Institute of Business & Finance Announces a New CAS® Designee

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Feb 11, 2015, 05:54 ET

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 11, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Institute of Business & Finance (IBF) recently awarded Joshua Kehm of Active Money Management, Inc., Phoenix, AZ with the only nationally recognized annuity designation, CAS^® (Certified Annuity Specialist^®). This graduate-level designation is conferred upon candidates who complete a 135+ hour educational program focusing on fixed-rate and variable annuities. Several trillion dollars are invested in annuities; it is estimated that at least one third of all annuity contracts are not titled correctly.

CAS^® certification requires mastery of contract structure, tax ramifications, strategies, income structuring, equity-indexed products and principals of asset allocation. According to IBF, "Annuities can provide the cornerstone of an effective financial or estate plan. The practitioner and client need to understand when such an investment vehicle is appropriate and when it should be avoided."

The student must pass three comprehensive exams, complete a written case study as well as adhere to the IBF Code of Ethics and IBF Standards of Practice as well as fulfill annual continuing education requirements. The CAS^® program is designed for brokers and advisors who have clients seeking estate preservation protection, an income stream they cannot outlive, tax benefits or the upside potential of the stock market without any downside risk.

ABOUT THE INSTITUTE OF BUSINESS & FINANCE – Founded in 1988, IBF is a non-profit provider of financial education and designations to members of the financial services industry. IBF is the fourth oldest provider of financial certification marks in the United States. In 1988, IBF launched its first certification program, CFS^® (Certified Fund Specialist^®). Today IBF offers four additional financial designation programs: CAS^® (Certified Annuity Specialist^®), CES^™ (Certified Estate and Trust Specialist^™), CIS^™ (Certified Income Specialist^™) and CTS^™ (Certified Tax Specialist^™).