Financial Planning Certificate (Online) - Curriculum

The Boston University Online Program for Financial Planners covers the following subject areas:

Introduction to Financial Planning (CPE FP 101E)
Students entering the Online Program for Financial Planners must begin with this course. This introductory course is designed especially to give students in the Online Program the tools to complete future coursework. The course focuses on the time value of money, accounting, statistics, and economics. This course also provides a comprehensive examination of the entire financial planning process, along with an overview of the specific areas of personal income tax planning, risk management and insurance, investment planning, retirement planning, and estate planning. The course introduces methods of gathering client data and teaches students how to work with clients to set goals. Students learn how to process and analyze information, construct personal financial statements, and understand a written comprehensive financial plan, including implementing, monitoring, and reviewing the plan. The course also covers communication skills, the regulatory environment, time value of money tools, and other financial planning economic concepts.
Risk Management (CPE FP 102E)
This course covers various aspects of life, disability, and medical insurance, including how insurance rates are developed, what types of contracts are available, how to read insurance proposals, and how life insurance is used in financial planning. Students also learn about property and casualty insurance, including homeowners', liability, and auto insurance. Other topics include group life and health insurance plans.
Investments (CPE FP 103E)
This course explores the securities market, sources of information, risk/return, debt and equities, stocks, bonds, options, futures, and security analysis, and culminates in portfolio construction and analysis.
Tax Planning (CPE FP 104E)
Participants in this course study taxation for sole proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations, as well as the tax aspects of investments, insurance, annuities, and securities. The course also introduces other special tax considerations.
Retirement Planning and Employee Benefits (CPE FP 105E)
This course is taught in two sections. The retirement planning section covers tax-deferred retirement plans, IRAs, and nonqualified plans. The employee benefits section covers Social Security and Medicare, civil service, group life, disability, dental, and health insurance.
Estate Planning (CPE FP 106E)
This course provides an introduction to gift, estate, and generation-skipping transfer taxes at both the state and federal levels, and to the many planning techniques used to minimize the impact of these taxes on transfers of wealth. It explores the income-tax effects of gifts and bequests, with particular attention to the limitations on income-shifting imposed by the Tax Reform Act of 1986. The nontax aspects of estate planning, including the estate planning process, wills, trusts, durable powers of attorney, powers of appointment, and probate procedure are also studied. The course stresses the need for balancing tax and nontax considerations in creating successful estate plans.

Boston University does not certify individuals to use the CFP®, Certified Financial Planner™ and marks. CFP® certification is granted solely by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. to individuals who, in addition to completing an educational requirement such as this CFP Board-Registered Program, have met ethics, experience and examination requirements.