The American College of Financial Services

What The American College of Financial Services does

The American College of Financial Services is a private, nonprofit educational institution founded in 1927 and headquartered in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. It delivers professional designations (CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, RICP®, WMCP®, TPCP®, CAP®, ChSNC®, FSCP®, RSSA®, DAFCPTM), the Master of Science in Financial Planning, the AEP® graduate designation, shorter certificate programs, securities-licensing exam preparation, and a Knowledge Hub+ subscription for continuing education. The curriculum is delivered through a self-serve Learning Hub platform (hub.theamericancollege.edu) with phone-based admissions support, and the institution maintains eight Centers of Excellence covering retirement income, ethics, financial security, special needs planning, philanthropy, women in financial services, military and veterans affairs, and economic empowerment. Customer segments include practicing financial advisors (primary), financial-services employers (insurance carriers, broker-dealers, wealth managers, banks) who sponsor employee education, graduate-level professionals pursuing the MSFP/AEP, and consumers accessing the College's retail financial-literacy programs.

Revenue is generated through a mix of one-time program tuition, annual subscriptions (Knowledge Hub+), graduate program fees, corporate partnership contributions, continuing-education products, and conference registration (CAAFP). Pricing varies by program, with annual and lifetime-learning tuition arrangements; the College is an eligible institution under the Higher Education Act of 1965, enabling students to claim the Lifetime Learning Credit. Distribution is primarily direct-to-consumer online with inside-sales support, augmented by corporate partnerships for bulk enrollment, a Guild Education channel for employer-paid benefits, and events including the 20th annual CAAFP conference scheduled for August 2026 in Chicago. The institution is led by President and CEO George Nichols III, with managing directors heading each Center of Excellence and a faculty that includes Michael Finke (PhD, CFP®), Azish Filabi (JD, MA), Joellen Meckley (JD, ChSNC®), and Lindsey Lewis (MBA, CFP®, ChFC®). Recent strategic actions include the 2024 sunset of the CLF® and MSM programs, the February 2026 launch of the RSSA® designation in partnership with NARSSA, the addition of a Responsible AI Program Director, and active engagement with the Jump platform for AI-driven advisor-practice research.

Name

The American College of Financial Services

Legal name

The American College of Financial Services

Website

https://theamericancollege.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1927

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The American College of Financial Services is a nonprofit educational institution founded in 1927 that delivers professional designations (CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, RICP®, and others), the MSFP graduate degree, certificate programs, and continuing education to financial-services practitioners and their employers, serving 17,000+ enrolled students and 200,000+ alumni worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Financial Services Education and Professional Designations

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Financial Services & Insurance (FINRA, CFP, IAR, Insurance CE) (EDAAALAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Securities & Investment Licensing Exam Prep (FINRA Series 7/63/65/66, SIE) (EDANAIAJ), Finance, Accounting & Economics Schools (EDAHAHAD), Accounting & Finance Certification Prep (CPA, CMA, CFA, FRM) (EDANAIAD), Financial Accounting & Reporting (GAAP/IFRS) (EDABAJAB)

Keywords

• Professional financial education
• Financial planning designations
• Retirement income certification
• Continuing education financial
• Wealth management credentials

Headquarters

HQ city

Bryn Mawr

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Professional Designations and Certifications: Revenue from enrollment in professional designation programs including CFP®, ChFC®, RICP®, CLU®, TPCP®, WMCP®, CAP®, ChSNC®, FSCP®, RSSA®, and DAFCPTM. Programs include tuition fees and course materials.
2. Knowledge Hub+ Subscription: Annual subscription for on-demand continuing education content delivering over 80 hours of CFP Board-approved CE. Fees are non-refundable regardless of cancellation timing.
3. Master's Degrees and Graduate Programs: Graduate-level education including Master of Science in Financial Planning (MSFP) and AEP® designation.
4. Corporate Learning Partnerships: Enterprise agreements with companies for employee education and professional development programs.
5. Continuing Education and CE Credits: On-demand webcasts, Ed Slott IRA Success program, and Knowledge Hub+ platform for continuing education credits required for professional recertification.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The American College of Financial Services is a non-profit educational institution that delivers professional designations (CFP®, ChFC®, RICP®, CLU®, TPCP®, WMCP®, CAP®, ChSNC®, FSCP®, RSSA®, DAFCP™), master's degrees and graduate programs (MSFP, AEP®), certificate programs, securities licensing exam preparation, continuing education (Knowledge Hub+, Ed Slott IRA Success), and consumer financial education. Courses are delivered online through the Learning Hub, with corporate learning agreements enabling employer-sponsored enrollment.

