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CIFP Retirement Planning Certificate Course

The CIFP Retirement Planning Certificate Course is the primary educational component of the RRC/CR Program. Clients look to their financial planners to provide expert guidance on the many issues involved in retirement and estate planning. This requires the planner to acquire the knowledge, judgment and expertise to understand both the retirement and estate planning process. The CIFP Retirement Planning Certificate Course provides learners with the technical knowledge they need to have meaningful retirement conversations with clients.

The Course begins with an overview and history of retirement planning and the effective use of ‘soft skills’ in client discussions. It then takes a detailed look at fundamental retirement planning concepts such as government retirement income programs, pensions, retirement savings vehicles and taxation and tax planning opportunities as it pertains to retirement. Following this, the different phases of retirement planning are addressed: the accumulation phase, actual retirement and post-retirement planning.

The CIFP Retirement Planning Certificate Course then moves onto estate planning covering topics that include property interest, family law, intestacy, probate, wills, powers of attorney, taxation upon death, trust and estate freezes.

At the end of each unit of study, the learner must complete a formal assessment made up of multiple choice questions. The cumulative grade on these end-of-unit formal assessments is worth 30% of the final grade for the course.

The major topic areas covered in the CIFP Retirement Planning Certificate Course include:

  • Introduction to Retirement Planning
  • Client Engagement Skills
  • Government Sponsored Retirement Income Programs
  • Employer Sponsored Pension Plans
  • DPSPs, RRSPs and TFSAs
  • RRIFs, LIFs, and Locked-in RRIFs
  • Education Planning
  • Taxation during Retirement
  • Retirement Savings Plan
  • Post-retirement Planning
  • Retirement Decisions
  • Lending in Retirement
  • Family Relationships and Support Obligations
  • Family Property and Other Issues
  • Wills and Power of Attorney for Property
  • Living Wills, Forms of Property Interests, Intestacy and Probate
  • Personal Trusts
  • Other Estate Planning Considerations
  • Death and Taxes

Course Pre-requisite: None

Suggested course study time: 100 – 150 hours

Language: English and French; Québec-specific version in English and French

Proctored Course Examination: maximum of 3 hours

Course delivery: online; optional printed text available for purchase