options. As part of the standards required, a fiduciary must manage and report performance, recommend changes when necessary and conduct ongoing reviews of business practices to ensure fiduciary principles are being properly applied.

Additionally, part of the training includes evaluating the fiduciary practices of investment stewards such as 401(k) and defined benefit plan sponsors and those responsible for managing endowment and foundation assets, as well as continuing education training to keep up to date with changes in the industry and the ongoing evolution of legal requirements under the fiduciary standard.

Most people think that all financial planners are “certified,” but this isn’t true. Anyone can call himself or herself a “financial planner.” Only those who have fulfilled the certification and renewal requirements of CFP Board can display the CFP® certification marks. Individuals certified by the CFP Board have taken the extra step to demonstrate their professionalism by voluntarily submitting to the rigorous CFP® certification process that includes demanding education, examination, experience and ethical requirements.

The CPFA® demonstrates the advisor’s knowledge, expertise and commitment to working with retirement plans. Plan advisors who earn their CPFA demonstrate the expertise required to act as a plan fiduciary or help plan fiduciaries manage their responsibilities.

AAMS® designees are required to have a deep understanding of investment management concepts such as portfolio management, asset allocation optimization and risk analysis. They are also committed to adhering to high ethical standards and their clients’ best interest, offering personalized, collaborative service.

The Wealth Management Specialist™ certificate is awarded by the College for Financial Planning to individuals who have completed a series of rigorous courses on topics such as investment strategies, retirement planning, estate planning, asset allocation and investment taxation and have also signed a code of ethics declaration.

The Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) is a unique designation for financial professionals who advise business owners on how to sell or transition their business successfully, a strategy referred to as ‘exit planning’. The CEPA designation was established in 2007 by the Exit Planning Institute (EPI), a company focused on educating professional advisors globally on how they can support the success of business owners to maximize value and sell on their terms through a business transition.

The Certified Wealth Strategist^® incorporates three competencies required to be productive and effective as a wealth advisor: Creating business routines, applying client interaction and relationship skills and obtaining competency in the technical wealth management issues faced by the High-Net-Worth market. Participants achieve significant levels of mastery and business growth by integrating financial advice competency with the ability to deliver expertise from multiple real-world perspectives.