-Leading Educational Institution for Financial Services Professionals Unveils Curriculum for Those Specializing in Retirement Income Planning-

BRYN MAWR, Pa., April 25, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American College, the nation's largest non-profit educational institution devoted to financial services, today announces the launch of the Retirement Income Certified Professional™ (RICP™) designation. With early enrollment open for only a few weeks, hundreds of students have already signed up for the new program. The first program graduates are expected to earn the designation by March 2013.

The rigorous three-course credential helps advisors master retirement income planning, a key focus area not fully covered in other professional designation programs. From retirement portfolio management techniques and mitigation of plan risks to the proper use of annuities, employer-sponsored benefits and determining the best Social Security claiming age, the RICP™ provides a wealth of practical information for advisors.

Those who focus on retirement income planning in their practices will want this critical information as well as those who have obtained other designations such as ChFC®, CPA®, CFA®, CFP® certification or CLU®.  There are no educational prerequisites to participate in the program.

"Over the next 17 years, more than 7,000 people will reach age 65 every day. Many have not saved enough for retirement and others are concerned about how to convert what savings they do have into reliable streams of retirement income," explains Laurence Barton, CAP®, Ph.D., president and CEO of The American College. "Advisors and company leaders alike were telling us the information offered by the RICP™ is 'must-have' knowledge to meet these needs and compete in the coming decade."

The RICP™ program includes contributions from some of the top retirement income specialists across the country, all delivered in an innovative online video format. David A. Littell, JD, ChFC®, CFP®, faculty member at The American College, charged with designing the program curriculum, sees the new RICP™ program as filling a critical gap in advisor education. "When we held a retirement summit at The College about a year ago with top practitioners, we discovered some serious gaps in education among advisors. The feedback received was overwhelming in that even the most credentialed, most experienced practitioners felt a real need for a more formalized comprehensive education on the issue of retirement income strategies. The only program of its kind, the RICP™ is designed to deliver what actual advisors want: techniques that are working in the drawdown phase of portfolio management," Littell says.

The American College constructed three courses required for completion of the RICP™. Course one is "Retirement Income Process, Strategies and Solutions," which is available now. The other two courses, which will be rolled out over the next nine months, cover "Sources of Retirement Income" followed by "Managing the Retirement Income Plan."  The program will take most advisors about a year to complete. 

The program features e-delivery with online videos and study materials. Typically, professional designation programs are built around textbooks. The RICP™ curriculum is uniquely based around online video lectures and interviews along with supplemental material and a comprehensive study guide. The program features in-depth videos and late-breaking insights and curriculum.

"The RICP™ curriculum appeals to many key experts in the financial industry- independent advisors, registered reps, advisors in banks and insurance professionals. We all have a duty to provide investors planning for retirement with sound advice on how to create sustainable income in retirement," says Barton.

For more information on the RICP™ curriculum, visit http://www.theamericancollege.edu/ads/ricp.

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David Littell
http://www.profnetconnect.com/davidlittell

About The American College:

The American College is the nation's largest non-profit educational institution devoted to financial services.  Holding the highest level of academic accreditation, The College has served as a valued business partner to banks, brokerage firms, insurance companies and others since 1927. The College has assembled a faculty of the foremost thought leaders in the industry to help companies and their employees succeed. The marks CLU®, ChFC®, RICP™, CASL®, CLF®, CAP®, REBC® and RHU® are the property of The American College and may be used by individuals who have successfully completed the initial and ongoing certification requirements for these designations. www.theamericancollege.edu

Gregory FCA for The American College

SOURCE The American College