Chartered Financial Divorce Specialist Training

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1 Proudly Canadian Chartered Financial Divorce Specialist Training Choose your preferred learning experience Three day in-class or self-study options are available. All material is the same regardless of which training method chosen, and contains all elements to guarantee success as a Chartered Financial Divorce Specialist including extensive background information, resource material, practice and procedure methods and software applications. On line exams and case study work ensures knowledge transfer and application. Access is available to on-line web sessions to provide additional assistance and help can be obtained through at any time and toll free telephone during regular business hours. Course Material: In-Class or Self-Study Options Text Books: Exam questions are based on material in these publications. Power Point Presentations: Exam questions are in part based on this materia l. Internet and USB Flash Drive: Presentations by lawyers, tax, pension and insurance professionals contains exam material. As well, there are detailed video instructions on software execution and case presentations. Resource Material: Internet and USB Flash Drive material in various formats useful for process and practice, as well as financial divorce software applications. FDS Course Training Material in various formats for self-study (Internet and USB Flash Drive) and in-class. More detailed course information follows

2 Chartered Financial Divorce Specialist Course textbooks Textbook for Module One of Financial Divorce Specialists Course. Required reading for those in both the in-class and self-study options. Contains basic information related to divorce in Canada. Written by FDS course codeveloper Akeela Davies - now in fifth printing. Several Module One exam questions are based on this material. Reference and resource textbook for Module Two of the Financial Divorce Specialists Course with material related to the course video presentations by Edmond Burrows on the often contentious issue of pension division and other related matters now becoming much more important with later life divorces.

3 PowerPoint and Video Presentations In-Class and Self-Study CFDS Course PowerPoint Presentations. FDS Course Power Point #4 Assets - Finances Tax Note: This power point presentation is presented live in the in-class program and is a video in the self- study program This power point contains information sourced for exam purposes. Copyright One: Role of the Financial Divorce Specialist - Overview, Cash Flow, Insurance etc. Two: Financial Divorce Specialist - Client Relationship Three: Financial Divorce Specialist - Ethics Four: Assets - Finances - Tax - Child Support Five: Support - Child - Spousal - Pensions Six: Procedures - Proceedings Seven: Value of Financial Projections Eight: Financial Aspects of Divorce Nine: Hidden Assets Ten: Practice - Process Internet and USB Flash Drive Presentations. Copyright Copyright One: Role of the Financial Divorce Specialist - 30 minutes Two: Money Line Program #1-23 minutes Three: Ethics - Practice Standards - 28 minutes Four: Tax - Pensions - Support - 25 minutes Five: Spousal Support, Pensions - 13 minutes Six: Pension Valuation #1-32 minutes Seven: Pension Valuation #2-35 minutes Eight: Spousal Support Guidelines minutes Nine: Calculating Worksheets Demonstration - 10 minutes Ten: Perspectives Software introduction - 28 minutes Eleven: Perspectives Software Data Entry Demo - 28 minutes Twelve: Case Study #1-24 minutes Thirteen: Case Study #2-23 minutes Fourteen: Dealing with Client Emotions - 68 minutes Fifteen: Business Valuation - 57 minutes Sixteen: Insuring Support - 33 minutes Seventeen: Lawyer Case Review - 57 minutes Eighteen: Pension Valuation Case Review - 45 minutes Nineteen: Quebec Civil Law - 57 minutes Twenty: Money Line Program #2-24 minutes Extra: Module Introductions - various times

