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schedules are subject to change without notice.
Financial Planning courses meet weeknights and occasional Saturdays. Please be sure to read schedule notes for Saturday meetings.
Fundamentals of Planning and Insurance Planning (Accelerated) FN_PLAN 311-0
This course provides a foundation for understanding the financial planning process, the principles of risk management, and the use of insurance as a principle method of managing financial risk exposure. Basic terminology of the financial planning profession is presented and topics are introduced that will provide building blocks for future coursework-such as economic concepts, time value of money, credit and debt management, budgeting, types of financial institutions and planning for special circumstances. Also introduced are the legal, ethical and regulatory issues affecting financial planners. In addition, this course will help students identify the various types of financial risk and how to evaluate alternative strategies in order to lessen the impact of unplanned events. Contingency planning is one of the most important elements of the financial planning process, and discussions will center on how to make recommendations to manage ongoing risk when planning for the future. Finally, the analysis of client insurance needs and methods of determining the type and amount of insurance best suited to each client's situation is examined, incorporating discussions of life, property, liability, homeowner's and personal-auto insurance. Also covered are medical and disability insurance and long-term care policies.
*Schedule Notes:
Class will also meet on Saturday, August 29, and Saturday, September 12, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Course Materials:
***College for Financial Planning study guides - can only be purchased through the College for Financial Planning by calling 1-800-237-9990, Student Services (Option 2).***Chandler, Darlene K. et al, Risk Management for Financial Planners, 2nd edition, The National Underwriter Company, 2007, ISBN 0872189348.Please follow the weblink above to order from amazon.com or use the ISBN to find the book from another provider.***Leimberg, Stephan R., Doyle, Robert, Tools & Techniques of Life Insurance Planning, 4th edition, The National Underwriter Company, 2007, ISBN 08721893317. Please follow the weblink above to order from amazon.com or use the ISBN to find the book from another provider.
Investment Planning (Accelerated) FN_PLAN 312-0
This course surveys the wide variety of investment vehicles that can be included in a client's investment portfolio, introducing risk-return criteria as a means of evaluating alternatives. The broad spectrum of investments is explored, ranging from guaranteed- and fixed-income products to derivatives and private placements. An emphasis on the client is the overriding theme for the course, beginning with the client needs assessment as it relates to risk tolerance, return requirements and liquidity needs. Techniques for selection, timing, measurement and diversification of investments are studied in detail. Different strategies and valuation models are used to understand fundamental investment principles. Modern portfolio theory, risk management, market strategies, efficient market theory, and asset allocation and diversification are introduced. Retirement planning and employee benefits will be discussed, as will relevant ethical considerations. Students analyze expected return characteristics individually and in combination within a hypothetical portfolio. Specific investment types discussed include stocks and bonds, mutual funds, insurance-based investments, options and futures contracts, foreign investments, real estate, tangible assets, and other debt and equity securities. Other topics include tax considerations, economic factors, the portfolio construction and management process, portfolio performance evaluation methods, market analysis, hedging and option strategies, and formula investing. The course also discusses government regulation of securities and markets.
*Schedule Notes:
Class will also meet on Saturday, October 17, and Saturday, October 31, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Course Materials:
*** College for Financial Planning study guides - can only be purchased through the College for Financial Planning by calling 1-800-237-9990, Student Services (Option 2).*** Herbert Mayo, Investments: An Introduction 9th Edition, South-Western, ISBN 0324561261. Please follow the weblink above to order from amazon.com or use the ISBN to find the book from another provider.
