Paramus, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/30/2009 -- Richard G Dragotta of LPL Fianancial has earned the Chartered Financial Consultant ChFC®; a professional designation from the American College located in Bryn Mawr, Penn. Designates of the ChFC designation are require to complete a curriculium which includes 8 courses of approximately 80 hours of preparation and passage of 16 hours of proctored exams covering issues such as estates, taxes, portfolio management and financial planning.. They must also fulfill stringent experience and ethics requirements. More than 42,000 individuals have been awarded the ChFC designation since its inception in 1982.

The ChFC program focuses on the complete financial planning process as an organized way to collect and analyze information on a client's total financial situation. ChFCs can identify and establish specific financial goals and then formulate, implement and monitor a comprehensive plan to achieve those goals. Individuals who earn a ChFC can provide expert advice on a broad range of financial topics including financial planning, wealth accumulation and estate planning, income taxation, life and health insurance, business taxation and planning, investments and retirement planning.

LPL Financial is one of the nation's leading diversified financial services companies and the largest independent broker/dealer supporting more than 12,000 financial advisors nationwide.* We are also an enabling partner to a broad range of banks and credit unions, as well as broker/dealers at leading financial services companies

The American College is the nation’s oldest and largest academically accredited educational institution devoted exclusively to financial services. Located on a 35-acre campus in Bryn Mawr, PA, Pennsylvania, the College serves over 35,000 students predominantly on a distance education basis. The American College offers an array of specialized designation programs, a Master of Science degree in financial services and customized continuing education programs for those pursuing a career in financial services.

* As reported in Financial Planning magazine 1996-2009, based on total revenues