Why FedEd Academy
How FedEd Academy compares.
There are a handful of ways to learn the federal benefits market. We think ours is the most transparent, the most practical, and the best value — but we'll let you judge for yourself. Here is an honest, side-by-side look.
The honest version
Every program in this space hides its price. We don't.
If you have shopped federal benefits training before, you already know the pattern: “Call for pricing.” “Apply to see if you qualify.” Endless sales calls before anyone tells you what it costs. We took the opposite approach. Our prices are published, our curriculum is listed, and our tools are spelled out — so you can make a decision without a single phone call.
| Feature | FedEd AcademyOur program | ChFEBC℠Legacy designation | FRC℠Online self-study | Network programsSelective / gated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transparent, published pricing | Yes — listed openly | Call for pricing | Application-gated | Application-gated |
| CFP® CE credits | 11 hours | 7.5–10 hours | Not advertised | Not stated |
| Live instructor-led option | Virtual or in-person | 2-day on-site | Self-paced only | Workshops |
| Self-paced / on-demand option | Yes — FedEd Academy Pro | Self-study | Yes | Varies |
| Federal gap calculator included | ReadyRetire calculator | Sold separately | Not included | Client report tools |
| Marketing manual & prospecting scripts | Included | Not advertised | Referral funnel | Workshop system |
| Turnkey employee seminars (back office) | Via FEBA Seminars | Not offered | Not offered | Yes |
| Designation pathway | RFBS℠ | ChFEBC℠ | FRC℠ | No letter mark |
| Open enrollment (no application required) | Enroll anytime | Enroll anytime | Apply / qualify | Selective |
| Curriculum updated for legislative changes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Comparison reflects publicly available information as of June 2026. Competitor pricing is gated and not published; details may have changed. ChFEBC℠ and FRC℠ are designations of their respective organizations and are not affiliated with FedEd Academy.
What sets us apart
Five reasons advisors choose FedEd.
Radical transparency
Published prices, listed curriculum, spelled-out tools. No sales-call gauntlet just to learn what it costs. You decide on your terms.
11 CFP® CE credits
The highest CFP® CE offering in the space — more than the legacy designation programs, with state insurance CE available too.
Tools that ship with it
The ReadyRetire Federal Gap Calculator, a full marketing manual, prospecting scripts, a study guide, and a digital resource library — included, not upsold.
A real instructor
Taught by Shawn McCoy — 37 years in financial services, 38,000+ federal employees personally educated. Not a faceless self-study PDF.
Built-in back office
Through FEBA Seminars, you can license turnkey employee benefit seminars to get in front of federal employees — the marketing engine most programs lack.
Honest value
$2,350 for the full live virtual program with everything included. Compare that to programs that won't even quote you a number.
The fair version
Who each program is right for.
We respect the other programs in this space — several have been educating advisors for years. Here is our honest read on where each one fits.
Choose ChFEBC℠ if…
You want the most established letter-designation with annual re-testing and a large nationwide directory of holders, and you don't mind a sales call to learn the price.
Choose FRC℠ if…
You want a fully self-paced online designation tied to a lead-referral network, and you're comfortable with an application process and no advertised CFP® CE.
Choose a network program if…
You want a highly selective, premium membership with deep ongoing community and agency access — and you're prepared for a bigger commitment and a gated application.
Choose FedEd Academy if…
You want transparent pricing, the most CFP® CE, both live and self-paced formats, a complete toolkit, a real instructor, and a built-in way to market to federal employees — without a single sales call to get started.
See exactly what you get — and what it costs.
No application. No sales gauntlet. Browse the upcoming class schedule, see the published price, and enroll when you're ready.