cfos-certification
CFOS™ Certification

Why Obtain the Chartered Family Office Specialist (CFOS™) credential?

The goal of the FOI™ is to enhance the knowledge base needed to successfully manage and operate a family office. The Chartered Family Office Specialist is a credential representing the knowledge necessary to effectively communicate with numerous specialists in allied disciplines such as finance, law, accounting, and insurance to name just a few. The CFOS™ designation will distinguish its members as it represents the standard for family offices.

As a result of the rapidly changing landscape in all the disciplines needed to be an effective CFOS™, a continuing education requirement of 30 CE credits will be required every second year. In addition, of these 30 CE credits, 8 hours must be in the area of due diligence/ethics.

Purpose:

The goal of the Chartered Family Office Specialist (CFOS™) is to provide you with the opportunity to demonstrate that you possess the education, experience and training required to successfully manage a family office.  This premier designation will convey a message to your clients and other advisors of both of your technical competence and your commitment to high standards of practice.


Structure:

This 4 hour examination will initially be held at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida. Topics addressed within the Common Body of Knowledge (see below) will be tested during the examination.  Successfully passing the CFOS™ examination (minimum score of 70%), will demonstrate to your clients, peers and regulators that you are well-versed in all relevant areas of wealth management and risk management (including due diligence and fraud detection).  Prior to each exam, the FOI™ will offer a review course to assist in your preparation.

The Certification Examination

(Topics for the Chartered Family Office Specialist examination)

  • Management Selection and Oversight
  • Equity and Fixed income Investments
  • Performance Measurements and Derivative Products
  • Insurance Analysis
  • Business Valuation Concepts
  • Accounting: Personal, Business, and Trusts
  • Taxation
  • Due Diligence
  • Alternative Investments
  • Financial Planning and Asset Allocation
  • Financial Mathematics
  • Conceptual Estate Planning and Taxation
  • Banking and Trust Administration
  • Real Estate Management
  • Philanthropic Advisement
  • Anti-money Laundering (AML)
CFOS™ Certification | Family Office Institute

Since the Family Office Institute is a global organization focusing on universal wealth management concepts, the examination will not focus on any particular country’s taxation or laws, but will examine certain universal concepts. Additionally, participants will gain an in-depth understanding of the importance of due diligence concepts along with the necessity of working with other financial and legal professional technicians.

CFOS™ Certification | Family Office Institute


Continuing Education:

As a result of the rapidly changing landscape in all the disciplines needed to be an effective CFOS™, a continuing education requirement of 30 CE credits will be required by your reporting period every second year. The CE credits can be satisfied from courses provided by the FOI™ or from a Member’s existing financial industry continuing education requirements, provided that at least 4 hours must be in the field of due diligence/ risk management and 4 hours of ethics.