CFP Board-approved Examination Course

The program’s first course begins with a presentation of the basics that will form the foundation of knowledge students need as working financial services professionals. The financial planning process, as well as the legal, ethical, and regulatory issues affecting financial planners and time value of money concepts are covered. The course continues with a discussion of the principles of risk management and insurance, allowing the student to identify a client’s risk exposure and select appropriate risk management techniques.

The investment course is designed to provide students with an introduction to modern portfolio theory, measuring risk and return, portfolio development and analysis, asset allocation and portfolio diversification, along with equity and bond valuation and derivatives.

This course is designed to provide students with an introduction to individual income tax fundamentals and the calculation of income tax. In addition, the tax issues surrounding business entities, disposition of property and tax basis are discussed. Students are introduced to the alternative minimum tax (AMT), passive activity rules, charitable contributions and tax minimization strategies.

This course will provide students with a fundamental introduction to retirement planning and employee benefits, including public and private retirement plans as well as group and fringe benefits. Specifically, the course will cover the public retirement plans including Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid as well as the private plans including both defined benefit and defined contribution plans. In addition, the course will provide students with an understanding of the regulatory provisions associated with the installation, administration and termination of retirement plans and with the specific characteristics of the various plans available including qualified, non-qualified and other tax advantaged plans. Finally, the course will detail employee group and fringe benefits and the taxation of these benefit plans, and also the issues that individuals face in retirement.

The estate planning course begins with the estate planning process and the basic documents needed for an estate plan such as a will, durable power of attorney for healthcare and an advanced medical directive. The course continues with a discussion regarding property ownership, assets that pass through and around the probate process, gift and estate taxes and planning techniques to reduce an individual’s tax liability.

This project-based course will require students to synthesize and apply elements of comprehensive financial planning, to perform all functions of the financial planning process and to apply the CFP Board’s practice standards.