Investments & Financial Planning

The Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation is a professional certification mark for financial planners conferred by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board)[1] in the United States, Financial Planning Standards Council in Canada[2] and 22 other organizations affiliated with Financial Planning Standards Board (FPSB)[3], the international owner of the CFP mark outside of the United States. To receive authorization to use the designation, the candidate must meet education, examination, experience and ethics requirements, and pay an ongoing certification fee.

Foe referrals to local CFPs you may call the Financial Planning Association FPA at 800 282-7526 and the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors NAPFA at 888-333-6659.

Domestic General stock funds: LG = large growth, MG = mid-cap growth, SG = small growth, MB = mid-cap blend, SB = small blend, LV = large value, MV= mid-cap value, SV= small value, DH = domestic hybrid. Domestic Specialized stock funds: SC = communications, SF = financial, SH = health, SN = natural resource, SP = precious metal, SR = real estate, ST = technology, SU = utilities. International stock funds: FS = foreign stock, WS = world stock, ES = europe stock, DP = diversified pacific asia, PJ = pacific asia ex japan, JS = japan, EM = diversified emerging market, LS = latin american stock, IH = international hybrid.

General Bond fund: CL = long term bond, CI = intermediate term bond, CS = short term bond.
Government Bond funds: GL = long term bond, GI = itermediate term bond, GS = short term bond.
Specialized Bond fund: CV = convertibles, UB = ultra short bond, HY = high yield bond, MU = multisector bond, IB = international bond, EB = emerging market bond. Municipal bond funds: ML = muni national long, MI = muni national intermediate, SL = muni single st. long, SI = muni single st. intermediate, MS = muni single st. short, MS = muni single st. short, MY = muni NY long, MC = muni California long, MN = muni NY intermediate, MF = muni California intermediate.

Mutual funds are rated by past performance for the past 3 years as calculated by Morningstar Inc. The rating system in newspapers are represented by 2 numbers such as 4/3.
Ratings range from 1-5, 1 = poor and 5 = superior. The first rating shows the funds performance against a broad group of funds.
The second rating shows the funds performance against a narrower group of more similar funds. The ratings are adjusted for risk.
Two funds might have the same 3 year return but may have different ratings based on the funds volatility.

The American Stock Exchange known as the AMEX is the second largest stock exchange in the U.S. The largest is the New York Stock Exchange NYSE. Stocks and bonds traded on the American Stock Exchange tend to be those of smaller companies than on the NYSE. Some index options and interest rate options trading also occurs on the American Stock Exchange.

A American Depositary Share (ADS) is a share issued under an American Depositary Receipt agreement which is actually traded.

A credit rating is a published ranking based on detailed financial analysis by a credit bureau. It includes a person or entity's financial history as it relates to its ability to meet debt obligations. The highest or best rating is usually AAA, and the lowest or worst rating is a D. Banks use this information to decide whether to approve a loan or not. A published ranking, based on detailed financial analysis by a credit bureau, of one's financial history, specifically as it relates to one's ability to meet debt obligations. The highest rating is usually AAA, and the lowest is D. Lenders use this information to decide whether to approve a loan

A bond rating ia a measure of the quality and safety of a bond based on the issuer's financial condition. It is an evaluation from a bond rating service indicating the likelihood that a debt issuer will be able to meet scheduled interest and principal repayments. Generally, AAA is highest or best, and D is lowest or worst.