• CLMA

Become A CLMA

  • CLMA

Become A CLMA

The Certified Life Management Advisor (CLMA) designation is designed for professionals who want to go beyond traditional life management and guide clients through the interconnected areas of relationships, health, finance, and personal growth. Built on the belief that financial decisions are inseparable from life decisions, the CLMA program trains advisors through a multidimensional, values-based, purpose-driven framework, truly helping people manage life, not just money.

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  • CLMA

Eligibility

Candidates must have at least five different professional licenses, academic degrees, or professional certifications to qualify for our CLMA designation exam, or complete our 12-month certification program. Qualifying licenses and degrees include securities license, real estate license, mortgage license, insurance license, counseling license, or academic degrees in finance, psychology, business, health, or theology. Certifications like CFP, Life Coach, or Health & Fitness Coach also qualify. Those without five different licenses, degrees, or certifications may apply through a professional portfolio and interview for our 12-month certification program.
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  • Our Process

Certification Process

Step 1
Apply & Verify Credentials

Submit documentation, pay the $300 fee, and complete an interview if needed.

Step 2
Complete Coursework

Attend live sessions, finish modules, and submit required activities.

Step 3
Capstone & Oral Board

Present a client case file and complete a 15-minute board evaluation.

Step 4
Earn Your CLMA

Receive your designation, certificate, and digital badge.

Step 5
Annual Renewal

Complete our annual refresher course, maintain three qualifying credentials, and pay the $300 renewal fee.