Income Tax Planning (Accelerated) FN_PLAN 313-0
This course provides an overview of the federal income tax system, examining the income taxation of individuals, sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLCs and corporations. Students will begin with taxation terminology and then learn about the concepts of gross income and deductions for profit-making activities, personal deductions and tax planning for the family, tax benefits of home ownership, planning for the acquisition and deposition of other real estate, and how the choice of business entity affects the taxes of owners and employees. The course will focus on how financial planners advise clients about the most effective methods of maximizing wealth by reducing their tax burden through an examination of a variety of tax issues-including tax law, accounting methods, tax planning related to employee compensation, research and practitioner concerns, cost-recovery methods, consequences of like-kind exchanges and tax-advantage investments. Alternative minimum tax (AMT), self-employment tax, ethical considerations, potential traps and pitfalls, and the consequences and effects of IRS audits and enforcement activities also will be discussed.
*Schedule Notes:
Class will also meet on Saturday, November 21, and Saturday, December 5, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Course Materials:
***College for Financial Planning study guides - can only be purchased through the College for Financial Planning by calling 1-800-237-9990, Student Services (Option 2).*** Hoffman, Smith, & Willis, South-Western Federal Taxation 2010: Individual Income Taxes 33rd Edition, South-Western, ISBN 0324828659. Please follow the weblink above to order from amazon.com or use the ISBN to find the book from another provider.
Retirement Planning and Employee Benefits (Accelerated) FN_PLAN 314-0
This course covers all aspects of retirement planning and employee benefits, beginning with the presentation of tax-deferred retirement program options and the framework used to conduct a needs analysis for achieving retirement income goals. Key features of qualified retirement plan design are discussed, emphasizing the advantages and disadvantages of specific types of plans for the owners of small- to medium-sized businesses. Assumptions and projections of lifestyle, inflation, returns and life expectancy are critical when considering retirement needs. An understanding of cash flow, income sources, medical expenses and benefits must go into the calculations. Employee compensation has changed significantly in recent years, so it is essential that financial planners grasp how to coordinate employer-sponsored benefits within a plan. All of these issues are addressed in detail, as are how to avoid inappropriate investments and how to present recommended courses of action to clients. Additional relevant topics highlighted in this course include commonly provided non-pension employee benefits, such as disability, healthcare and group life insurance. Students will discuss the uses of life and disability insurance in planning for closely held businesses, as well as for the family. Childcare, Medicare and other dependent-care benefits are considered. Federal social security, cafeteria plans, stock options and stock purchase plans, transportation issues, and forms of non-qualified deferred compensation are included, as well.
*Schedule Notes:
Class will also meet on Saturday, January 16, and Saturday, January 30, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Course Materials:
TBA
Estate Planning (Accelerated) FN_PLAN 315-0
Planning and managing federal estate and gift taxation is one of the most overlooked yet critical elements of a financial plan. Part of this process involves understanding the perspectives of the many parties involved and their related concerns; that is, the perspectives of descendants, fiduciaries, estates, trust beneficiaries, donors and recipients. This course examines the important estate-planning issues from all of these perspectives. Beginning with the fundamentals of federal estate and gift taxation, the process of developing an estate plan is presented through a discussion of a variety of mechanisms - such as incapacity planning, qualified interest trusts, generation skipping, estate planning weaknesses, property ownership forms, intestacy and will substitutes, how to satisfy liquidity needs, and specific exclusion and valuation techniques that reduce the size of the gross estate. There are many facets to proper estate planning, and this course will touch on all of the essential elements necessary for consideration by the financial planner. Charitable, intrafamilial, postmortem and business-transfer planning techniques that play an important part in estate planning are addressed, and additional focus is placed on the implications of gifts and bequests, including lifetime gifting and coordination of the unified credit with marital deduction. Other issues include tax consequences of estate planning techniques, revocable and irrevocable trusts (including bypass and marital deduction trusts), life insurance, federal estate tax, probate and more.
*Schedule Notes:
Class will also meet on Saturday, August 1, and Saturday, August 15, from 8:00 AM to 2:30 PM.
Course Materials:
* College for Financial Planning study guides - can only be purchased through the College for Financial Planning by calling 1-800-237-9990, Student Services (Option 2). * Dalton & Langdon, Estate Planning for Financial Planners 5th Edition, ME: Your Money Education Resource, ISBN 978-0-9801299-5-3. Please follow the weblink above to order from the publisher or use the ISBN to find the book from another provider.
