CFEd®

A Certified Financial Educator® is the Highest Standard

Quality Financial Education Starts Here

What is a Certified Financial Educator® (CFEd®)?

The Certified Financial Educator® or CFEd® is a prestigious and one-of-a-kind designation awarded only to individual professional practitioners who have knowledge in the field of financial services as well as experience teaching and instructing adult learners. The CFEd® is a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) recognized designation and is offered through the Heartland Institute of Financial Education, a 501(c)(3) national nonprofit organization.

Why Choose a CFEd® to Provide Your Financial Literacy Education?

First and foremost, a CFEd® is an educator and teacher, not a salesperson. This fact alone distinguishes a CFEd® from other financial professionals. Employers work with a Certified Financial Educator® for a number of reasons including:

  • A CFEd® is under the auspices of a non-profit regulatory organization, the Heartland Institute of Financial Education.
  • The Heartland Institute of Financial Education performs due diligence in selecting and educating CFEds®, providing a partial firewall to organizations concerned about the liability of providing financial programs to their employees.
  • A CFEd® pledges and promises ethical and non-solicitous behavior by signing a "Standards of Practice" agreement.
  • A CFEd® is certified for both their financial know-how and their competency in educating adult learners. A minimum of 3 years' experience in the financial services industry and teaching or training adults is required.
  • CFEd® credentials and overall efforts help ease company liability.
  • After completing a detailed training program, a CFEd® must pass a proctored, rigorous, comprehensive exam. Thereafter, a CFEd® must complete a total of 12 hours each year of approved continuing education.
  • As part of the course, a CFEd® and his/her team provide free, no-obligation one-on-one financial planning and consultation to each workshop participant (and his/her spouse or significant other) only for those participants who request such a meeting.
  • CFEd® instructors typically teach financial education courses at the employer's worksite.
  • CFEd® instructors are screened for their commitment to the financial literacy movement.

Mark Eldridge is a member of the exclusive Registry of Certified Financial Educators - granted to individual CFEds® exclusively at the discretion of the Heartland Institute of Financial Education.