ROCKFORD (WIFR) – Savant Capital Management, a nationally recognized fee-only wealth management firm, is pleased to announce that four employees recently earned professional designations.
Gabriel Gonzalez and Derek Carter have earned the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation. Gonzalez is a financial advisor in Savant’s Geneva office and a member of the Advisory Team with over eight years of experience in the financial services industry. Carter is a trader/portfolio coordinator in Savant’s Rockford office and a member of the Investment Research Team with over nine years of experience in the financial services industry.
According to the CFPBoard of Standards, Inc., CFP certificants must pass the comprehensive CFP Certification Examination, pass the CFP Board’s Candidate Fitness Standards, agree to abide by the CFP Board’s Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility which puts clients’ interests first, and comply with the Financial Planning Practice Standards which spell out what clients should be able to reasonably expect from the financial planning engagement. To become certified, applicants must complete the “4 E’s”—Education, Examination, Experience and Ethics.
Wendy Blair has earned the Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF) designation. Blair is a financial advisor in Savan’s Freeport office and a member of the Advisory Team with over 25 years of experience in the trust business.
The AIF designation certifies that the recipient has specialized knowledge of fiduciary standards of care and their application to the investment management process. To receive the AIF designation, individuals must complete a training program, successfully pass a comprehensive, closed-book final examination under the supervision of a proctor and agree to abide by the AIF Code of Ethics.
Penny Post-Freeman has earned the Registered Paraplanner (RP) designation. Post-Freeman is the office manager and client services coordinator in Savant’s Peoria office and a member of the Concierge Team. She has over 28 years of experience in the financial services industry.
Individuals who hold the RP designation have completed a course of study encompassing the financial planning process, the five disciplines of financial planning and general financial planning concepts, terminology and product categories. Individuals also complete a three-month long internship. Additionally, individuals must pass an end-of-course examination that tests their ability to synthesize complex concepts and apply theoretical concepts to real-life situations.