*Schedule Notes:
Class will also meet on Saturday, February 27, and Saturday, March 13, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Course Materials:
TBA
Case Studies in Financial Planning (Accelerated) FN_PLAN 317-0
This workshop will give students the opportunity to synthesize the knowledge gained from the program's coursework through the study of sample cases. Through interactive lectures and an intensive study of sample cases, students develop a fully integrated view of all financial planning elements. This course serves as an exemplary preparation for the certification examination case questions. Also discussed are client and planner attitudes and the principles of communication and counseling.
*Schedule Notes:
Class will also meet on Saturday, April 17, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Course Materials:
TBA
Introduction to Financial Planning FN_EXTND 300-0
This course provides an introduction to the financial planning process, with a particular focus on client interaction, fiduciary issues, and ethics. Other topics include time value of money, the regulatory environment, and practice management concepts.
Additional Information:
The concepts in this course were previously covered in FN_PLAN 311-0 or FN_EXTND 311-0. Students who have already completed 311-0 do not need to take this course.
Course Materials:
***College for Financial Planning 1101 study guides (you will use them again in Insurance Planning) - can only be purchased through the College for Financial Planning by calling 1-800-237-9990, Student Services (Option 2).
Course Materials:
***College for Financial Planning 1101 study guides (you will use them again in Insurance Planning) - can only be purchased through the College for Financial Planning by calling 1-800-237-9990, Student Services (Option 2).
Insurance Planning FN_EXTND 301-0
This course provides a foundation for understanding the principles of risk management and the use of insurance as a principle method of managing financial risk exposure. In addition, this course will help students identify the various types of financial risk and how to evaluate alternative strategies in order to lessen the impact of unplanned events. Contingency planning is one of the most important elements of the financial planning process, and discussions will center on how to make recommendations to manage ongoing risk when planning for the future. Finally, the analysis of client insurance needs and methods of determining the type and amount of insurance best suited to each client's situation is examined, incorporating discussions of life, property, liability, homeowner's and personal-auto insurance. Also covered are medical and disability insurance and long-term care policies.
Additional Information:
The concepts in this course were previously covered in FN_PLAN 311-0 or FN_EXTND 311-0. Students who have already completed 311-0 do not need to take this course.
Course Materials:
***College for Financial Planning 1101 study guides (if you already purchased this set for Introduction to Financial Planning, you do not need to order it again) - can only be purchased through the College for Financial Planning by calling 1-800-237-9990, Student Services (Option 2).
***Chandler, Darlene K. et al, Risk Management for Financial Planners, 2nd edition, The National Underwriter Company, 2007, ISBN 0872189348.Please follow the weblink above to order from amazon.com or use the ISBN to find the book from another provider.
***Leimberg, Stephan R., Doyle, Robert, Tools & Techniques of Life Insurance Planning, 4th edition, The National Underwriter Company, 2007, ISBN 08721893317. Please follow the weblink above to order from amazon.com or use the ISBN to find the book from another provider.
Course Materials:
***College for Financial Planning 1101 study guides (if you already purchased this set for Introduction to Financial Planning, you do not need to order it again) - can only be purchased through the College for Financial Planning by calling 1-800-237-9990, Student Services (Option 2).
***Chandler, Darlene K. et al, Risk Management for Financial Planners, 2nd edition, The National Underwriter Company, 2007, ISBN 0872189348.Please follow the weblink above to order from amazon.com or use the ISBN to find the book from another provider.
***Leimberg, Stephan R., Doyle, Robert, Tools & Techniques of Life Insurance Planning, 4th edition, The National Underwriter Company, 2007, ISBN 08721893317. Please follow the weblink above to order from amazon.com or use the ISBN to find the book from another provider.
