PCDI Financial Planning Specialist Program

Has anyone completed the program? If so, can you give me some insights on the Diploma program.

Thanks!

 

I haven't completed the program.

But I think you can do better.

Take a look at the programs at the following site, all of which satisfy the education requirement for the CFP designation: http://www.cfp.net/become/registerpg.asp?frmaction=bytype&type=distancelearning&x=162&y=13

My choices from this list would be (in order):

Florida State
TAMU-Commerce
Boston U.

 

Is there someone who has had experience with PCDI in the Financial Planning Specialist Program? I haven't. All I know is the program is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Sorry, I can't answer your original question, but hopefully someone on here has taken that course or is familar with it.

 

PCDI is nationally accredited by the DETC, not regionally accredited.

 

Have you ever been home, sick, or off-shift during daytime/business hours, watching one of the local TV stations, or one of the secondary cable networks, and one of those commercials comes on advertising how you can improve your life by getting a diploma in motorcycle repair or medical assisting? PCDI is one of the biggest advertisers in that genre. All of those PCDI diploma courses are part of that. Now, that's not saying it's bad. Those diplomas are, after all, part of what DETC has accredited PCDI to offer.

PCDI also owns Ashworth College... which offers both associates and masters degrees (but not bachelors degrees... go figure). It, too, is DETC (nationally) accredited.

PCDI also owns James Madison High School. That's the one that's regionally accredited by SACS.

As far as the financial planning specialist course -- or pretty much any of PCDI's diploma course, for that matter -- they're actually remarkably good, for what they are. They're just diploma courses, after all, not degrees. And PCDI, for whatever reason, does not tout that any of its diploma courses will satisfy any kind of certification requirements, even when, if you look closely, they pretty much will.

As oxpecker points out, there are financial planner courses out there that are probably better. They may be better just 'cause, content-wise, they really are better; or they may only be "better" because they bother (or dare) to say, right in the words that describe them, that they will help you become a certified financial planner.

If certification is what you're after, then you really need to stick with the specific programs recommended by the certifier. But if you'd like to just glean the information -- and, who knows, maybe still get certified as a result, somehow -- then the PCDI financial planner diploma course will probably be just fine.

One way or the other, I'll tell you this: The PCDI courses are not fluff, if that's what you're worried about. They're challenging and rigorous and deliver what they promise. And, again, they're DETC accredited. So if all you're worried about is whether it's legit, fear not.

 

Unfortunatelly, the CFP designation is not available, nor allowed, at this time in Puerto Rico. Only the LUTCF designation (Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow) is allowed.

Perfect, I know they are legit, but had concerns about it's content. What I want is the knowledge. I will be taking my NASD Series 6 license exam at some point in the future and the program content seems like a good primer for the license.

Thanks Greg and everybody else that replied.

 

I completed the course a couple of months ago. The materials were good. Content was good. However, God help you if you need help from a live person. You will get nowhere. Their customer service/student support is abysmal. If you are a self-paced learner and can find answers to your questions on your own, the program isn't bad.

 

Customer support at Ashworth has always been a problem... as it is at places like Wal*Mart and Best Buy, too. Like a stereo system purchased at Best Buy, the basic product is fine... but good luck being treated as anything short of cattle if you need any kind of customer support. One gets what one pays for.

 

It's interesting that PCDI are providing this Diploma under their Ashworth brand name.

I didn't know that.

But Degreeinfo reveals all...

 

They're not.

The Financial Planning Specialist career diploma is a PCDI product.

To be an Ashworth product, it would have to be one of their associates or masters degrees.

(You're so subtle. )

 

I already registered for the Financial Planning Specialist program, I think it will serve me as a good primer for my NASD Series 6 lisence exam which I will be taking at some point in the furture. I am also interested in the Computer Programming and Web Page Design programs. However, I am thorn between Educational Direct and PCDI. The programs are comparably priced and have similar content. Can anyone tell me which program is more complete? I only want these two for the knowledge.

 

For a diploma program, one is probably no better than the other. They are both DETC-accredited. I chose ED's degree program because many of the courses are evaluated by ACE, which makes credit transfer easier.

 

Though I've got to add as one who has attempted to transfer DETC credits....it's a jungle of confusion, discrimination and bald faced hypocrisy. Other than that? Piece of cake.

 

You can really only decide for yourself which one will serve your needs, after reviewing each program's content completely and comparing it to any information regarding the licensing exam. Both Ashworth and Education Direct include detailed program outlines with course descriptions, each is DETC accredited.

If additional accreditation is a concern, ED Direct also has regional accreditation for their vocational/technical programs while Ashworth/PCDI only has regional accreditation for their high school program. Ed Direct also advertises ACE review, but their site is unclear which specific courses/programs have that additional approval.


Kit

 

Wondeful. That does tip the scales a litle bit.

Thanks so much!

 

They aren't. It says "PCDI" on the diploma. I simply listed both on here because people tend to use them interchangably. If the consensus is that this is unethical, I'll change it.

 

Some alternatives:

theamericancollege.edu

Financial Services Specialist

cffp.edu

Accredited Asset Management Specialist

Numerous other designations

icfs.com

Numerous designations

These programs have more industry recognition than the PCDI program. FYI.

 

Unethical? Probably not. Inaccurate? Yes. Diplomas are not offered by Ashworth, degrees are.

 

Funny... I haven't noticed a lot of that. But, hey... maybe I'm not paying attention.

Unethical. Hmmm. I don't know if I would go that far. However, bear in mind that there have been debates in this place -- and I mean huge ones -- over whether it's ethical to put "Master of Underwater Basket Weaving" on one's resume when, in fact, the actual degree, as granted, was "Master of Arts in Underwater Basketweaving;" or "ThM" when, in fact, the degree, as granted, was "MTh." In a world where people sweat such issues (and I'm not saying they shouldn't), it's inevitable that someone would take issue with something in someone's signature which suggested that a PCDI career diploma was (or could be) from PCDI's Ashworth College. I think that's what you're getting, here. This place has a fairly low tolerance for even the slightest slight of hand... even when it's not intended to be so, and/or the mistake is innocent.

 

I honestly had heard it used interchangably. I will change it on my profile immediately. I have it listed as PCDI on my resume though.