Product overview

The American College of Financial Services is an educational institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of professional designations (CFP®, ChFC®, RICP®, WMCP®, TPCP®, CAP®, ChSNC®, CLU®, FSCP®, RSSA®, DAFCPTM), graduate degrees (MSFP, AEP®), certificate programs, continuing education, and consumer financial education. The portfolio includes 8 Centers of Excellence conducting research and advocacy in specialized areas. The College also operates Knowledge Hub+, an on-demand subscription platform for CE content, and a Learning Hub student portal. Key recent additions include the RSSA® Social Security designation (launched February 2026) distributed in partnership with NARSSA.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MSFP - Master of Science in Financial Planning: A master's degree program in financial planning
• Graduate Schools
• CFP - CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER
• RICP - Retirement Income Certified Professional
• CAP - Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy
• TPCP - Tax Planning Certified Professional
• ChSNC - Chartered Special Needs Consultant
• WMCP - Wealth Management Certified Professional
• RSSA - Registered Social Security Analyst
• DAFCP - Donor-Advised Fund Certified Professional

Products and services

• CFP® Certification Education Program Flagship certification education program preparing candidates to become Certified Financial Planners, with exam pass rates above the national average; intended for aspiring and practicing financial planners.
• ChFC® Chartered Financial Consultant® Comprehensive financial planning designation covering insurance, investment, tax, retirement, and estate planning for financial professionals serving diverse client needs.
• RICP® Retirement Income Certified Professional® Specialized designation focusing on retirement income planning, covering Social Security, Medicare, long-term care, income products, and withdrawal strategies for advisors serving pre-retirees and retirees.
• WMCP® Wealth Management Certified Professional® Designation helping advisors deliver goal-based personal wealth and investment management, covering wealth management insights and planning strategies.
• TPCP® Tax Planning Certified Professional® Specialized designation providing in-depth knowledge in tax planning, enabling advisors to deliver tax-informed advice and help clients reduce tax burdens.
• CAP® Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® Designation for financial professionals helping clients achieve philanthropic aspirations, covering taxation, fundraising, purposeful planning, family dynamics, and psychology.
• ChSNC® Chartered Special Needs Consultant® Designation for financial professionals serving individuals with special needs and their caregivers, covering special needs trusts, SSI, government benefits, and comprehensive lifetime planning.
• CLU® Chartered Life Underwriter® Legacy designation in life insurance and estate planning, providing expertise in risk management and protection planning.
• FSCP® Financial Services Certified Professional® Professional certification providing core knowledge and skills for essential planning and advisory assistance for consumers and businesses.
• RSSA® Registered Social Security Analyst® Designation program distributed in partnership with NARSSA covering Social Security rules, Medicare basics, and integrated claiming strategies, with access to proprietary RSSA Roadmap® software.
• DAFCP™ Donor-Advised Fund Certified Professional™ Designation for professionals specializing in donor-advised fund planning and administration.
• MSFP Master of Science in Financial Planning Master's degree program providing advanced expertise in the wealth accumulation process, business owner compensation, succession planning, and retirement income strategies.
• AEP® Accredited Estate Planner® Advanced certification for estate planning professionals seeking comprehensive expertise in estate and wealth transfer planning.
• Securities Licensing Exam Prep Programs Preparation courses for SIE, Series 6, Series 7, Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 FINRA licensing exams.
• Certificate Programs Short-form certificate programs including Business Succession Planning, Estate Planning and Taxation, Advanced High Net Worth Planning, Advanced Retirement Planning, Executive Leadership, Financial Psychology, Organizational Leadership, and Trust Certificates.
• Knowledge Hub+ On-demand annual subscription platform providing over 80 hours of CFP Board-approved CE content from leading academics and practitioners, with non-refundable fees.
• Ed Slott & Company's IRA Success Specialized IRA training from America's IRA expert, Ed Slott, CPA, offered for continuing education credit.
• Consumer Financial Education Programs Consumer-facing programs including Know Yourself, Grow Your Wealth®, The Retirement Course, Spectrum of Legacies, and Resilient Finances: Thriving With Disability.