4 CFDS Course Resource Material Besides the video lectures there is an extensive amount of resource material available through the Internet or on USB Flash Drive including PowerPoint presentations as well as documents in word format suitable to adapt for individual practical use. Module One: Internet or USB Flash Drive Resource material through the Internet or on USB Flash Drive contains power point presentations and pdf copies of the written material in the instruction manual. Module Two: Internet or USB Flash Drive Resource material through the Internet or on the USB Flash Drive contains a variety of important information including an Excel software application to access needs analysis and net worth and electronic copies of manual material. Examples below of some of the General Divorce resource information, pension information and child and spousal support information. Common law information - Divorce Info - Dept of Justice Pension Division on Marriage - Credit Splitting Interspousal Property Transfers - Standard Practice Commuted Value Life Expectancy Tables - Pension vocabulary Court Support Orders Tax related issues Module Three: Internet or USB Flash Drive Resource material through the Internet or on USB Flash Drive contains the projection Perspectives forecasting software plus power point presentations on use of the software plus detailed case study material. There are also power point presentations and marketing material in both pdf and word format that can be edited for individual use such as listed below: Sample Info Flyer - Sample Brochure Divorce Kit Workbook - Sample lawyer letter Sample Web Page - New Release Item Graduate Announcement - Logos Money and Divorce Booklet Commonly Asked Questions and Answers. Module Four: Internet or USB Flash Drive Resource material through the Internet or on USB Flash Drive contains detailed instructions with respect to completing the final case study exam, explaining what is involved and what is expected to be submitted. A full example is reviewed and analyzed with expert support material. There is backup information in print format on the Quebec lawyer presentation on civil law as it relates to divorce in that province. In addition there is practice and procedure material in word format that can be edited for individual use such as listed below: Office procedures - Client Data System - Contact letters Engagement Letters - Privacy Statement - Questionnaire Net Worth Spreadsheet - Historical Cash Flow Statements Sample Retainer Sheet - Case Notes Page - Client Action Plan Lawyer Letter - Experience Feedback Sheet - Follow Up Letter

5 CFDS Subject Areas and Learning Outcomes Divorce can be the single most significant financial event in a person s life, affecting a variety of areas including budgeting relating to lifestyle needs, property (real and personal), business interests, insurance, pensions, investments and estate planning. Also possibly of concern, child and spousal support. All of these areas are covered in the Chartered Financial Divorce Specialists Course material provided in lectures (live and/or through the Internet or on USB Flash Drive and by example using supplied proprietary software. Practice, Process and Ethics are an integral part of the program with a wealth of material supplied to establish your own practice. Graduates with CFDS designation can be expected to: Provide financial analysis of client s assets, liabilities, incomes, child and spousal support payments taking into consideration inflation and changing tax consequences. Provide insight to pension plans and other investment and insurance options including ongoing protection. Show options for financial scenarios with projections for a minimum of 15 years. Educate clients about tax and other financial consequences of retaining or relinquishing of certain assets. Work with lawyers and/or mediators to design settlement proposals to satisfy clients to the greatest possible extent considering all available financial options. (Note: Chartered Financial Divorce Specialists do not provide legal advise). Counsel clients on budget management during and after transition. Net Liquid Assets Net Worth ,000, ,500, ,000, ,500, ,000, , Plan Year Plan Year Spouse #1 Spouse #2 Spouse #1 Spouse #2 increasingly, financial advisors, particularly those qualified as Financial Divorce Specialists are becominginvolvedinhelpingpeoplethroughdivorce Money Planner Magazine

6 Academy of Financial Divorce Specialists Exam Descriptions (CFDS) Training Module One has two separate exams: The general exam covers all topics related to material in the supplied written material, PowerPoint presentations and the video lectures. It is comprised of questions dealing with such subjects as child and spousal support, asset splitting, wills, investments, insurance, separation agreements, pensions, etc. The ethics and practice standards exam is made up of questions dealing with such topics as, responsibilities, professional conduct, conflicts of interest, referral procedures, letters of engagement, documentation etc. Those in the in-class program complete these exams on-line prior to attending the in-class sessions. Module Two has two multiple choice exams that can be completed on-line. A Tax exam dealing with areas such as tax credits, child and spousal support, RRSP contributions, principal residence, capital gains, expenses, asset division, etc. A Calculating Worksheets Exam requires input to supplied worksheet software (print version is appendix of Module One text book) of a scenario and subsequent multiple choice questions. Module Three: To ensure full understanding and functional ability in working with the financial projection software course participants are required to complete a case study including at least one additional scenario and an explanation or rational for the changes. The case study must be submitted by regular mail, or fax for review. Module Four: The final case study exam is sent to students upon request following review of all material in the module. Bringing together course theory and practice examples to an actual case study using the prescribed plan format this final exam requires an average of four six hours to complete. Those taking this exam must submit all working notes and may be requested to defend their case. Procedure for Exams: All exams are open book. For modules one and two exams are available online For module three the sample case study can be submitted to the Academy by regular or or by fax. The final case study exam for module four must be submitted as well. In-Class students have the option of doing final case study on last day of course or submitting it later. There is no charge for redoing the final case study after consulting with the Academy.

