{"id":841,"date":"2018-07-12T17:48:00","date_gmt":"2018-07-12T17:48:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.afcpe.org\/?page_id=841"},"modified":"2025-03-03T14:37:08","modified_gmt":"2025-03-03T19:37:08","slug":"afc-core-competencies","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.afcpe.org\/certification\/accredited-financial-counselor\/afc-core-competencies\/","title":{"rendered":"AFC Core Competencies"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"841\" class=\"elementor elementor-841\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-fb6bd2c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-eae-slider=\"15755\" data-id=\"fb6bd2c\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4a2c974\" data-eae-slider=\"88407\" data-id=\"4a2c974\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b90edf6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b90edf6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 style=\"color: #7a7a7a;\"><span style=\"color: #5d89b3;\">The AFC<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> certification mark represents the highest standard of excellence in the field of financial counseling and education.<\/span><\/h2><p>The path to AFC\u00a0certification is intentionally designed as one of the most rigorous and thorough programs in the industry. As an AFC, you gain not only credibility in your field, but confidence in your actions. You aren\u2019t satisfied with best guesses and gut reactions, and neither are we. The AFC certification program is guided by research, rooted in academia, and supported by industry experts.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1e83e59 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image_button\" data-id=\"1e83e59\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image_button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image-button-wrapper video-button\" style=\"background-image: url('https:\/\/www.afcpe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/afcpe-afc-dora-Mays2018.jpg');\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"button button-block\"\n\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch_popup?v=qK-GZ-hgRQ8&list=PLinFRuk-bOJwP-Cvth-cDQxsVKEmhDI_h&index=3\"\n\t\t\t\ttarget=\"_blank\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\tThe Value of an AFC<sup>&reg;<\/sup> | Dr. Dora Mays, AFC<sup>&reg;<\/sup>\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-17cc14d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"17cc14d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2><span style=\"color: #5d89b3;\"><strong style=\"font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 1.15em;\">AFC<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"color: #5d89b3;\"><strong><sup>\u00ae<\/sup><\/strong> <\/span><span style=\"color: #5d89b3;\"><strong style=\"font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 1.15em;\">Core Competencies<\/strong><\/span><\/h2><p>AFC\u00a0certification helps you better understand how diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences impact your clients\u2019 money behaviors. A lens of cultural competency is woven throughout the program.\u00a0<\/p><p>The AFC Core Competencies guide our education pathways and serve as an outline for the exam.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-be90223 elementor-widget elementor-widget-toggle\" data-id=\"be90223\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"toggle.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1991\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1991\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">1. Set the Stage and Gather Client Information (15%)<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1991\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1991\"><ol style=\"list-style-type: upper-alpha;\"><li>Establish the counseling environment<ol><li>Create an inclusive, welcoming, and private space<\/li><li>Provide an overview of the financial counseling process<\/li><li>Inform client of the terms of the client\u2010counselor relationship (for example: confidentiality, privacy, ethics, client and counselor roles and responsibilities, fiduciary)<\/li><li>Model effective communication and listening techniques<\/li><\/ol><\/li><li>Gather client information<ol><li>Determine what a client wants to accomplish<\/li><li>Determine a client\u2019s current financial and socio\u2010economic situations (for example: demographics, income, expenses, debt, savings, assets, liabilities, risk management products)<\/li><li>Help client identify personal resources and gaps (for example: knowledge, skills, abilities, support systems)<\/li><li>Clarify the client\u2019s interests, experiences, values, money personalities, and cultural norms<\/li><\/ol><\/li><li>Form a strategic counseling plan<ol><li>Choose a counseling approach based on client&#8217;s need<\/li><li>Assist a client to move through the counseling process<\/li><li>Use multi-modal counseling and education strategies<\/li><li>Assess the ongoing effectiveness of the counseling process for a client (for example: checking in with a client, responding to the client-counselor dynamic)<\/li><\/ol><\/li><\/ol><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1992\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1992\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">2. Assist a Client in Creating an Action Plan (10%)<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1992\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1992\"><ol style=\"list-style-type: upper-alpha;\"><li>Assist a client in establishing goals<ol><li>Confirm the client\u2019s goals are under their control<\/li><li>Assist a client to prioritize their goal(s)<\/li><li>Assist a client to develop S.M.A.R.T. goals<\/li><\/ol><\/li><li>Assist a client to identify strategies to attain goals<ol><li>Brainstorm possible strategies with a client<\/li><li>Evaluate possible strategies with a client incorporating the effect of the prevailing economy on strategies<\/li><li>Identify action steps to implement the chosen strategy<\/li><li>Help a client develop a system to monitor strategies (for example: track daily spending, track progress towards goals)<\/li><\/ol><\/li><\/ol><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1993\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1993\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">3. Educate