Enrollees in the Investments and Wealth Institute’s Retirement Management Advisor program are gearing up for the start of an intensive education effort that will feature a new and improved version of the RMA curriculum.
Speaking recently in New York with ThinkAdvisor, IWI CEO Sean Walters said the coursework changes are the result of a years-long effort to update the RMA certification.
“It all started with a job analysis process back in late 2022 and early 2023,” Walters explained. “We went out into the field and asked the top practitioners with at least five years of experience what someone needs to know to be a true retirement planning expert. We took those inputs and used them to validate and update the RMA. It’s been a big process, but we’re thrilled to be bringing this to the industry.”
The IWI has also made some key logistical updates to the RMA program that Walters and his team are “very excited about.”
“With the updates, our goal is to not only ensure that the RMA certification has the best possible content and coursework, but also that busy industry professionals can take advantage of the program in a more flexible way,” Walters said.
To that end, the RMA curriculum is being made “stackable,” allowing advisors to “learn as they go” in a hybrid setting rather than needing to attend a rigid schedule of courses or modules. Getting through the materials will still take a significant effort, he noted, but advisors can accelerate or pause their learning as needed during the open coursework period. For the current session, that’s from July 29 to Oct. 21.
“It’s a more flexible way to engage with the training, but as before, actual achievement of the RMA certification will require students’ sitting down for a two-day final session and proctored exam,” Walters explained. “That happens at the Chicago Booth School of Business on Oct. 22 and 23.”
More Coursework Details
The coursework, Walters said, continues to be supported by many of the biggest names in retirement planning, including Robert Powell, the financial writer and CFP leading the effort. Other experts include Wade Pfau, Marcia Mantell and David Blanchett.
The IWI is also starting up a new option for interested advisors who are unsure they can commit the time to go through the full RMA program.
“For these folks, we’re rolling out what we’re calling the Retirement Essentials program,” Walters said. “You can think of it as almost a 200 level college course and gets you up to speed on what is covered in the first five of the 12 RMA modules. It’s a perfect setup for those who are thinking about doing the full RMA in the future.”
Benefits of Advanced Certifications
Coinciding with the RMA program updates, the IWI also released the results of its 2025 Team and Business Leader Research Study, conducted in partnership with Logica Research.
The research suggests that while 84% of professionals surveyed believe that they are strong business leaders, 93% report leadership or management challenges. The most pressing challenges related to managing a team for wealth professionals include finding the right people (59%); finding enough time to support the team (49%); developing the technical skills of the team (30%); and creating a clear and defined culture (22%).
Notably, 51% of all wealth management industry leaders say leading a team is stressful.
“Practice leaders are asking for tools and talent to scale,” Walters observed. “As the IWI, our success as a professional development partner for wealth management advisors hinges on delivering targeted education, certifications and resources that help our members build high-performing teams.”
Walters added that the findings underscore research that the association conducted earlier this year with CEG Insights showing that firms that cultivate teams of IWI-certified advisors are better positioned to differentiate themselves as providers of elite advisory services.
For example, teams that include at least one member with an Institute certification average significantly higher team assets under management than teams without such a designation. In the most sizable case, teams that include a Certified Investment Management Analyst-certified professional manage an average of $267 million more than teams lacking Institute designations.
“The CEG study also revealed that Institute-certified advisors are leaders in implementing formal mentoring programs, enhancing performance management and feedback processes, and improving team collaboration tools and processes,” Walters said. “Certifications are strategic enablers in the team advisory space.”
Pictured: Sean Walters
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