Retirement Management Analyst^SM Designation:

Created to Help Financial Advisors Achieve the
Highest Level of Success in Providing Retirement Income Solutions

To achieve the highest level of success in providing retirement income solutions to clients, financial advisors must go beyond today's conventional wisdom to embrace a new and much more complete process.

Capitalizing on RIIA's unique "View Across the Silos" perspective, the cutting edge RMA^SM designation is a rigorous educational and ethics training curriculum that focuses on building the retirement plan to mitigate risks and mastering the advisory process. For the complete details about the RMA^SM designation, please review the Manual for Compliance Officers. 

RIIA congratulates its RMA^SM certificate-holders.

Kerry Pechter, Editor of Retirement Income Journal, offered his view on three things that characterize RIIA and the birth of the new designation, the Retirement Management Analyst (RMA)^SM.

The Retirement Management Analyst Designation:
Value, Opportunity, Vision  

Prerequisites or experience required to obtain the RMA^SM 

In general, RMA candidates already have demonstrated knowledge and experience in the practical application of basic retirement planning and investment principles. Typically, we would look for at least three (3) or more years experience as a financial advisor working with clients broadly on retirement and non-retirement portfolios, or comparable experience in the financial services industry directly involved in the retirement and investments business. Holding various FINRA registrations, e.g. series 7, 24, 63, 65, or 66, as well as other designations, e.g. CFA, CFP, etc. will all be considered as evidence of prerequisite knowledge.

Candidates for the RMA^SM designation must:

• Pass a RIIA Approved Education Program such as:

  • The Retirement Management Program at Boston University's Center for Professional Education,

  • The Salem State University's 5-day in-class intensive seminar during the summer (view brochure)

  • The Customized Retirement Mangement Seminar at Texas Tech University  

• Sit for and pass the RMA^SM Examination.

•  Complete the RMA application and certify that the information in the application is accurate. Further, candidates must certify that they have not been fined nor sanctioned from practicing in the financial services field by any state or federal government, regulatory authority, by any industry self-regulatory body or by any employer.

•  Pay the initial RMA certification fee of $395, which includes the annual certification fee, plus the one-time examination fee. Subsequent annual certification fees are just $295, which includes an eSubscription to the Retirement Management Journal (RMJ).

Three Universities Now Support Preparation for the RMA Designation:

• Retirement Management Program at Boston University's Center for Professional Education (BUCPE). The BUCPE program is a 5 week interactive web-based curriculum offering the flexibly to take the class when and where you want within the semester dates. The cost is $1,295. The next course is 5/13/13. Contact BUCPE directly for scheduling and more information or call 1-800-329-4996.

• Texas Tech University offers a 5-day in-class Customized Retirement Mangement Seminar that includes lectures and lab assignments. The class is offered in Lubbock, TX on the TTU campus and runs Monday morning through Friday with the course exam on Saturday morning. The cost is $1,975 (includes hotel Sunday - Friday nights). For more information, contact Michael Finke, Associate Professor.

•  Salem State University (Salem, MA) offers a 5-day in-class intensive seminar during the summer (view brochure). The cost is $1,575 and includes refreshments and lunch. On campus lodging is available for an additional fee. Contact Salem State University, Professional and Community Enrichment Programs for more information or to register.

Upon successful completion of the RMA^SM program, graduates receive the following benefits:

• Free subscription to the Retirement Management Journal (pdf) to keep current on RMA^SM Continuing Education requirements

• Deeply discounted registration to RIIA conferences

• Discounted full individual membership in RIIA. For more information...

• Eligibility to join the Practitioners Peer Review Committee for the Retirement Management Journal