The RICP is a retirement income designation from The American College of Financial Services, earned with three courses and three years of experience.
Candidates complete two required courses and one elective, each with its own 100-question final exam; CFP professionals and ChFC holders need only the two required courses. They also need three years of experience in financial planning or a related field to use the designation.
To keep it, client-facing designees complete 30 hours of continuing education every two years, including one hour of ethics, pay an annual recertification fee, and agree to the College's Code of Ethics.
The RICP is a focused add-on rather than a full planning credential, and it doesn't say how someone is paid. Retirement income products such as annuities usually pay commissions, so ask how an advisor is paid before acting on an annuity recommendation. In the public graph, 92 fee-only advisors list an RICP.
How to check
Search the advisor's name on The American College's Verify a Designation page at youradvisorguide.com/verify, and check their registrations on the SEC's Investment Adviser Public Disclosure site.
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