How to Study for the ChFC

The ChFC is eight required courses from The American College of Financial Services, each ending in its own closed-book, proctored final exam, with no single exam covering the whole designation. Take them one at a time, from HS 300 on the financial planning process to HS 347 on contemporary applications.

Start with The American College outline
- The American College ChFC designation (courses) ↗
About the ChFC exam
- All ChFC practice exam details
Work through each course
- HS 300 Financial Planning: Process and Environment
  - The financial planning process
  - Regulatory and professional environment
  - Client relationship fundamentals
- HS 311 Fundamentals of Insurance Planning
  - Risk management principles
  - Life and health insurance products
  - Insurance planning strategy
- HS 321 Fundamentals of Income Taxation
  - Individual taxation basics
  - Capital assets and basis rules
  - Passive activity and AMT rules
  - Business entity taxation
- HS 326 Planning for Retirement Needs
  - Qualified plans and administration
  - Individual retirement vehicles
  - Deferred compensation and Social Security
- HS 328 Investments
  - Investment principles
  - Applying investments to financial plans
- HS 330 Fundamentals of Estate Planning
  - Estate and gift tax framework
  - Trusts and transfer strategies
  - Charitable giving and life insurance in estates
- HS 333 Personal Financial Planning: Comprehensive Case Analysis
  - Integrated case analysis
  - Recommendation development
- HS 347 Contemporary Applications in Financial Planning
  - Special circumstances planning
  - Business succession and behavioral finance
  - Capstone application
Practice by topic
Mix topics in one practice set
- ChFC practice questions with answers
Compare the ChFC with other exams
- CLU vs ChFC
- CFP vs ChFC