BIF's Mission Statement
Boston Institute of Finance provides the best value in CFP® Education and Exam prep through high-quality instruction, proactive support, and comprehensive yet straightforward materials. We are dedicated to ensuring the financial service professionals achieve their career goals and are prepared to better serve their clients and their profession.
About BIF
Boston Institute of Finance was founded in 2001 to provide the best educational experience to CFP® candidates. We were the first to offer a CFP Board-approved education program in a 100% online format, providing a pathway to CFP® certification for more candidates.
BIF continues to evolve to meet the needs of our students in the following ways:
- Rebuilding our Learning Platform for a more streamlined experience to better meet students’ needs.
- Creating The BIF Review, an industry-leading CFP® Exam prep course built using a Progressive Training Method to maximize knowledge retention so students are ready to pass the exam
- Entering a strategic partnership with Securities Training Corporation to provide CFP® CE and additional financial services licensing opportunities to support the lifecycle of a CFP® professional’s career
Meet BIF's Program Director
I am Brendan P. Flaherty, the Program Director for Boston Institute of Finance, as well as a practicing financial advisor and CFP® professional. Finance is a passion of mine that I express in two ways—through the running of my own client-centric business and through teaching.
The CFP® certification helped my business grow immensely over the years. I've added new clients, retained key existing clients and greatly expanded the services that I provide to both subsets. I also want to help you grow your business in the same way.
Today's investors are moving away from basic registered representatives and family accountants and are deciding to put their faith in easily recognized and trusted CFP® professionals. You can maintain your competitive edge by choosing the certification and the financial education program that teaches you how to operate in an increasingly more demanding environment.
The CFP® certification has become the gold standard in our industry. BIF’s CFP® program will prepare you to both attain and put CFP® to work.
So, congratulations for deciding to pursue CFP® certification. It’s a challenging path, but one that BIF can make more clear! Thank you for considering BIF, and I hope to welcome you soon as a member of our financial education community.
Best regards,
About BIF's Instructor Team aka the BIF Crew
Adam Scherer, CFP®, MS, EA
BIF/Bryant CFP® Instructor and Practicing Financial Planner
Adam has worked in financial services and education for over 10 years. He holds a Master of Science degree in Personal Financial Planning and obtained his CFP® marks in 2017.
Adam maintains a student-centered approach that is both engaging and accessible. He strives to simplify the complex and guide students to a point of understanding by using personal anecdotes and bad dad jokes.
Adam lives in West Hartford, Connecticut with his wife, Annie, and two daughters, Susanna and Eliza.
Eric Scruggs, CFP®, EA
BIF/Bryant CFP® Instructor and Practicing Financial Planner
Eric has been a financial planner since 2012, working with families and individuals in different life phases. He launched his own firm, Hark Financial Planning, in 2023, focused on working with mid-career attorneys and executives.
Eric is a CFP® professional and IRS Enrolled Agent. He lives in the Boston area with his wife, 2 children, and dog.
Jennifer Belmont Jennings, CFP®, JD
BIF/Bryant CFP® Instructor and Practicing Estate Planning Attorney
Jennifer Belmont Jennings is a Trusts and Estates Attorney at MGD Law, LLC. Her practice includes estate and wealth planning for individuals and families looking to build and protect their legacies. Her experience includes almost 10 years in financial services where she obtained the CFP® certification and worked with high net-worth clients developing and implementing financial plans that complemented their estate planning and tax objectives.
Jennifer received her JD, AM, and AB from Washington University in St. Louis, and completed the General Course Program at The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).
Jennifer, her husband Brent, and their son, Liam, live in St. Louis. In addition to family volunteer activities, they enjoy golf and traveling.
Mike Long, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®
BIF/Bryant CFP® Instructor and Mentor
Mike is in his 40th year in financial services and education. He started in the insurance business right out of college and quickly specialized in retirement plans for small to mid-sized companies. Mike has held various field positions in sales, sales management and field training, and education over the years.
These days, Mike's passion is guiding financial advisors through CFP Board's Education and Examination requirements with as little pain as possible.
In his free time, Mike loves spending time with his grandchildren and family.
Jerry Mee, CFP®
BIF/Bryant CFP® Instructor and Mentor
Before joining the Boston Institute of Finance, Jerry spent 7 years in the financial services industry working on various advisor teams. Half of that time was spent at one of the largest firms in the country and the other half was spent at a very small boutique firm. Jerry's experience working with a very wide spectrum of clients and planning strategies allows him to help BIF's very diverse student population.
Jerry realized that he enjoyed teaching clients about their finances far more than he enjoyed selling to them, so he made the jump to financial education.
Brendan Flaherty, CFP®, CIMA®
BIF/Bryant CFP® Program Director and Practicing Financial Planner
Brendan began his career as financial advisor in 2004. He is currently a Senior Vice President and Rhode Island Complex Manager with Janney Montgomery Scott where he focuses on investment management and financial planning for his clients.
Brendan is a former member of CFP® Board's National Council on Education and a past president of the Board of Directors of the Financial Planning Association of Rhode Island where he chaired the Education Committee.
Brendan and his wife Susan live in Warwick, Rhode Island, with their children Kelsea and Aidan.
