Kaplan College's Online Certificate in Financial Planning is First to Fulfill the Requirements for the Registered Financial Consultant Designation offered by the International Association of Registered Financial Consultants

Kaplan College financial planning graduates automatically qualify as Registered Financial Consultants; IARFC Membership and Application Fees Waived

NEW YORK, November 19, 2001 Kaplan College, a regionally accredited provider of online education in business, IT, and financial planning, and the International Association of Registered Financial Consultants (IARFC) have announced that the Kaplan College online Certificate in Financial Planning will be recognized by IARFC as instantly fulfilling the education prerequisite for its prestigious Registered Financial Consultant (RFC) designation. It is the only certificate program to do so, and as a result, all Kaplan College financial planning graduates will automatically qualify as Registered Financial Consultants. As part of this arrangement, the initial RFC membership and application fees for Kaplan graduates will be absorbed.

"This is a huge win for our students, as it means they will graduate with a recognized industry designation and membership in a key financial planning organization," said Keith Fevurly, Executive Director, Kaplan College Financial Planning Education Program. "Previously, this designation was reserved for professionals who had already earned another relevant professional degree, and had met the seven IARFC membership requirements. IARFC has determined that Kaplan College's Certificate in Financial Planning is a comprehensive qualification on its own."

As IARFC members, Kaplan College graduates will have access to IARFC's Client Referral System as well as numerous networking opportunities. Graduates will also receive informative industry publications, including The Register, a monthly financial newsletter for practitioners; Financial Services Advisor magazine; and Financial Insider, a consumer financial newsletter. First-year IARFC membership costs will be absorbed for Kaplan College graduates. Graduates who remain in good standing with the IARFC will have the option of renewing their memberships after that.

"The RFC designation is granted to financial planners who are dedicated to pursuing their careers with the utmost in integrity and professionalism," said Edwin P. Morrow, CLU, ChFC, CFPTM, RFC the association's president. "The IARFC is confident that the graduates of Kaplan College's Certificate in Financial Planning meet our stringent requirements. We look forward to working with Kaplan College to maintain the high standards of the financial planning profession."

About Kaplan College:
Kaplan College (www.kaplancollege.edu) is accredited to offer bachelor, associate, and certificate programs in business and information technology both online and at its Davenport, Iowa campus. Kaplan College's online Certificate in Financial Planning program is the only fully online education program that satisfies the educational requirements necessary to achieve the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER certification. Financial planning graduates also immediately qualify as Registered Financial Consultants. Kaplan College is part of The Kaplan Colleges group of institutions, a division of Kaplan, Inc.

Kaplan, Inc. (www.kaplan.com) is a premier provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools and businesses. The company has five operating units: Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions; SCORE! Learning, Inc.; The Kaplan Colleges; Kaplan Professional; and Quest Education. Dearborn Financial Publishing, a Kaplan Professional company, is a well-known provider of reference material for financial advisors. Kaplan is a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO).

About IARFC:
The primary purpose of the IARFC is to provide the public with a pool of well-qualified practitioners from which to choose a personal advisor. The organization issues the prestigious Registered Financial Consultant designation to financial planners who meet seven stringent qualifications and maintain proficiency through strenuous continuing education. The IARFC provides this screening, and makes these advisors available to the public through its website: www.iarfc.org. The association partners with other organizations in the areas of professional education and in supporting the advisors who help the public "to wisely save, spend, invest, insure and plan for the future."

Press Contact: Bonnie Eissner - (212) 707-5287

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