Extended Program: Fundamentals of Planning and Insurance Planning FN_EXTND 311-0
This course provides a foundation for understanding the financial planning process, the principles of risk management, and the use of insurance as a principle method of managing financial risk exposure. Basic terminology of the financial planning profession is presented and topics are introduced that will provide building blocks for future coursework-such as economic concepts, time value of money, credit and debt management, budgeting, types of financial institutions and planning for special circumstances. Also introduced are the legal, ethical and regulatory issues affecting financial planners. In addition, this course will help students identify the various types of financial risk and how to evaluate alternative strategies in order to lessen the impact of unplanned events. Contingency planning is one of the most important elements of the financial planning process, and discussions will center on how to make recommendations to manage ongoing risk when planning for the future. Finally, the analysis of client insurance needs and methods of determining the type and amount of insurance best suited to each client's situation is examined, incorporating discussions of life, property, liability, homeowner's and personal-auto insurance. Also covered are medical and disability insurance and long-term care policies.
Course Materials:
***College for Financial Planning study guides - can only be purchased through the College for Financial Planning by calling 1-800-237-9990, Student Services (Option 2).***Chandler, Darlene K. et al, Risk Management for Financial Planners, 2nd edition, The National Underwriter Company, 2007, ISBN 0872189348.Please follow the weblink above to order from amazon.com or use the ISBN to find the book from another provider.***Leimberg, Stephan R., Doyle, Robert, Tools & Techniques of Life Insurance Planning, 4th edition, The National Underwriter Company, 2007, ISBN 08721893317. Please follow the weblink above to order from amazon.com or use the ISBN to find the book from another provider.
Course Materials:
***College for Financial Planning study guides - can only be purchased through the College for Financial Planning by calling 1-800-237-9990, Student Services (Option 2).***Chandler, Darlene K. et al, Risk Management for Financial Planners, 2nd edition, The National Underwriter Company, 2007, ISBN 0872189348.Please follow the weblink above to order from amazon.com or use the ISBN to find the book from another provider.***Leimberg, Stephan R., Doyle, Robert, Tools & Techniques of Life Insurance Planning, 4th edition, The National Underwriter Company, 2007, ISBN 08721893317. Please follow the weblink above to order from amazon.com or use the ISBN to find the book from another provider.
Investment Planning FN_EXTND 312-0
This course surveys the wide variety of investment vehicles that can be included in a client's investment portfolio, introducing risk-return criteria as a means of evaluating alternatives. The broad spectrum of investments is explored, ranging from guaranteed- and fixed-income products to derivatives and private placements. An emphasis on the client is the overriding theme for the course, beginning with the client needs assessment as it relates to risk tolerance, return requirements and liquidity needs. Techniques for selection, timing, measurement and diversification of investments are studied in detail. Different strategies and valuation models are used to understand fundamental investment principles. Modern portfolio theory, risk management, market strategies, efficient market theory, and asset allocation and diversification are introduced. Retirement planning and employee benefits will be discussed, as will relevant ethical considerations. Students analyze expected return characteristics individually and in combination within a hypothetical portfolio. Specific investment types discussed include stocks and bonds, mutual funds, insurance-based investments, options and futures contracts, foreign investments, real estate, tangible assets, and other debt and equity securities. Other topics include tax considerations, economic factors, the portfolio construction and management process, portfolio performance evaluation methods, market analysis, hedging and option strategies, and formula investing. The course also discusses government regulation of securities and markets.
Course Materials:
*** College for Financial Planning study guides - can only be purchased through the College for Financial Planning by calling 1-800-237-9990, Student Services (Option 2).*** Herbert Mayo, Investments: An Introduction 9th Edition, South-Western, ISBN 0324561261. Please follow the weblink above to order from amazon.com or use the ISBN to find the book from another provider.
