cDROP® is a formal recognition of the expertise in the field of financial planning for the deferred retirement option plan (or program). Owned and awarded by the DROP Institute, the designation is awarded to individuals who successfully complete the DROP Institute’s comprehensive exam and maintain membership with ongoing annual CE requirements to sustain their skills and certification. Our credentialing program gives financial advisors the knowledge base and vocabulary needed to speak with any public-sector employee about their DROP with confidence.

If you are a participant in a deferred retirement program, working with a financial advisor who has attained their cDROP® designation brings added confidence. Most financial advisors are not well-versed in the nuances and rules concerning DROP and pension plans. There are many potential pitfalls regarding financial planning for the public sector, and making a mistake can be costly. Partnering with a cDROP® professional ensures you are dealing with an advisor who is fluent in DROP – an advisor who is DROP-literate.

For financial advisors, working to attain your cDROP® designation can be the catalyst for building your book of business. The certification is a statement of your commitment to advising a sector of the economy that is under-served. And specializing in a niche such as DROP gives you an edge, especially important today since cold calling is no longer viable. When you are perceived as an expert, referrals are inevitable. And what better way to grow your business than with a niche that is not only under-prospected, but also includes prospects who want advice, take advice, and are willing to pay for advice. Scale your practice by committing to a niche and specializing in a lucrative sector of the economy. Police officers, firefighters, educators, and other public-sector employees are retiring at a rapid rate – attaining your cDROP® designation is timely.