a Client about Financial Statements, Ratios, and Spending Plans (11%)<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1993\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1993\"><ol style=\"list-style-type: upper-alpha;\"><li>Educate a Client about Spending Plans\/Cash Flow Statement<ol><li>Explain the purpose of a spending plan\/cash flow statement<\/li><li>Assist a client to review\/track current spending<\/li><li>Explain various budgeting methods<\/li><li>Assist a client to prioritize their expenses<\/li><li>Assist a client to develop options to fund expenses<\/li><li>Assist a client to develop and manage a spending plan aligned with goals<\/li><li>Brainstorm strategies with a client for increasing income and decreasing expenses<\/li><\/ol><\/li><li>Educate a client about a net worth statement<ol><li>Explain the purpose of a net worth statement and the process of creating one<\/li><li>Analyze the net worth statement and address client concerns<\/li><\/ol><\/li><li>Educate a client about personal financial ratios<ol><li>Assist a client to calculate relevant financial ratios (e.g., debt-to-income, basic liquidity, front-end\/back-end housing)<\/li><li>Assist a client to understand and analyze financial ratios<\/li><\/ol><\/li><\/ol><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1994\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1994\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">4. Manage Money (13%)<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1994\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1994\"><ol style=\"list-style-type: upper-alpha;\"><li>Educate a client about financial services<ol><li>Describe various saving methods<\/li><li>Educate a client about basic banking<\/li><li>Brainstorm savings and borrowing strategies for the unbanked<\/li><li>Assist a client in understanding the need to accumulate and manage an emergency fund<\/li><li>Guide a client through the components of electronic money management<\/li><\/ol><\/li><li>Familiarize a client about basic tax management<ol><li>Analyze a client\u2019s previous year income tax returns<\/li><li>Assist a client to determine potential withholding adjustments<\/li><li>Discuss strategies to maximize deductions and credits<\/li><li>Discuss the implications of the current tax regulations<\/li><li>Assist a client in identifying reputable and qualified tax preparation services<\/li><li>Educate a client on the consequences of not filing their income taxes on time<\/li><li>Discuss how to use a tax refund to support a client&#8217;s financial goals<\/li><\/ol><\/li><li>Discuss employment considerations with a client<ol><li>Identify sources of employment and contract income<\/li><li>Assist a client in identifying, understanding, and optimizing employment benefits<\/li><li>Assist a client in interpreting information in a pay statement<\/li><li>Assist a client in preparation for possible unemployment and educate them about unemployment resources<\/li><li>Assist a client in evaluating job offers (including but not limited to compensation packages and benefits)<\/li><\/ol><\/li><\/ol><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1995\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"5\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1995\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">5. Educate a Client about Credit and Debt (15%)<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1995\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"5\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1995\"><ol style=\"list-style-type: upper-alpha;\"><li>Educate a client about uses of credit<ol><li>Educate a client about the productive and counterproductive uses of credit<\/li><li>Educate a client about criteria to obtain credit<\/li><li>Educate a client about financial record keeping<\/li><\/ol><\/li><li>Educate a client about credit reports and scores<ol><li>Educate a client about accessing, reviewing, and disputing errors on their credit reports<\/li><li>Educate a client about how\/why to build, rebuild, or maintain a strong credit report<\/li><li>Educate a client about factors affecting credit scores<\/li><li>Educate a client about how to obtain and monitor credit scores<\/li><li>Educate a client about credit repair scams<\/li><\/ol><\/li><li>Educate a client about credit products<ol><li>Educate a client about types of credit<\/li><li>Educate a client about installment loans and credit lines<\/li><li>Educate a client about evaluating, selecting, and managing credit cards<\/li><li>Educate a client about education funding including student loans<\/li><li>Educate a client about short-term financing options and alternative financial services<\/li><li>Educate a client about responsible uses of credit<\/li><\/ol><\/li><li>Educate a client on debt management<ol><li>Assist a client to evaluate the level\/cost of indebtedness<\/li><li>Assist client in identifying strategies to reduce debt<\/li><li>Discuss consequences of default<\/li><li>Educate a client about debt consolidation, restructuring, and rolling over debt<\/li><li>Educate a client about debt management scams<\/li><li>Educate a client about the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the advanced stages of the collection process<\/li><li>Educate a client about bankruptcy basics<\/li><\/ol><\/li><li>Educate a client about identity theft<ol><li>Educate a client on how to minimize the risks of identity theft<\/li><li>Assist a client in recovering from identity theft<\/li><\/ol><\/li><\/ol><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1996\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"6\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1996\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">6. Educate a Client about Major Acquisitions (13%)<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1996\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"6\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1996\"><ol style=\"list-style-type: upper-alpha;\"><li>Acquire property<ol><li>Assist a client in assessing the feasibility of major purchases in relation to their goals and values<\/li><li>Educate a client about the importance of pre-purchase research and the impact of price negotiation<\/li><li>Discuss acquisition options with a client whether to purchase, lease, or rent-to-own<\/li><li>Discuss warranties and service contracts<\/li><li>Discuss the implications of