Course Materials:
*** College for Financial Planning study guides - can only be purchased through the College for Financial Planning by calling 1-800-237-9990, Student Services (Option 2).*** Herbert Mayo, Investments: An Introduction 9th Edition, South-Western, ISBN 0324561261. Please follow the weblink above to order from amazon.com or use the ISBN to find the book from another provider.
Income Tax Planning FN_EXTND 313-0
This course provides an overview of the federal income tax system, examining the income taxation of individuals, sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLCs and corporations. Students will begin with taxation terminology and then learn about the concepts of gross income and deductions for profit-making activities, personal deductions and tax planning for the family, tax benefits of home ownership, planning for the acquisition and deposition of other real estate, and how the choice of business entity affects the taxes of owners and employees. The course will focus on how financial planners advise clients about the most effective methods of maximizing wealth by reducing their tax burden through an examination of a variety of tax issues-including tax law, accounting methods, tax planning related to employee compensation, research and practitioner concerns, cost-recovery methods, consequences of like-kind exchanges and tax-advantage investments. Alternative minimum tax (AMT), self-employment tax, ethical considerations, potential traps and pitfalls, and the consequences and effects of IRS audits and enforcement activities also will be discussed.
Course Materials:
* College for Financial Planning study guides - can only be purchased through the College for Financial Planning by calling 1-800-237-9990, Student Services (Option 2). * Hoffman, Smith, & Willis, South-Western Federal Taxation 2010: Individual Income Taxes 33rd Edition, South-Western, ISBN 0324828659. Please follow the weblink above to order from amazon.com or use the ISBN to find the book from another provider.
Course Materials:
* College for Financial Planning study guides - can only be purchased through the College for Financial Planning by calling 1-800-237-9990, Student Services (Option 2). * Hoffman, Smith, & Willis, South-Western Federal Taxation 2010: Individual Income Taxes 33rd Edition, South-Western, ISBN 0324828659. Please follow the weblink above to order from amazon.com or use the ISBN to find the book from another provider.
Retirement Planning and Employee Benefits FN_EXTND 314-0
This course covers all aspects of retirement planning and employee benefits, beginning with the presentation of tax-deferred retirement program options and the framework used to conduct a needs analysis for achieving retirement income goals. Key features of qualified retirement plan design are discussed, emphasizing the advantages and disadvantages of specific types of plans for the owners of small- to medium-sized businesses. Assumptions and projections of lifestyle, inflation, returns and life expectancy are critical when considering retirement needs. An understanding of cash flow, income sources, medical expenses and benefits must go into the calculations. Employee compensation has changed significantly in recent years, so it is essential that financial planners grasp how to coordinate employer-sponsored benefits within a plan. All of these issues are addressed in detail, as are how to avoid inappropriate investments and how to present recommended courses of action to clients. Additional relevant topics highlighted in this course include commonly provided non-pension employee benefits, such as disability, healthcare and group life insurance. Students will discuss the uses of life and disability insurance in planning for closely held businesses, as well as for the family. Childcare, Medicare and other dependent-care benefits are considered. Federal social security, cafeteria plans, stock options and stock purchase plans, transportation issues, and forms of non-qualified deferred compensation are included, as well.
Course Materials:
* College for Financial Planning study guides - can only be purchased through the College for Financial Planning by calling 1-800-237-9990, Student Services (Option 2). * Dalton, Retirement Planning and Employee Benefits for Financial Planners 5th Edition, ME: Your Money Education Resource, ISBN 978-0-9801299-1-5. Please follow the weblink above to order from the publisher or use the ISBN to find the book from another provider. * Miner, Tax Facts on Insurance and Employee Benefits 2009 National Underwriter Company, ISBN 0872189694. Please follow the weblink above to order from amazon.com or use the ISBN to find the book from another provider.
