ACP Membership Benefits

The Alliance of Comprehensive Planners provides a variety of benefits for all types of members. See below for a detailed listing of benefits per membership type.

Interested in more information on the ACP System™ and our training program?

Learn More

*New members will be considered Provisional Members until all membership requirements detailed in the attestation form are completed. 

Provisional members may not be listed in the “Find an Advisor” section of the ACP website, and may not be elected or appointed to the Board of Directors.

Quick Links

Membership Benefits


Training    ACP Tools    Community

Membership


Investment: $3,300/year
paid annually or monthly

$250 application fee

Join Now

Training

Self-Study Modules

Self-Study is the first step in your training and is available in electronic form on ACPConnect. ACP suggests you read through the modules in chronological order, completing each quiz as you go. Email the quiz(zes) to your ACP Member Concierge who will grade and return them, as well as inform you of available CE credits. You may choose to do the Bennett Case Study assignments that pertain to each chapter as you go along or later in your training.

See More

Compliance

As part of the membership fee, ACP offers several programs to help our members stay current on compliance matters.

Continuing Education Opportunities

CFP Board of Standards Sponsor, NASBA CPE Sponsor, IRS Accepted Provider, NAPFA CE credits (varies by session).

See More

ACP Annual Conference Registration

ACP Members will receive one complimentary Annual Conference registration during their first year of membership.

See More

Marketing Support

Just as you have invested (and will continue to invest) time and energy into gaining the knowledge and developing the skills to be an effective financial advisor, you will also need to invest time and energy into learning about marketing and building relationships. It’s a job that never ends. When you are opening your practice, it takes 100% of your time. When your practice is self-generating, it will take approximately 15% of your time. ACP gives you several tools to market yourself and your business.

See More

Live Group Instruction

The Live Group Instruction component of the ACP Success Program helps you become a more successful financial planner by reinforcing the skills needed to communicate the value you provide and by building your confidence in a variety of client scenarios.

See More

Mentoring

New members will be matched with seasoned ACP members who have similar backgrounds, areas of interest, and who have experienced similar pain points. This relationship is a cornerstone of ACP's philosophy and a unique component of our membership.

See More

ACP Tools

ACP Pyramid

A proprietary tool, The ACP Pyramid portrays your client’s entire investment picture at a glance, and your clients will enjoy seeing their net worth.

See More

Fee Calculator

See More

Cost Benefit Analysis

Discounts on Software, Compliance Support, & Services

Community

Access to Members Only Website

ACP’s award-winning online community, ACPConnect, puts you in direct contact with your colleagues in the fee-only financial community. Here you can find mentors and experts, and create the relationships in your industry that will help you succeed.

See More

Listing on Find An Advisor

See More

Career Development Webinars

Discussion Forum Full Access

Libraries

Membership Requirements

Certified Membership    Certified Member (New Member)    Associate Members    Additional Members in Firm    Student Members

ACP Certified Logo

Certified Membership

An individual is eligible to become an ACP member if he/she agrees to be bound by the ACP Canon of Ethics, Pledge to Clients, Intellectual Property Policy, and meets all educational and training requirements detailed below...

ACP Certified Logo

Certified Member (New Member)

  1. Have satisfactorily completed the ACP Success Program self-study training and virtual classroom.
  2. Abide by ACP Canon of Ethics.
  3. Adhere to ACP Pledge to Clients.
  4. Adhere to the ACP Policy on Trailing Commissions.
  5. Comply with all provisions of the ACP Intellectual Property Policy.
  6. Meet the definition of fee-only according to industry standards.
  7. Offer or supervise others who offer holistic financial planning services.
  8. Disclose to clients and on Form ADV all referral fees paid to third parties.
  9. Receive a positive recommendation from the ACP Membership Committee.
  10. Make timely payment of dues and fees.

Within One Year:

  1. Satisfactorily complete ACP Success Program Group Instruction.
  2. Register as RIA or equivalent with regulatory agencies.

Within Two Years:

  1. Attend one ACP Annual Conference.

Within Three Years:

  1. Complete requirements for a professional designation (CFP, CPA/PFS).

All ACP members are encouraged to become NAPFA Registered Financial Advisors. Certified members have voting privileges.

ACP Associate Logo

Associate Members

An individual is eligible to be an ACP Associate Member if he/she agrees to:

  1. Comply with ACP Intellectual Property Policy.
  2. Adhere to the ACP Policy on Trailing Commissions.
  3. Satisfactorily complete the ACP Success Program within one year of joining, including:
    1. Self-Study Modules and Quizzes.
    2. Virtual Classrooms (live or recorded).
  4. Make timely payment of dues and fees.

Associate members are not eligible for voting privileges.

Addtional Members in Firm

Additional advisors from a firm with a Certified ACP member may join ACP at the following rates:

  • Second advisor – $750 per year
  • Third advisor – $500 per year
  • Fourth and additional advisors – $250 per year

They may enroll in ACP training for $3,500.

Provisional Member Status for Additional Members in Firm (as of 11/2016)

Additional Members in Firm must comply with most requirements of full ACP members but can opt for one of two paths:

  1. Complete the full ACP Success Program.
  2. Under the supervision of a full ACP Member, complete modules and quizzes (virtual classrooms recommended).

Provisional members can vote but not serve on the board or be listed in “Find an Advisor” until completing one path.

Student Members

Student members must be enrolled in a graduate/undergraduate program in finance/financial planning, or in an accredited CFP® or PFS program. Eligibility is reviewed annually.

Ready to Join?

Tristique et egestas quis ipsum suspendisse ultrices gravida. Ipsum suspendisse ultrices gravida dictum fusce ut placerat. Ultrices tincidunt arcu non sodales neque sodales.


Join ACP