At Babb Financial Group, the letters after our names aren’t decoration — they’re proof of years of study, challenging exams, real-world experience, and ongoing education. Each set of initials shows we’ve been tested in specific areas of finance, tax, planning, or insurance, and that we’re held to strict professional and ethical standards.
We know it’s not always easy to decode what those letters mean. To make it simple, here’s a guide to our “alphabet soup” of credentials, what they cover, and the standards we meet to keep them.
CFP® – Certified Financial Planner
Issuer: Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board).
Requirements: Completion of a CFP Board–approved education program, a 6-hour exam covering investments, tax, insurance, retirement, and estate planning, plus 6,000 hours of professional experience (or a 4,000-hour apprenticeship). Candidates must also pass an ethics review. To maintain certification, CFP® professionals complete 30 hours of continuing education every two years, including ethics training (CFP Board).
Knowledge breadth: Comprehensive personal financial planning with a fiduciary duty to act in clients’ best interests.
CPA – Certified Public Accountant
Issuer: State Boards of Accountancy (standards guided by AICPA and NASBA).
Requirements: At least 150 semester hours of college-level education, passage of the four-part Uniform CPA Exam (covering auditing, financial accounting, taxation, and business concepts), and 1–2 years of supervised experience. CPAs must also pass ethics requirements in many states. Ongoing requirements include annual continuing professional education, often 40 hours per year (NASBA).
Knowledge breadth: Financial accounting, auditing, business law, and tax law. CPAs are licensed to sign audit reports and represent clients before the IRS.
EA – Enrolled Agent
Issuer: U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Requirements: Passing the IRS Special Enrollment Examination, a three-part test on individual and business tax and IRS practice or qualifying through significant IRS experience. Applicants undergo a background check. To keep the credential, EAs complete 72 hours of continuing education every three years, with a minimum of 16 hours annually and 2 in ethics (IRS).
Knowledge breadth: Comprehensive federal tax law and IRS representation rights.
CSLP® – Certified Student Loan Professional
Issuer: CSLA Board of Standards.
Requirements: Candidates must already hold a professional license or designation (e.g., CFP®, CPA, EA). They complete structured coursework and pass a certification exam on federal and private student loans, repayment strategies, and loan forgiveness. Renewal requires an annual exam to maintain current knowledge (CSLA Board of Standards). Knowledge breadth: Student loan regulations, repayment planning, and integration with financial planning.
TPCP ® – Tax Planning Certified Professional
Issuer: The American College of Financial Services.
Requirements: At least three years of industry experience, plus completion of three graduate-level courses focused on tax planning for individuals and small businesses. Each course has a proctored exam. Holders must complete 30 hours of continuing education every two years, including ethics (The American College).
Knowledge breadth: Strategic tax planning for investments, retirement, small business, and estate planning.
FPQP™ – Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional™
Issuer: College for Financial Planning.
Requirements: Completion of a self-study program covering the fundamentals of financial planning and passing a final exam. Holders must complete 16 hours of continuing education every two years. (College for Financial Planning).
Knowledge breadth: Budgeting, insurance, retirement, tax, and investment basics to support lead advisors.
CVA® – Certified Valuation Analyst
Issuer: National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA).
Requirements: Candidates must be CPAs or hold a business degree with valuation experience. They must complete training, pass a five-hour exam, and submit a sample valuation report or case study. Continuing education of 36 hours every three years is required (NACVA).
Knowledge breadth: Business valuation theory and practice, including financial analysis, income and market valuation methods, and professional standards.
Series 65 – Uniform Investment Adviser Law Exam
Issuer: NASAA; administered by FINRA, with registration at the state level.
Requirements: A 180-minute exam with 130 scored questions. Passing requires 72% or higher. Some states also require background checks and registration fees. NASAA has implemented annual continuing education for Investment Adviser Representatives in adopting states (NASAA).
Knowledge breadth: Investment products, portfolio management, securities laws, and fiduciary duties.
Series 66 – Uniform Combined State Law Exam
Issuer: NASAA; administered by FINRA, used for state registration.
Requirements: Taken alongside the Series 7 license. The exam includes 100 scored questions over 150 minutes. Passing requires a score of 73% (NASAA).
Knowledge breadth: Combines material from Series 63 (state securities law) and Series 65 (advisory law), allowing both brokerage and advisory functions.
Life & Health Insurance License
Issuer: State Departments of Insurance.
Requirements: State-specific pre-licensing education (commonly 20–40 hours), a licensing exam, background check, and continuing education (for example, 24 hours every two years in many states) (NAIC/State DOIs).
Knowledge breadth: Life, health, disability, long-term care insurance, and related state regulations.
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