Quantifiable outcome

• 200K+ students have completed professional designation, certification, or graduate degree courses
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered major, standard, core and minor.

• MassMutualmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Strategic Philanthropic Partner of the Granum Center for Financial Security, supporting research and education initiatives in financial security.
• Penn MutualmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Strategic Philanthropic Partner supporting the Center's mission to advance financial planning knowledge and research.
• Securian FinancialmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Strategic Philanthropic Partner contributing to the Center's initiatives in financial security and planning education.
• GuardianstandardStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Philanthropic Partner supporting the Center's research and educational mission.
• NationwidestandardStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Philanthropic Partner supporting financial security initiatives and research.
• One America FinancialstandardStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Philanthropic Partner contributing to the Center's financial security research.
• Pacific Life FoundationstandardStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Philanthropic Partner supporting educational initiatives in financial services.
• AllianzstandardStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance member supporting the Center for Ethics in Financial Services mission.
• ForestersstandardStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance member for ethics in financial services, supporting research and education.
• M Financial GroupstandardStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance member supporting ethical leadership initiatives.
• GenworthstandardStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance member contributing to ethics in financial services.
• New York LifestandardStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance member for ethics initiatives in financial services industry.
• PrudentialstandardStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance member supporting responsible AI and ethics in financial services.
• Sammons FinancialstandardStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance member for the Center for Ethics in Financial Services.
• State FarmstandardStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance member supporting ethics and responsible AI in financial services.
• ThriventstandardStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance member contributing to ethics initiatives in financial services.
• NARSSA (National Association of Registered Social Security Analysts)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe American College partnered with NARSSA to distribute the RSSA® Social Security designation program through The College's lifelong learning platform. NARSSA provides the RSSA Roadmap® proprietary software as part of the program.
• Donor-Advised Fund Research CollaborativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Donor-Advised Fund Research Collaborative released a study on how financial advisors incorporate DAFs into planning. The College contributed expertise through George Nichols III's engagement.
• Guild EducationstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGuild Education partners provide educational benefits to employees, enabling students to enroll in College programs through Guild's platform.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Wiley Efficient Learning: Wiley's professional test-prep division covering CPA, CMA, CFP®, and securities licensing exams. Broader incumbent in certification test prep that overlaps with several of The American College's exam prep and designation programs.

Direct peers

• Securities Training Corporation (STC): Provider of FINRA securities licensing exam preparation and continuing education for financial services professionals. Directly competes with The American College's licensing exam prep and CE offerings.
• College for Financial Planning: A long-standing CFP® Board-registered education provider offering CFP® and other financial planning designation programs. Directly competes with The American College in the financial planner education market.
• Dalton Education: Provides CFP® certification education and financial planning designation programs, including accelerated formats. Direct competitor targeting the same financial advisor learner with comparable certification offerings.
• Kaplan Financial Education: A division of Kaplan offering CFP®, securities licensing (Series 6/7/63/65/66/SIE), and continuing education for financial professionals. Direct competitor across both designations and FINRA exam prep.
• Boston Institute of Finance (BIF): Specializes in securities licensing exam prep (Series 6, 7, 24, 63, 65, 66) and continuing education. Directly overlaps with The American College's Securities Licensing Exam Prep product line and is even a partner for BIF Review products.

Emerging players

• Pinnacle Business Guides: Offers CFP® exam review courses and study materials focused on the certification exam. Competes with The American College's CFP® Certification Education Program on the exam-preparation side, though with a narrower product scope.
• American Academy of Financial Management (AAFM): A globally-focused financial designation body offering credentials such as the MFP and other wealth management designations. Adjacent competitor targeting financial professionals with alternative designations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/TheAmerCol1927
• Facebookfacebook.com/8675286292
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/31638
• Instagraminstagram.com/theamercol
• Xx.com/TheAmerCol

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The American College of Financial Services