DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS

Guidance Point's goal is to reduce fees for our clients, but this may not always be the case.

Guidance Point Retirement Services (“Guidance Point”) is a registered investment adviser located in Portland & Bangor, Maine. Guidance Point and its representatives are in compliance with the current registration requirements imposed upon registered investment advisers by those states in which Guidance Point maintains clients. Guidance Point may only transact business in those states in which it is registered, or qualifies for an exemption or exclusion from registration requirements.

Guidance Point’s website is limited to the dissemination of general information regarding its investment advisory services to United States residents residing in states where providing such information is not prohibited by applicable law. Accordingly, the publication of Guidance Point’s website on the Internet should not be construed by any consumer and/or prospective client as Guidance Point’s solicitation to effect, or attempt to effect transactions in securities, or the rendering of personalized investment advice for compensation, over the Internet.

Advice can only be rendered after the following conditions are met: 1) The delivery of a disclosure statement, and execution of an investment advisory and/or a financial planning contract by the client and the adviser; and 2) Initial Payment of the planning fee or investment advisory fee by the client to the adviser. Furthermore, the information resulting from the use of tools, charts, graphs or other information on this Internet site should not be construed, in any manner whatsoever, as the receipt of, or a substitute for, personalized individual advice from Guidance Point.

The information, graphs and charts provided by this website depict general information regarding past performance of various indexes and asset classes. Past performance is never a guarantee of future performance and the information, charts and graphs on this website are not meant to predict future performance. An investor should not base any investment decisions solely on the information provided by this web site.

Any subsequent, direct communication by Guidance Point with a prospective client shall be conducted by a representative that is either registered or qualifies for an exemption or exclusion from registration in the state where the prospective client resides. For information pertaining to the registration status of Guidance Point, please contact the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on their website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov or state securities law administrators for those states in which Guidance Point is registered. A copy of Guidance Point’s current written disclosure statement discussing Guidance Point’s business operations, services, and fees is available from Guidance Point upon written request.

Guidance Point does not make any representations as to the accuracy, timeliness, suitability, completeness, or relevance of any information prepared by any unaffiliated third party, whether linked to Guidance Point’s website or incorporated herein, and takes no responsibility therefore. All such information is provided solely for convenience purposes only and all users thereof should be guided accordingly.

Guidance Point Retirement Services does not endorse and is not liable for any content developed by third parties. Third party content shared, linked, reposted, tweeted or referenced by herein is for ease of reference only and may not accurately reflect the views of Guidance Point Retirement Services. 

Connecting or following an individual or company does not constitute an endorsement by Guidance Point Retirement Services or its employees. Individuals or companies connected to or following Guidance Point Retirement Services or its employees should not be construed as a testimonial regarding any services provided by our firm.

ACCESS TO THIS WEBSITE IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND WITHOUT ANY WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, REGARDING THE ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, TIMELINESS, OR RESULTS OBTAINED FROM ANY INFORMATION POSTED ON THIS WEBSITE OR ANY THIRD PARTY WEBSITE LINKED TO THIS WEBSITE.

Review of the Minimum Qualifications to achieve listed professional designations:

1.  Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF): Since October 2002, the Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) designation has been the mark of commitment to a standard of investment fiduciary excellence. Those who earn the AIF mark successfully complete a specialized program on investment fiduciary standards of care and subsequently passed a comprehensive examination. AIF designees demonstrate a thorough understanding of fi360's Prudent Practices for investment advisors and stewards. 

2.  Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA): Becoming a CFA charterholder is voluntary; no federal or state law or regulation requires investment advisors or financial planners to become a CFA charterholder. However, the CFA program is a globally recognized standard for measuring portfolio management and investment analysis competence and integrity. The program is administered by CFA Institute, a global not-for-profit association of investment professionals. 

The program requires candidates to study for and pass three levels of exams that measure a candidate’s ability to apply the fundamental knowledge of investment principles at a professional level. Candidates who pass the exams and meet other requirements earn a CFA Charter. 

The CFA® program is a graduate-level, self-study curriculum and examination program for investment specialists - especially securities analysts, money managers and investment advisors. To register in the CFA program, an applicant must have a bachelor’s degree (or comparable non-US degree). Four years of qualified professional work experience or a combination of education and qualified work experience may be acceptable in lieu of a degree. The CFA program sets the global standard for investment knowledge, standards and ethics. The rigorous curriculum covers a broad range of investment topics and is committed to the highest ethical standards in the profession. 

To be awarded the CFA charter, a candidate must pass the Level I, Level II, and Level III examinations and have at least four years of acceptable professional experience working in the investment decision-making process. Candidates must also exhibit a high degree of ethical and professional conduct. 

Charterholders must comply with CFA Institute’s Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct to maintain the Charter. In addition, they must annually submit a Professional Conduct Statement and pay membership dues. Failure to comply with CFA Institute’s conditions, requirements, policies and procedures can result in disciplinary sanctions, including suspension or revocation of the right to use the CFA designation. 

3. Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®): To become CFP® certified, an individual is required to meet the following four initial certification requirements: 

Education - an individual must be knowledgeable in all of areas covered by the financial planning, as established by the CFP Board. There are three ways to complete the educational requirement: CFP Board-Registered Programs, Challenge Status or Transcript Review. Candidates for certification must have a bachelor's degree (or higher), or its equivalent, in any discipline, from an accredited college or university. 

Examination - Individuals are eligible for the CFP® Certification Examination upon satisfying the educational requirements. The CFP® Certification Examination assesses the individual’s ability to apply financial planning knowledge in an integrated format to financial planning situations. 

Experience - minimum of three years of full-time relevant personal financial planning experience. 

Ethics - each individual must to adhere to CFP Board's Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility, Rules of Conduct and Financial Planning Practice Standards, and acknowledge CFP Board's right to enforce them through its Disciplinary Rules and Procedures. 

Certification Renewal - Individuals must complete 30 hours continuing education every two years, including 28 hours devoted to accepted financial planning topics and two hours from a pre-approved program of CFP Board’s Standards of Professional Conduct. 

4.  Certified Pension Consultant (CPC): The CPC is conferred by the American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries® to benefits professionals working in plan administration, pension actuarial administration, insurance and financial planning. CPCs work alongside employers to formulate, implement, administer and maintain qualified retirement plans. CPCs must have three years retirement plan experience, complete a series of seven educational modules and complete forty continuing education credit hours every two years. 

5.  Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC): The CRPC designation is issued by the College for Financial Planning to individuals who have completed a course of study encompassing pre- and post-retirement needs, asset management, estate planning and the retirement planning process. Individuals must pass an end-of-course examination and complete sixteen hours of continuing education every two years. 

6.  Qualified Pension Administrator (QPA): The QPA is issued by the American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries® (ASPPA) to professionals who are qualified to perform the technical and administrative functions of qualified plan administration. QPAs assist employers, actuaries, and consultants in performing functions such as determination of eligibility benefits, computation of benefits, plan recordkeeping, trust accounting and disclosure and compliance requirements. QPAs must have a minimum of two years experience in retirement plan related matters along with completion of the ASPPA’s QPA examination series. Credentialed members must acquire forty hours of continuing education credits, including two hours of Ethics, in a two-year cycle.