7 CFDS Course Delivery Options and Pricing All material is developed by the Academy and uploaded to the Internet or recorded to USB Flash Drive. All students receive two textbooks and In-Class Students receive printed material (manual etc) by mail or courier. Internet students have option of receiving material on USB flash drive and printed material (manual etc.). The same material is provided to Internet, USB Flash Drive, and In-class students, however, the delivery is different depending on the options chosen as described below. Self-Study by Internet or USB Flash Drive or 3 Day In-Class In-Class students are sent material upon registering and are expected to complete the first module, including the exams on line, before attending the course. Also they are responsible for reviewing all the course material to obtain maximum CE credits. On the last day of the course students have the option of doing the final case study exam on-site using their own laptop computers pre-loaded with Perspectives software or completing the exam on their own time at home or office. Self-Study Program Options: Internet self-study students have three options. Accessing all the course information through the Internet or on USB flash drive or receiving all the material in hard copy plus on USB flash drive.. The pricing options are outlined on the registration form on the Academy registration page Internet (and USB Flash Drive) and In-Class students obtain immediate access to module one and receive by mail or courier the two course text books Module one and two exams are accessed through the Internet and are completed on line. Module three case study example is submitted to the Academy for review, before students are sent the final case study for module four on request. Bonus Opportunity At any time during the first two years of registering for Internet or DVD Self-Study (whether or not having completed the course) students have the opportunity to attend In-Class training for a special discounted cost. Details on registration form. Pricing Schedule - Internet - USB Flash Drive and In-Class Programs Self-Study: Check Web Registration page for latest pricing for Internet or USB Flash Drive options etc.. In-Class: Check Web Registration page for latest pricing which includes all material, course meals and breaks etc. Complete details on registration forms at

8 CFDS - Ongoing Committment Linda Cartier CFP, R.F.P. CFDS, PRP, ELP, President, AFDS I am always happy to outline the advantages of our training program and ongoing membership support. We are a totally Canadian institution registered with Industry Canada and fully dedicated to serving our students and Academy members across Canada. We provide on-going support and service through the internet and toll-free telephone to students and graduates. We offer in-class and self-study (Internet and USB Flash Drive) course options and advanced training sessions plus yearly education updates. All our pricing includes, shipping (postage or courier) and handling charges. All self-study course exams and case studies are open book. Module one and two exams are accessed on-line. Module three and four case studies submitted by regular or or fax. What you are entitled to as a graduate of the training program: Upon successful completion of the course the CFDS (Chartered Financial Divorce Specialist) designation certificate is awarded plus first year membership in the Academy. You qualify for up to Advocis (Institute for Advanced Financial Education) and 30 IRROC and other CE credits (depending on province of residence). You have access to the members only section of the website and can have your name and bio posted on our website. With your yearly renewal you receive valuable updated course and other divorce related important information which qualifies for yearly CE credits. Testimonials and Comments: "Excellent, very informative, interesting and eye-opening. Appreciated all the great marketing tools. Especially liked the software! "I felt a sincere desire to make the designation of genuine value with integrity and recognition...the course was full of valuable information...i will feel very confident to proudly present myself as a Financial Divorce Specialist. "The relevant updated reference material for planning purposes was a pleasant surprise. "Fantastic content, extremely well done, big bang for the buck! "Learned a lot, very practical, very useful. "Enhanced all my financial planning skills. "I like the fact that I can call toll free at any time for assistance or have my s answered almost always within one day" Academy of Financial Divorce Specialists Tel: Fax: info.afds@gmail.com