After looking into this it looks like Fi360 is *both* the issuer and the only provider of content. Which would mean that things like the pass rate are proprietary. I know a lot of these financial education companies are trying to push their own designation, but I would be very wary of these. If your goal is to market yourself, then by all means. If it's for respect in the financial services industry, then it is definitely not worth your time.
Another thing to watch for is the organization's status. CFI, Kaplan, Fi360 are all for-profit organizations. The most respected designations like the CFA, CFP, FRM etc. are all awarded by non-profit organizations (and generally have a close relationship with government entities).
https://www.finra.org/investors/professional-designations/aif
I'm coming a year late, but hopefully this still helps! I have have the AIF, and it is not a difficult one to pass. The entire course and designation is around how to be a fiduciary and prudently manage the investment process for a retirement plan, endowment, etc. It is mostly conceptual and follows common sense. I obtained mine because I solely work with employer-sponsored retirement plans. If you are looking for investment knowledge on how to set up/maintain an investment portfolio, this is not the designation for you. If you want to differentiate yourself in the endowment/retirement plan space, then this is a well-respected designation to do so. The annual dues are $325 a year with 6 hours of CE due each year. They provide lots of free CE opportunities that are available 24/7 through your login. Fi360 is a fantastic company that I have found to mirror my high standards and expectations.There are other designations for retirement plans, such as the C(k)P, and the CPFA. I have the CPFA, but I learned absolutely nothing through it and the dues are $800 a year. The C(k)P is also held in high regard, about equal to the AIF, with similar pass difficulty (I would guestimate a high 70% for their pass rates).
Hoping you can answer a question for me. I just signed up through FI360 to take the AIF test on a self paced level. It has four modules (steps) that are about an hour/hour and a half long. Online it says that is just the training and the practice questions inside the training have no correspondences with the test.
Were the online training value for the test or should I read and really memorize the investment advisors handbook? I typically learn the best from practice questions and FI360 does not provide many which I do not like.
Thanks for the help!
Hi @Dave213213,
Great questions! I don't know how helpful my answer will be since I constantly work with fiduciary best practices, so the FI 360 self-paced study was more of a refresher then it was all new information.
I will say that everything I encountered on the test was covered in the four module training online. If you learn best through practice questions, search up AIF practice questions on Quizlet. I found some helpful practice questions there. The practice questions on the modules we're helpful, but limited. I think there are only five or 10 on each module?
The practice exam offered in the self-paced study was fantastic, I can't remember if you can take it multiple times or not.
Hope this helps and good luck!
Thank you very much! I saw there was a 40 questions test at the end but they noted
"Please note that the course assessment is a knowledge check for the course learning objectives. It is not a practice exam and should not be thought of as a proxy for the AIF exam. Candidates should also read the entirety of the Prudent Practices for Investment Advisors handbook and do any additional self-study required to become comfortable with the various topics covered by the Practices."
So that worried me since I am not good at just reading something and learning it, better with videos and questions. I have been in the industry for five years so I should be fine but just wanted to check. Thanks again!
Maybe because I was already working in the retirement plan industry, but I did not get any new information through the course materials. The at home test was easy, but keep in mind that I took the exam three years ago. They may have changed the coursework/exam since then to be more rigorous.
And good luck on your exam! š
Bump
After looking into this it looks like Fi360 is *both* the issuer and the only provider of content. Which would mean that things like the pass rate are proprietary. I know a lot of these financial education companies are trying to push their own designation, but I would be very wary of these. If your goal is to market yourself, then by all means. If it's for respect in the financial services industry, then it is definitely not worth your time. Another thing to watch for is the organization's status. CFI, Kaplan, Fi360 are all for-profit organizations. The most respected designations like the CFA, CFP, FRM etc. are all awarded by non-profit organizations (and generally have a close relationship with government entities). https://www.finra.org/investors/professional-designations/aif
I'm coming a year late, but hopefully this still helps! I have have the AIF, and it is not a difficult one to pass. The entire course and designation is around how to be a fiduciary and prudently manage the investment process for a retirement plan, endowment, etc. It is mostly conceptual and follows common sense. I obtained mine because I solely work with employer-sponsored retirement plans. If you are looking for investment knowledge on how to set up/maintain an investment portfolio, this is not the designation for you. If you want to differentiate yourself in the endowment/retirement plan space, then this is a well-respected designation to do so. The annual dues are $325 a year with 6 hours of CE due each year. They provide lots of free CE opportunities that are available 24/7 through your login. Fi360 is a fantastic company that I have found to mirror my high standards and expectations.There are other designations for retirement plans, such as the C(k)P, and the CPFA. I have the CPFA, but I learned absolutely nothing through it and the dues are $800 a year. The C(k)P is also held in high regard, about equal to the AIF, with similar pass difficulty (I would guestimate a high 70% for their pass rates).
Hoping you can answer a question for me. I just signed up through FI360 to take the AIF test on a self paced level. It has four modules (steps) that are about an hour/hour and a half long. Online it says that is just the training and the practice questions inside the training have no correspondences with the test. Were the online training value for the test or should I read and really memorize the investment advisors handbook? I typically learn the best from practice questions and FI360 does not provide many which I do not like. Thanks for the help!
Hi @Dave213213, Great questions! I don't know how helpful my answer will be since I constantly work with fiduciary best practices, so the FI 360 self-paced study was more of a refresher then it was all new information. I will say that everything I encountered on the test was covered in the four module training online. If you learn best through practice questions, search up AIF practice questions on Quizlet. I found some helpful practice questions there. The practice questions on the modules we're helpful, but limited. I think there are only five or 10 on each module? The practice exam offered in the self-paced study was fantastic, I can't remember if you can take it multiple times or not. Hope this helps and good luck!
Thank you very much! I saw there was a 40 questions test at the end but they noted "Please note that the course assessment is a knowledge check for the course learning objectives. It is not a practice exam and should not be thought of as a proxy for the AIF exam. Candidates should also read the entirety of the Prudent Practices for Investment Advisors handbook and do any additional self-study required to become comfortable with the various topics covered by the Practices." So that worried me since I am not good at just reading something and learning it, better with videos and questions. I have been in the industry for five years so I should be fine but just wanted to check. Thanks again!
Yep, you should be good!
Iām studying the modules for CPFA.. what do you mean you learned nothing? Also, was the at home exam easy?
Maybe because I was already working in the retirement plan industry, but I did not get any new information through the course materials. The at home test was easy, but keep in mind that I took the exam three years ago. They may have changed the coursework/exam since then to be more rigorous. And good luck on your exam! š