by John Darer® CLU ChFC MSSC CeFT® RSP CLTC
John Darer earns CeFT® Professional Designation
I’m pleased to share the news that I have earned the professional designation of Certified Financial Transitional, which ups my settlement planning game and adds a unique value proposition to parties in litigation, attorneys and mediators.
What is a Certified Financial Transitionist® (CeFT®)?
Every person will experience at least one of the following major life transitions, and the likelihood that more than one at a time will be experienced increases with age.
- Personal injury, wrongful death or employment settlement
- Inheritance
- Loss of a parent
- Loss of a spouse
- Divorce
- Major career change
- Retirement
- The sale of a business
- Pro sports or entertainer contract
- Windfall from lottery or sweepstakes
Whether initiated by a personal injury lawsuit, the loss of a loved one, an employment settlement, an inheritance, the sale of a business, or even multiple simultaneous transitions, such events can propel individuals and families into circumstances where what was once stable is suddenly in a state of uncertainty.
Traditional financial planning definitely covers the bases when it comes to important topics such as taxes, investments, cash flow, and estate planning; but that’s only half of the experience of financial change. The other half is the human experience of adapting to change.
As a Certified Financial Transitionist®, John Darer® understands human transitions on their deepest levels. He knows what influences the way we think and act when our world has suddenly and irrevocably changed. He’s able to identify when a transition is going well and he has protocols and tools to further enhance the experience.
John Darer® is one of only two structured settlement and settlement planning experts to earn the CeFT® in the United States
If you are struggling with a transition, he knows how to keep you safe and help you work through your difficulties.
About the CeFT Training Program
The Sudden Money® Institute (SMI) has spent 25 years studying the psychology, sociology, and neuroscience of change. They’ve even delved into what thought leaders in the business world say about change and adaptation. As important, they know that perceptions and expectations about change are powerful and can profoundly affect thinking and decision-making.
The Sudden Money® Institute created the Certified Financial Transitionist® (CeFT®) designation, a step up designation (from CFP, ChFC and similar), to give financial planners and their clients science-based, field-tested tools and protocols designed specifically to merge the personal side and the technical side of financial change. This new designation comes only after candidates demonstrate fluency in the stages of transition, the use of SMI’s proprietary materials, and the unique skill set of the CeFT®. That yearlong-plus process includes mandatory coaching, over 30 hours of coursework, and a Day-Long Certification Exam that tests content, communication, and listening, through a written exam, essays, role play and an oral exam.
The result? Professionals who can create solutions that are customized for each client’s unique values, relationships, and vision of the future.
In addition to being a Certified Financial Transitionist, John Darer has earned and maintains the the following professional designations:
- Master Structured Settlement Consultant (MSSC)
- Certified Structured Settlement Consultant (CSSC)
- Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC)
- Registered Settlement Planner (RSP)
- Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU)
- Certified in Long Term Care (CLTC)
- Certified Insurance Fiduciary (CIF)
Related Reading
- Read John Darer Structured Settlement Expert Settlement Adviser NY|CT|NJ|USA (4structures.com)
- John Darer CLU ChFC MSSC CeFT RSP CLTC – 4structures.com, LLC | Structured Settlement and Settlement Planning Experts | LinkedIn
- What is Settlement Planning? Settlement Advisors and Financial Transitionists NY|NYC|CT|NJ
- Budgets and Settlement Planning for Life After Settlement (4structures.com)
- A Personal Injury Victim’s Dilemma | Lending Settlement Money (4structures.com)
- Lebron James’ Sudden Money Story
Last updated February 12, 2026