Fitness Standards for Candidates & Registrants

The CSSCS Board of Standards requires specific character and fitness standards for candidates for the CSSCS designation.  The Board makes every effort to ensure that an individual’s prior conduct will not reflect adversely upon the Corporation for Social Security Claiming Strategies or holders of the CSSCS designation.

Unacceptable Conduct:

The following conduct is unacceptable and will bar an individual from achieving certification:

  • Felony conviction for theft, embezzlement or other financial crimes.
  • Felony conviction for tax fraud or other tax crimes.
  • Formal and permanent revocation of a financial professional (e.g. registered securities representative, broker/dealer, insurance, accountant, investment advisor, financial planner) license, unless the revocation is administrative in nature, (i.e. the result of an individual failing to renew a license as a result of non-payment of required renewal fees).
  • Felony conviction for any violent crime.
  • Two or more personal or business bankruptcies.

Presumptive Bar Conduct

The following conduct is presumed to be unacceptable and will bar an individual from becoming Certified in Social Security Claiming Strategies unless the individual petitions the CSSCS Board of Standards for consideration, and the Board grants the petition:

  • Two or more personal or business bankruptcies.
  • More than one judgement lien.
  • Formal Revocation or suspension of a non-financial professional (e.g. real estate, attorney) license, unless the revocation is administrative in nature, (i.e. the result of the individual choosing not to renew the license by not paying required renewal fees).
  • Formal Suspension of a financial professional (e.g. registered securities representative, broker/dealer, insurance, accountant, investment advisor, financial planner) license, unless the suspension is administrative in nature, (i.e. the result of the individual failing to renew the license as a result of non-payment of required renewal fees).
  • Felony conviction for non-violent crimes.
  • Felony conviction for violent crimes that occurred more than five years ago.

Any other history of questionable conduct that may reflect poorly upon the CSSCS certification mark will be reviewed by the Board after the candidate or registrant has successfully completed the education and examination requirements for certification.  Types of questionable conduct include, but are not limited to, customer complaints, arbitrations and other civil proceedings, misdemeanor convictions, and employer terminations for cause.

Petition For Consideration

Individuals who’s past conduct issues fall under the “Presumptive Bar” list (see above) or reflect poorly upon the CSSCS certification marks may petition the Board for consideration and a determination on whether their prior conduct will bar any possibility of certification.

The process for these reviews is as follows:

1. When the CSSCS Board of Standards discovers that an individual’s prior conduct falls with the “Unacceptable” list (see above), The Board shall notify the individual that he/she is permanently barred from becoming certified.

2. When the CSSCS Board of Standards discovers an individual’s prior conduct may place them on the “Presumptive Bar” list, or is conduct that may reflect poorly upon the CSSCS certification marks.  Once confirmed, The CSSCS Board of Standards will request all relevant documentation from the individual along with a written petition requesting consideration from the CSSCS Board of Standards, and signs a consent form agreeing to the Board’s jurisdiction to review the matter.

Once the Board’s review of the petition has been completed, the Board will make one of the following determinations:

1. Grant the petition after determining the conduct does not reflect poorly on the Individual’s fitness as either a registrant seeking reinstatement or as a candidate for the CSSCS designation.

2. Deny the petition but allow the individual to re-apply for CSSCS certification after the time limit on the conduct has expired.  The individual will be required to satisfy the education, examination and professional code of conduct and ethics requirements of the CSSCS Board of Standards at the time of re-application.

3. Deny the petition after determining the individual’s prior conduct reflects poorly on his/her fitness as a registrant seeking reinstatement or as a candidate for the CSSCS designation.  This type of conduct may result in being permanently barred from consideration.

Following a period of suspension, registrants must follow the petition procedures set forth above in order to receive proper reinstatement consideration from the CSSCS Board of Standards.