Course Materials:
* College for Financial Planning study guides - can only be purchased through the College for Financial Planning by calling 1-800-237-9990, Student Services (Option 2). * Dalton, Retirement Planning and Employee Benefits for Financial Planners 5th Edition, ME: Your Money Education Resource, ISBN 978-0-9801299-1-5. Please follow the weblink above to order from the publisher or use the ISBN to find the book from another provider. * Miner, Tax Facts on Insurance and Employee Benefits 2009 National Underwriter Company, ISBN 0872189694. Please follow the weblink above to order from amazon.com or use the ISBN to find the book from another provider.
Course Materials:
***College for Financial Planning study guides - can only be purchased through the College for Financial Planning by calling 1-800-237-9990, Student Services (Option 2). ***Dalton, Retirement Planning and Employee Benefits for Financial Planners 5th Edition, ME: Your Money Education Resource, ISBN 978-0-9801299-1-5. Please follow the weblink above to order from the publisher or use the ISBN to find the book from another provider. ***Miner, Tax Facts on Insurance and Employee Benefits 2009 National Underwriter Company, ISBN 0872189694. Please follow the weblink above to order from amazon.com or use the ISBN to find the book from another provider.
Course Materials:
***College for Financial Planning study guides - can only be purchased through the College for Financial Planning by calling 1-800-237-9990, Student Services (Option 2). ***Dalton, Retirement Planning and Employee Benefits for Financial Planners 5th Edition, ME: Your Money Education Resource, ISBN 978-0-9801299-1-5. Please follow the weblink above to order from the publisher or use the ISBN to find the book from another provider. ***Miner, Tax Facts on Insurance and Employee Benefits 2009 National Underwriter Company, ISBN 0872189694. Please follow the weblink above to order from amazon.com or use the ISBN to find the book from another provider.
Planning and managing federal estate and gift taxation is one of the most overlooked yet critical elements of a financial plan. Part of this process involves understanding the perspectives of the many parties involved and their related concerns; that is, the perspectives of descendants, fiduciaries, estates, trust beneficiaries, donors and recipients. This course examines the important estate-planning issues from all of these perspectives. Beginning with the fundamentals of federal estate and gift taxation, the process of developing an estate plan is presented through a discussion of a variety of mechanisms - such as incapacity planning, qualified interest trusts, generation skipping, estate planning weaknesses, property ownership forms, intestacy and will substitutes, how to satisfy liquidity needs, and specific exclusion and valuation techniques that reduce the size of the gross estate. There are many facets to proper estate planning, and this course will touch on all of the essential elements necessary for consideration by the financial planner. Charitable, intrafamilial, postmortem and business-transfer planning techniques that play an important part in estate planning are addressed, and additional focus is placed on the implications of gifts and bequests, including lifetime gifting and coordination of the unified credit with marital deduction. Other issues include tax consequences of estate planning techniques, revocable and irrevocable trusts (including bypass and marital deduction trusts), life insurance, federal estate tax, probate and more.
Course Materials:
***College for Financial Planning study guides - can only be purchased through the College for Financial Planning by calling 1-800-237-9990, Student Services (Option 2). ***Dalton & Langdon, Estate Planning for Financial Planners 5th Edition, ME: Your Money Education Resource, ISBN 978-0-9801299-5-3. Please follow the weblink above to order from the publisher or use the ISBN to find the book from another provider.
Course Materials:
***College for Financial Planning study guides - can only be purchased through the College for Financial Planning by calling 1-800-237-9990, Student Services (Option 2). ***Dalton & Langdon, Estate Planning for Financial Planners 5th Edition, ME: Your Money Education Resource, ISBN 978-0-9801299-5-3. Please follow the weblink above to order from the publisher or use the ISBN to find the book from another provider.
This workshop will give students the opportunity to synthesize the knowledge gained from the program's coursework through the study of sample cases. Through interactive lectures and an intensive study of sample cases, students develop a fully integrated view of all financial planning elements. This course serves as an exemplary preparation for the certification examination case questions. Also discussed are client and planner attitudes and the principles of communication and counseling.