rolling negative equity into a new purchase<\/li><li>Educate a client about the consumer complaint process<\/li><\/ol><\/li><li>Educate a client about renting a home<ol><li>Assist a client in determining an affordable rent<\/li><li>Educate a client about how to compare rental options based on wants and needs<\/li><li>Educate a client about the importance of rental agreements (lease)<\/li><li>Help a client identify resources on landlord and tenant rights and responsibilities<\/li><\/ol><\/li><li>Educate a client about buying and selling a home<ol><li>Facilitate a client\u2019s consideration of pros and cons of owning or renting a home based on current and future needs and wants<\/li><li>Assist a client in determining total housing expenses they can afford<\/li><li>Educate a client about the home buying and selling process<\/li><li>Educate a client about refinancing a mortgage<\/li><li>Educate a client about options when a mortgage becomes unaffordable<\/li><li>Review options with a client about what to do with the proceeds of a home sale<\/li><\/ol><\/li><li>Educate a client about consumer rights<ol><li>Understand the general purpose and key provisions of each of the following:<br \/><ol style=\"list-style-type: lower-alpha;\"><li>Equal Credit Opportunity Act<\/li><li>Truth in Lending Act<\/li><li>Fair Credit Reporting Act<\/li><li>Fair Credit Billing Act<\/li><li>Fair Debt Collections Practices Act<\/li><li>Fair and Accurate Transactions Act<\/li><li>Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure Act<\/li><li>Fair Housing Act<\/li><\/ol><\/li><li>Identify consumer advocate resources<\/li><\/ol><\/li><\/ol><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1997\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"7\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1997\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">7. Manage Financial Risks (8%)<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1997\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"7\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1997\"><ol style=\"list-style-type: upper-alpha;\"><li>Educate a client about financial risk<ol><li>Identify sources of financial risk<\/li><li>Assist a client in identifying risks, risk management strategies, and creating a risk management plan<\/li><li>Assist a client in periodically reviewing risk management plan and insurance needs<\/li><\/ol><\/li><li>Educate a client about insurance products<ol><li>Educate a client about commonly used insurance terminology<\/li><li>Educate a client about property and liability insurance<\/li><li>Educate a client about health insurance<\/li><li>Educate a client about life insurance<\/li><li>Educate a client about disability insurance<\/li><li>Educate a client about long-term care considerations<\/li><\/ol><\/li><\/ol><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1998\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"8\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1998\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">8. Discuss Investment Basics with a Client (7%)<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1998\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"8\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1998\"><ol style=\"list-style-type: upper-alpha;\"><li>Educate a client about investment fundamentals<ol><li>Educate a client about commonly used investment terminology<\/li><li>Assist a client in determining saving and investing goals, priorities and risk tolerance<\/li><li>Explain common investment types, strategies, fees, and risks<\/li><li>Educate a client about different types of financial professionals and selection criteria<\/li><\/ol><\/li><li>Educate a client about investment choices<ol><li>Educate a client about the characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages of investment options<\/li><li>Educate a client about investment resources and evaluation tools<\/li><\/ol><\/li><li>Educate a client about investor protection<ol><li>Educate a client about investor protection clauses or programs<\/li><li>Educate a client about investment fraud<\/li><\/ol><\/li><\/ol><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1999\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"9\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1999\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">9. Educate a Client about the Financial Aspects of Retirement and Estate Planning (8%)<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1999\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"9\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1999\"><ol style=\"list-style-type: upper-alpha;\"><li>Educate a client about retirement planning<ol><li>Assist a client in determining income needed to support preferred retirement lifestyle<\/li><li>Educate a client about retirement calculation tools<\/li><li>Educate a client about income sources in retirement<\/li><li>Explain tax-advantaged retirement accounts<\/li><li>Assist a retired\/near-retired client in budgeting for retirement\u00a0<\/li><\/ol><\/li><li>Educate a client about estate planning<ol><li>Educate a client about commonly used estate planning and end-of-life terminology<\/li><li>Educate a client about estate and end-of-life planning<\/li><li>Assist a client to determine when legal assistance is necessary for estate planning and educate them about selection criteria<\/li><\/ol><\/li><\/ol><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f2b654a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-eae-slider=\"47001\" data-id=\"f2b654a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a282fdf\" data-eae-slider=\"61192\" data-id=\"a282fdf\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0ebb360 elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"0ebb360\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.afcpe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/AFC-Exam-Content-Outline_2025.pdf\"\n\t\t\t\ttarget=\"_blank\"\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"button button-block\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\tDownload Exam Content Outline\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The AFC\u00ae certification mark represents the highest standard of excellence in the field of financial counseling and education. The path to AFC\u00a0certification is intentionally designed as one of the most rigorous and thorough programs