CTFA Exam Format | CTFA Course Contents | CTFA Course Outline | CTFA Exam Syllabus | CTFA Exam Objectives

The knowledge areas below are the basis for the Certified Trust and Financial Advisor (CTFA) examination. These
knowledge areas were derived from a job analysis study and were validated by the CTFA Advisory Board. Postcertification programs that address these knowledge areas are eligible for CTFA continuing education credits through the American Bankers Association.



I. Fiduciary & Trust Activities (25%)

A. Nature and Characteristics of Account Relationship

1. Trusts

2. Estates

3. Guardianships/ Conservatorships

4. Custodians

5. Financial and Health Care Powers of Attorney

6. Agencies

B. Formal Requisites of Establishing Account

1. Written Agreements or Documents

2. Trust Situs

3. Acceptance of Fiduciary Appointment

4. Disclaiming of Interest

C. Fiduciary Responsibilities

1. Powers

2. Duties

3. Uniform Acts/Codes

4. Safekeeping of Assets

5. Environmental Issues

D. Investment Responsibilities

1. Investment Powers

2. Investment Types & Restrictions

3. Sale/Retention by Bank of Its Own Holding Company Securities

4. Prudent Investor

E. Receipts, Payments and Distributions

1. Duty in Making Payments or Distributions

2. Uniform Principal & Income Act

F. Accounting and Compensation

1. Duty to Keep Records

2. Duty to Furnish Information

to Beneficiaries

3. Duty to Render Court Accountings

4. Fiduciary Compensation

G. Alteration or Termination of the Trust

1. Power to Change Terms

2. Power to Revoke or Terminate

H. Regulatory/Compliance

1. Due Diligence

2. Know Your Customer

3. Privacy Issues

4. Bank Secrecy Act

5. OCC Regulation 9

6. Securities Laws

II. Financial Planning (25%)

A. Personal Finance

1. Time Value of Money Principles

2. Statement of Assets and Liabilities

3. Cash Flow Management

4. Debt Management

5. Investment Planning

6. Education Planning

7. Health Care & Disability Planning

B. Retirement

1. Capital Sufficiency

2. Investment Strategies

3. Wealth Accumulation & Distribution

4. Social Security & Other Programs

5. IRAs

6. Qualified and non-Qualified Plans

7. Income Needs & Sources

C. Insurance

1. Life Insurance

2. Long Term Care Insurance

3. Disability

4. Annuities

5. Health Insurance

6. Property/Casualty Insurance

7. Insurance Company, Product, and Intermediary Selection Criteria

D. Transfer Assistance

1. Wealth Transfer During Lifetime

2. The Flow of Property at Death

3. Business Succession Planning

4. Planning Documents

5. Planning Considerations

6. Charitable Giving Strategies

7. Special Needs Planning

E. Financial Modeling

1. Risk Assessment

2. Asset Allocation

III. Tax Law & Planning (25%)

A. Income Tax

1. Individuals

2. Fiduciaries

3. Charitable Trusts, Private Foundations, and Split Interest Trusts

4. Business

B. Transfer Tax

1. Gift Tax

2. Estate Tax

3. Generation-Skipping Transfers (GST)

IV. Investment Management (20%)

A. Economics and Markets

1. Gross Domestic Product

2. Interest Rates

3. Inflation & Employment

4. Government Fiscal Policy

5. Monetary Policy

6. International Influences

7. Market Operations

8. Currency

B. Portfolio Management Theories and Concepts

1. Modern Portfolio Theory

2. Equity Investment Management Approaches

3. Fixed Income Investment Management Approaches

4. Hedging Strategies

5. Risk Management

6. Total Return

C. Types of Investments/Selection & Analysis

1. Equities

2. Fixed Income

3. Convertible Securities

4. Mutual Funds

5. Common Trust Funds

6. Closely-Held Businesses

7. Real Estate & Farms

8. International

9. Nontraditional

10. Master Limited Partnerships

11. Stock Options

12. ETFs

13. Oil, Gas & Minerals

14. Commodities & Precious Metals

D. Client Objectives & Constraints

1. Investment Objectives

2. Risk Tolerance

3. Time Horizons

4. Tax Considerations

5. Current vs Future Objectives 6. Investment Restrictions & Preferences

7. Asset Allocation

E. Performance Measurement

1. Time-Weighted vs. Dollar-Weighted

2. Risk Adjusted

3. Benchmarks & Indicies

V. Ethics (5%)

A. Advisory

1. Unauthorized Practice of Law

2. Conflict of Interest

3. Confidentiality

4. Undue Influence

5. Related Parties

6. Client Competence/Capacity

B. Fiduciary

1. Duty of Loyalty

2. Breach of Trust

3. Trust Officer as Beneficiary

4. Personal Liability

5. Self Dealing

6. Gifts to/from Clients & Vendors

C. Business Development

1. Business Solicitation

2. Compensation Arrangements

D. Investment

1. Insider Information

2. Equal Treatment of Accounts

3. Directed Brokerage

4. Disclosures

5. Prudent Investor Standard

E. Other

1. Relationship with Other Professionals

2. Fraud Prevention