Advanced Expertise for the High-Net-Worth Investor
The Value of Working With a CPWA® Professional
Navigating the financial landscape as a high-net-worth individual comes with unique challenges—and greater complexity. That’s why choosing the right advisor matters. When you work with a Certified Private Wealth Advisor® (CPWA®) professional, you’re partnering with someone who has committed to delivering advanced wealth management strategies tailored to your needs.
Granted by the Investments & Wealth Institute™, the CPWA® certification sets the standard for excellence in private wealth advising. It signals that your advisor has made a deliberate investment in education, ethics, and experience to serve individuals and families with significant assets.
The Four E’s of CPWA® Certification
Education:
CPWA® professionals complete an intensive educational program developed and delivered in collaboration with the Yale School of Management. The curriculum focuses on the sophisticated needs of high-net-worth clients, including tax minimization, estate planning, executive compensation, and philanthropic strategies.
Examination:
To earn the CPWA® credential, candidates must pass a rigorous, comprehensive exam that tests their ability to apply complex wealth management strategies in real-world scenarios. The exam ensures advisors are equipped to meet the evolving needs of affluent investors.
Experience:
CPWA® designees must have at least five years of experience in financial services and a demonstrated history of working directly with high-net-worth clients. This ensures they understand the nuanced needs of sophisticated investors.
Ethics:
Every CPWA® professional agrees to abide by a strict Code of Professional Responsibility, which includes full transparency regarding services and compensation. This ethical commitment is fundamental to earning—and maintaining—your trust.
Why the CPWA® Certification Matters
CPWA® professionals are trained to address the full life cycle of wealth—from accumulation and growth to protection, distribution, and legacy planning. They are skilled at helping clients:
- Minimize taxes
- Maximize investment performance
- Protect and transfer wealth efficiently
- Navigate liquidity events and business transitions
- Plan for charitable giving and multigenerational wealth strategies
These advisors are not only equipped to manage wealth—they’re prepared to help you make the most of it, now and for generations to come.
What to Expect From a CPWA® Professional
Credentials:
Each CPWA® professional has passed a background check, met rigorous experience and education requirements, passed a comprehensive certification exam, and is committed to ongoing professional development—including 40 hours of continuing education every two years.
Experience With Affluent Clients:
CPWA® professionals specialize in working with high-net-worth individuals and families. They dedicate a significant portion of their practice to serving clients like you—people with complex needs, significant goals, and sophisticated financial lives.
Transparency and Trust:
Knowing how your advisor is compensated—and what you’re receiving in return—is essential. CPWA® professionals are committed to full disclosure, providing clear explanations of services, fees, and any potential conflicts of interest.
Choosing a CPWA® professional means choosing a highly qualified partner who understands the demands of wealth and is equipped to help you manage it with insight, integrity, and purpose.
INVESTMENTS & WEALTH INSTITUTE™ is a service mark of Investment Management Consultants Association Inc. doing business as Investments & Wealth Institute. CIMA®, CERTIFIED INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT ANALYST®, CIMC®, CPWA®, and CERTIFIED PRIVATE WEALTH ADVISOR® are registered certification marks of Investment Management Consultants Association Inc. doing business as Investments & Wealth Institute. RMASM and RETIREMENT MANAGEMENT ADVISORSM are marks owned by Investment Management Consultants Association Inc. doing business as Investments & Wealth Institute.
Investments & Wealth Institute™ (The Institute) is the owner of the certification marks “CPWA®,” and “Certified Private Wealth Advisor®.” Use of CPWA®, and/or Certified Private Wealth Advisor® signifies that the user has successfully completed The Institute’s initial and ongoing credentialing requirements for wealth advisors.