in the industry. As an AFC, you gain not only credibility in your field, but confidence in your actions. You aren\u2019t satisfied with best guesses and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":94,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cbd_carousel_blocks":"[]","_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-841","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>AFC Core Competencies - AFCPE<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.afcpe.org\/certification\/accredited-financial-counselor\/afc-core-competencies\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"AFC Core Competencies - AFCPE\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The AFC\u00ae certification mark represents the highest standard of excellence in the field of financial counseling and education. The path to AFC\u00a0certification is intentionally designed as one of the most rigorous and thorough programs in the industry. As an AFC, you gain not only credibility in your field, but confidence in your actions. You aren\u2019t satisfied with best guesses and [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.afcpe.org\/certification\/accredited-financial-counselor\/afc-core-competencies\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"AFCPE\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-03-03T19:37:08+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"13 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.afcpe.org\/certification\/accredited-financial-counselor\/afc-core-competencies\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.afcpe.org\/certification\/accredited-financial-counselor\/afc-core-competencies\/\",\"name\":\"AFC Core Competencies - AFCPE\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.afcpe.org\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2018-07-12T17:48:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-03-03T19:37:08+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.afcpe.org\/certification\/accredited-financial-counselor\/afc-core-competencies\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.afcpe.org\/certification\/accredited-financial-counselor\/afc-core-competencies\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.afcpe.org\/certification\/accredited-financial-counselor\/afc-core-competencies\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.afcpe.org\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Certification\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.afcpe.org\/certification\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"AFC Accredited Financial Counselor\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.afcpe.org\/certification\/accredited-financial-counselor\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":4,\"name\":\"AFC Core Competencies\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.afcpe.org\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.afcpe.org\/\",\"name\":\"AFCPE\",\"description\":\"Association for Financial Counseling &amp; Planning Education\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.afcpe.org\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"AFC Core Competencies - AFCPE","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.afcpe.org\/certification\/accredited-financial-counselor\/afc-core-competencies\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"AFC Core Competencies - AFCPE","og_description":"The AFC\u00ae certification mark represents the highest standard of excellence in the field of financial counseling and education. The path to AFC\u00a0certification is intentionally designed as one of the most rigorous and thorough programs in the industry. As an AFC, you gain not only credibility in your field, but confidence in your actions. You aren\u2019t satisfied with best guesses and [&hellip;]","og_url":"https:\/\/www.afcpe.org\/certification\/accredited-financial-counselor\/afc-core-competencies\/","og_site_name":"AFCPE","article_modified_time":"2025-03-03T19:37:08+00:00","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"13 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.afcpe.org\/certification\/accredited-financial-counselor\/afc-core-competencies\/","url":"https:\/\/www.afcpe.org\/certification\/accredited-financial-counselor\/afc-core-competencies\/","name":"AFC Core Competencies - AFCPE","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.afcpe.org\/#website"},"datePublished":"2018-07-12T17:48:00+00:00","dateModified":"2025-03-03T19:37:08+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.afcpe.org\/certification\/accredited-financial-counselor\/afc-core-competencies\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.afcpe.org\/certification\/accredited-financial-counselor\/afc-core-competencies\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.afcpe.org\/certification\/accredited-financial-counselor\/afc-core-competencies\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.afcpe.org\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Certification","item":"https:\/\/www.afcpe.org\/certification\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"AFC Accredited Financial Counselor","item":"https:\/\/www.afcpe.org\/certification\/accredited-financial-counselor\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"AFC Core Competencies"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.afcpe.org\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.afcpe.org\/","name":"AFCPE","description":"Association for Financial Counseling &amp; Planning Education","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.afcpe.org\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.afcpe.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/841","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.afcpe.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.afcpe.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.afcpe.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.afcpe.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=841"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.afcpe.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/841\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.afcpe.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/94"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.afcpe.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=841"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}