When you join an Ash RICP® study group, you're eligible for peer support, discounts and reimbursement. Working virtually with your study group, you’ll digest course content together while gaining insights and building relationships with your peers. It’s a great way to stay on track for your designation while growing your network.
The RICP® study group through Ash has been great. Each week we have a review session to ask questions and get feedback. Not once has Ash tried to turn this into a sales opportunity. It definitely feels like they are doing this to help better our businesses, which means a lot. I couldn't recommend this more to another advisor who is looking to better themselves or their business.
Study groups are forming now — find a time that works for your schedule and start working toward your RICP®!
Having secure retirement income is a key concern for most Americans, but knowing how to generate income streams that last a lifetime is a specialized skill. The RICP® program delivers solution-focused retirement planning education that financial advisors can use to help clients create secure, sustainable retirement income.
The RICP® is the best bang-for-your-buck designation that I have. I found it extremely worthwhile and highly recommend it! The RICP® allows financial professionals to expedite their career development and gain a thorough designation in a short period.
The RICP was one of the most useful programs I’ve done. Loved it and would re-do it just for the reminder learning. I can’t say enough good things about it.
I found the RICP® to be the most useful and effective designation of all the designations and finance courses I’ve taken. I was able to increase my personal retirement income, over a 25-year retirement, by more than $100,000, without any additional funding. Everyone can easily find an additional $20,000 or $30,000 of retirement income from the knowledge gained in this designation.
Seats are limited to the first 25 advisors who sign up.
I just wanted to thank you guys for helping me get through the RICP program. The format of the Ash RICP study group was perfect for helping me pass the exams.
Through Ash's discount, you pay $2,290 upfront to The College, with a $837 reimbursement upon completion of the course and an active annuity carrier contract through Ash Brokerage.
The three courses that make up the RICP® designation are normally $2,695 when purchased in a package. Through Ash’s discount code, you get an instant 15% discount for registering, plus the opportunity to earn 7837.30 upon completion of the program. The Ash virtual study groups are included in your registration at no additional cost.
If you’re on the fence, you can purchase the courses individually for $845.75 per course (normally $995) using Ash’s discount code. As you complete each course and are contracted through Ash Brokerage with at least one annuity carrier, Ash Brokerage will reimburse 33% of your expenses.
See the FAQs for additional discount details. Promotion may not be combined with any other promotional offers. Company restrictions may apply.
Retirement planning is about more than selling annuities. The Retirement Income Certified Professional® (RICP®) designation from The American College of Financial Services takes a deep dive into the skills needed to build sustainable, holistic retirement plans, from understanding how to build a retirement income portfolio to managing the plan along the way or handling estate tax issues.
Holding the highest level of academic accreditation, The American College of Financial Services is the nation’s largest nonprofit educational institution devoted to financial services. In fact, The College has educated nearly one in five financial advisors across the United States. The College provides premium financial planning designations, including the ChFC®, CLU®, RICP®, CAP®, and WMCP®. Accredited master’s degree programs and CFP® certification education programs are also available. Learn more at TheAmericanCollege.edu.
There are no prerequisite courses required before you can begin the RICP® program, but three years of experience in financial planning or a related profession ARE required to use the designation.
To receive the RICP® designation, you must:
- Successfully complete the three required courses
- Agree to comply with the American College Code of Ethics and Procedures
Participation in the annual Professional Recertification Program (PRP) is required to maintain the designation. For more information, see the American College Continuing Education (CE) page.
Tuition covers all College course fees, your final exam, and course materials:
- Downloadable companion content for easy following
- On-demand video lectures on retirement income and financial planning
- Expert interviews with retirement planning thought leaders
- Practice exams to test your understanding of the material
- Assessment questions to evaluate your learning progress
The Ash Brokerage Study Group is offered at no additional cost for advisors who are registered with The College for the RICP® courses.
The student will pay all tuition and fees directly to The American College of Financial Services at the time of registration. Ash Brokerage is not a party to the transaction between The College and the student, and has no financial responsibility or liability related to such transaction. All Ash Brokerage's pricing and discounts are based on a discount off the 2024 standard retail pricing, seen below.