  • CLMA Certification

Certification Curriculum

Advisors complete a comprehensive 12-module training program covering financial mastery, investing, credit and debt coaching, real estate, insurance, health and wellness, relationship advising, purpose and career planning, faith and values integration, behavioral decision-making, and practice growth. The program includes live sessions, client case studies, worksheets, scripts, slide decks, recommended books, a final Capstone Project and Oral Board Review, and final exam.
  • Book: "The Total Money Makeover" by Dave Ramsey
  • Activities: Budget planner, cash flow analyzer, money behavior journal
  • Slides: Budget systems, spending priorities, cash flow cycles
  • Script: "Many clients are stuck not because they don’t earn enough—but because their cash flow is unmanaged. You’ll help them create structure and peace through proven budgeting and spending strategies."
  • Downloadable Worksheets: Budget Builder Tool, Cash Flow Calendar, Spending Tracker
  • Book: "The Intelligent Investor" by Benjamin Graham
  • Activities: Risk profile assessment, investment timeline planning
  • Slides: Risk tolerance, asset classes, short/mid/long-term planning
  • Script: "Investing isn’t just about return—it’s about reaching life goals. This module helps you turn investments into life-building tools, not speculative gambles."
  • Downloadable Worksheets: Investment Planning Worksheet, Life Goals Portfolio Grid
  • Book: "Your Score" by Anthony Davenport
  • Activities: Credit report simulation, debt payoff snowball/avalanche comparison
  • Slides: Credit score factors, managing loans, credit behavior coaching
  • Script: "Good credit expands life choices—bad credit restricts them. Learn how to teach debt and credit mastery without shame, guilt, or intimidation."
  • Downloadable Worksheets: Credit Health Tracker, Debt Repayment Map
  • Book: "The Book on Rental Property Investing" by Brandon Turner
  • Activities: Rent vs. buy exercise, property analysis template, mortgage comparison
  • Slides: Home ownership vs. renting, mortgage types, real estate investing
  • Script: "Real estate is often the largest decision a client will make. You’ll coach them through it like a pro—from homeownership readiness to investor strategy."
  • Downloadable Worksheets: Mortgage Comparison Grid, Property Cash Flow Sheet
  • Book: "What Would the Rockefellers Do?" by Garrett Gunderson
  • Activities: Insurance comparison worksheet, risk analysis, coverage gap identification
  • Slides: Understanding the Purpose of Insurance, Types of Coverage, Insurance as Asset Protection, Identifying Coverage Gaps, Planning Through Protection
  • Script: "Insurance is more than a policy—it's a safety net that lets people take bold steps. Help clients assess real risks and present protection as a confidence builder."
  • Downloadable Worksheets: Coverage Assessment Checklist, Comparison Tool, Risk Profile Template
  • Book: "Atomic Habits" by James Clear
  • Activities: Health habit tracker, wellness goal setting, burnout self-assessment, boundary builder workshop
  • Slides: Health as a Foundation, Habit Building, Burnout Recovery, Boundaries, Sustainable Self-Care
  • Script: "Your clients can’t reach life goals if they’re drained. This module brings mental and physical wellness into the life advisor’s toolkit."
  • Downloadable Worksheets: Daily Habit Tracker, Energy Audit, Self-Care Planner
  • Book: "Attached" by Amir Levine and Rachel Heller
  • Activities: Attachment styles quiz, emotional maturity journal, communication pattern analyzer, relationship values worksheet
  • Slides: Emotional Health, Attachment Styles, Triggers, Conflict Tools, Boundaries
  • Script: "Relationships are the emotional currency of life. Help clients build emotional awareness and define relational values that guide life planning."
  • Downloadable Worksheets: Attachment Assessment, Communication Chart, Values Worksheet
  • Book: "Designing Your Life" by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans
  • Activities: Life mapping, purpose wheel, career reframe planner, transition timeline creation
  • Slides: Career Shifts, Purpose Discovery, Transition Tools, Legacy Planning, Daily Purpose Integration
  • Script: "Clients want more than money—they want meaning. Learn to coach through uncertainty and connect vision to impact."
  • Downloadable Worksheets: Purpose Map, Career Planner, Transition Timeline, Legacy Journal
  • Book: "Emotionally Healthy Spirituality" by Peter Scazzero
  • Activities: Faith journaling, values clarification, spiritual timeline, belief-to-action mapping
  • Slides: Role of Belief, Values-Based Planning, Faith + Finance, Navigating Tension, Spiritually Aligned Action Plans
  • Script: "Faith is the compass of many clients’ lives. Learn to honor it without prescribing it, and plan in harmony with their deepest convictions."
  • Downloadable Worksheets: Faith Clarification Journal, Belief Map, Life Goals Planner
  • Book: "Thinking, Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman
  • Activities: Bias workshop, emotional reasoning drill, decision tree simulation
  • Slides: System 1 & 2, Biases, Emotional Triggers, Better Decisions, Habit Coaching
  • Script: "Understanding how people think is your superpower. Help clients reframe decisions and reduce reactivity through behavioral insight."
  • Downloadable Worksheets: Bias Checklist, Decision Tree Template, Trigger Tracker
  • Book: "Start with Why" by Simon Sinek
  • Activities: Brand audit, service map, client journey map, referral network builder
  • Slides: Define Your Why, Brand Identity, Signature Service, Client Journey, Referral Growth
  • Script: "Great advisors don’t just sell services—they live a mission. Build a practice aligned with purpose and designed for sustainable growth."
  • Downloadable Worksheets: Brand Mapping Tool, Client Journey Template, Growth Planner
  • Book: No book required (applies full curriculum)
  • Activities: Case file prep, presentation practice, peer feedback review, portfolio showcase
  • Slides:
  • 1. Overview of the Capstone Experience
  • 2. Project Expectations and Evaluation Criteria
  • 3. Storytelling and Impact Presentation Techniques
  • 4. Preparing for the Oral Board: Structure and Delivery
  • 5. Lessons From the Field: Advisor Reflections and Final Insights
  • Script: "Welcome to your final module. The Capstone Project is your opportunity to synthesize everything you've learned and demonstrate your readiness to serve real clients as a Certified Life Management Advisor. Through a written case file and a live oral• presentation, you'll tell a client transformation story that showcases your ability to plan holistically, coach empathetically, and lead with clarity."
  • Provide instructions for selecting and preparing a real or simulated client
  • Include a written case file with discovery, planning, coaching, and results
  • Conduct presentation rehearsals in small peer groups
  • Oral board will assess ethics, coaching skills, technical knowledge, and storytelling
  • Downloadable Worksheets:
  • 1. Capstone Project Checklist & Timeline
  • 2. Case File Documentation Template
  • 3. Oral Presentation Rubric & Prep Guide
  • 4. Client Impact Storyboard Tool
  • Goals

Advisor Tools & Support

  • Certified LMAs gain access to a full professional ecosystem including:
  • A personalized advisor dashboard
  • Branded client workbook templates
  • Values and purpose discovery tools
  • Life wheel assessments
  • Coaching session planners
  • Practice growth blueprints
  • Listing in the online CLMA Directory
  • Advertising

A New Standard of Advising

  • The CLMA Certification redefines what it means to be an advisor. By uniting expertise across money, health, relationships, and purpose, CLMAs lead the future of transformational, life-centered guidance that helps people thrive spiritually, personally, and financially. Become a CLMA – because life is more than a portfolio.