Interesting point that you shared that CFAs are “well-informed about college financing”.
My understanding is that CFAs focus on “investing in large scale corporate situations” including “investment tools and valuing assets”.
CFPs focus on "helping individual clients achieve their personal financial goals ".
Large investment banks are a common employer of CFAs, while CFPs typically work with individuals and small business owners.
P.S. Regarding your statement: “Per example, non-qualified annuities will have to be reported on the CSS profile.” I think that you may misunderstand valuation of an annuitized life insurance death benefit payout. The value would be the annual payout received, not the lump sum purchase price of the right to receive a monthly payment for life or for x number of years; accordingly, based on my understanding, the value of a lifetime monthly payment of $2,000 per month would be $24,000 of income each year, NOT the total death benefit of several hundred thousand dollars which was used to fund the annuity.