The standard 2024 retail tuition for a single RICP® course is $995. You must use Ash's code while registering to receive a 15% instant discount. After each course is passed, Ash will reimburse 33% off the discounted price — currently $279.10 per course. You must have an active annuity contract through Ash Brokerage to receive the reimbursement.
The standard 2024 retail tuition for the RICP® three-course package is discounted at $2,695, but Ash will still reimburse the full $279.10 per course.
Option #1: Upfront Payment
- $2,695 3-course package with a 15% American College discount = $2,290.75 paid to American College
- Reimbursement of $279.10 per course (with an annuity carrier contract through Ash Brokerage) = $837.30 reimbursement
- Total paid by you: $2,290.75 – $837.30 = $1,417.45 for three courses
- Total saved by you: $404.25 instant discount + $837.30 reimbursement = $1,241.55
Option #2: Per Course Payment
- $995 per course at 15% American College discount = $845.75 per course paid to American College ($2,537.25 total)
- Reimbursement of 33% (with an annuity carrier contract through Ash Brokerage) = $279.10 reimbursement per course
- Amount paid by you per course: $845.75 - $279.10 = $566.65 per course
- Total paid by you: $1,699.95 for three courses
- Total saved by you: $447.75 instant discount ($149.25 per course) + $837.30 reimbursement ($279.10 per course) = $1,285.05
If you study for a couple of hours each week on your own and take advantage of the 1-hour study group each week you should have no problems passing the course.
The coursework was created with working professionals in mind. The program is available online and contains video lectures and articles broken into workable sections great for quick study. Many students are able to study as they commute on public transit; others make room after work a couple of nights per week, while other students will carve out time on the weekends.
The CE credit value of RICP® courses depends upon your individual state. For more information, see The College CE Credit Listing page or check your state’s guidelines.
The RICP® designation is broken up into three separate courses. Each course in the RICP® program has a 2-hour exam with 100 multiple-choice questions. Testing is conducted at Pearson VUE testing centers.
HS 353 Retirement Income Process, Strategies and Solutions
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Understand the steps in creating an effective retirement income plan
- Identify retirement income needs, objectives, and goals by evaluating the client's current situation
- Determine how to choose the appropriate retirement income strategy for your clients
- Evaluate income tax, estate issues, retirement risks, and other threats to an effective retirement income plan
- Integrate risk management tools, products, and strategies to create an effective retirement income plan
HS 354 Sources of Retirement Income
The second of the program's three courses explores sources of retirement income in depth. After completion, you should be able to:
- Recommend the optimal age to claim Social Security benefits as appropriate for each client's situation
- Help the client evaluate the factors to consider when determining an appropriate retirement age
- Understand the role of annuities in a retirement income plan
- Have a better understanding of how executive benefits and retirement benefits for federal and military employees fit into the plan
- Understand the different ways that life insurance can be used in planning and how to address the retirement needs of the small business owner
- Understand how to build a retirement income portfolio
- Become more familiar with the latest research on strategies for ensuring that retirement assets last a lifetime
HS 355 Managing the Retirement Income Plan
The third course in the RICP® series focuses on initial and ongoing retirement income plan management. This knowledge will help you:
- Choose the appropriate tax-efficient distribution options from a retirement plan
- Help a client create a health expense budget and navigate the many decisions regarding Medicare and other health care options
- Help a client prepare for their long-term care needs
- Navigate retirement housing decisions and address home equity strategies
- Identify the key ethical issues in retirement income planning
- Create and manage retirement income portfolios appropriate for each client's situation
Most successful students complete the RICP® program in 12 months or fewer.
As part of the Ash Brokerage Study Group, you will collaborate with peers to move through the program efficiently with accountability to pass each course together. Your group will meet regularly to discuss practical applications of course concepts and openly share ideas. To keep you on track, your course “window” is always the remainder of the month you enrolled, plus four months. You can reopen your window if you do not complete your course exam within the allotted time.
Many of the most established and respected financial services firms recognize RICP® and encourage their people to pursue this designation. Since its inception in 2012, more than 15,000 individuals have signed up for RICP®. There is a clear need for expertise in retirement income, and as more people complete their RICP®, the designation’s general public awareness will also increase.
*Data source: The American College Designation Outcomes Study.