Brian D. Lowder, president, has been in the financial services industry since 1981 and began his career as a financial planner and investment manager in 1985. Mr. Lowder is a graduate of San Diego State University, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 1980 and his Master’s of Science degree in Financial Services in 1985. He is licensed to use the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (TM) or CFP® mark, holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation (CFA), and is an active member of the Financial Planning Association (FPA) and the CFA Institute.
Mr. Lowder has published articles in Financial Planner Magazine, is frequently quoted in the San Diego Union Tribune, has taught investment and financial planning courses at local community colleges, and has conducted lectures on financial planning and investment management for numerous corporations in San Diego.
Mr. Lowder’s primary areas of expertise are retirement accumulation planning, IRA and retirement plan distribution planning, income tax planning and investment management for individuals, retirees, and qualified retirement plans.
Explanation of Professional Designations
Certified Financial Planner (CFP®)
The CFP® certification is a voluntary certification and is not legally required by federal or state laws to practice “financial planning”. However, the certification is generally recognized as a leader in requiring: 1) a high standard of professional education; 2) a stringent code of conduct and standards of practice and; 3) a professional code of ethics. To attain the right to use the CFP® marks, an individual must satisfactorily fulfill the following requirements:
- Education – Complete an advanced college-level course of study addressing the financial planning subject areas (insurance planning and risk management, investment planning, retirement planning, employee benefits planning, income tax planning and estate planning) that the CFP Board has determined as necessary for the competent and professional delivery of financial planning
- Examination – Pass the comprehensive 10-hour CFP® Certification
- Experience – Complete at least three years of full-time financial-planning related experience
- Ethics – Agree to be bound by the CFP Board’s Standards of Professional Conduct
To maintain the right to use the CFP® marks, an individual must complete the following ongoing educational and ethics requirements:
- Continuing Education – Complete 30 hours of continuing education hours every two years (including 2 hours of Ethics), maintain competence and stay current with developments in the financial planning
- Ethics – Renew an agreement to be bound by the Standards of Professional Conduct
and particularly, provide financial planning services at a fiduciary standard of care.
Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®)
The Chartered Financial Analyst credential has become known as the highest level of educational achievement within the global investment community. This graduate-level investment credential was established in 1962 and is awarded by the CFA Institute – the largest global association of investment professionals. Passing the three CFA® exams is a difficult feat that requires extensive study (successful candidates report spending an average of 300 hours of study for each of three levels/exams). Earning the CFA charter demonstrates mastery of many of the advanced skills needed for investment analysis and decision making in today’s global financial industry. The three levels of the CFA Program test proficiency within a wide range of fundamental and advanced topics, including ethical and professional standards, fixed-income and equity analysis, alternative and derivative investments, economics, financial reporting standards, portfolio management, and wealth planning.
To attain the right to use the CFA charter, an individual must satisfactorily fulfill the following requirements:
- Education – A CFA charter holder is required to hold a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited institution or have an equivalent education or work experience in addition to voluntarily agreeing to an ongoing professional development program which recommends 20 hours of continuing education
- Examinations – Pass three sequential six-hour examinations covering the areas of portfolio management, financial accounting, economics, statistics, security evaluation, derivative securities and ethics
- Experience – In order to attain the CFA Charter, a candidate must have 4 years of acceptable work experience in the investment decision-making process
- Compliance – A CFA charter holder must adhere to the CFA Institute’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct and must annually certify compliance with these standards
For more information about the CFA charter, visit www.cfainstitute.org.