Certified Fund Specialist - Explained
What is a Certified Fund Specialist?
Written by J. Mance Gordon
Updated at April 22nd, 2024
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What is a Certified Fund Specialist?
The Institute of Business and Finance (IBF) issues a certificate to individuals with expertise in mutual funds who pass their certification exams. The professional holds the designation Certified Fund Specialist (CFS).
CFS Test Outline
To obtain a CFS certification, applicants are required to pay a registration and tuition fee of $1,365 per applicant. Examination fee, materials, and textbooks fee are included in the fee charged.
Before individuals sit for the CFS eam, they must have taken a six-module self-study program.
Here are the major areas in which individuals receive training:
- Mutual funds
- Tax laws
- Closed-end funds
- Exchange-traded funds (ETFs)
- Real estate investment trusts (REITs)
- Fund selection and fund analysis
- Risk management
- Asset allocation
- Estate planning and investment.
The applicant must have a bachelor's degree and undertake 2,000 hours of financial services work experience.
Those who can obtain the CFS certification include:
- Money managers
- Stock brokers
- Bankers Bank
- Managers
- Accountants
- Financial advisors and
- Financial planners