An introduction to core concepts in financial services. Topics covered include the financial planning process, legal, ethical, and regulatory issues affecting financial planners, and the concept of the time value of money. The course also introduces the principles of risk management and insurance, allowing the student to analyze a client’s risk exposure and select appropriate risk management techniques.

Outcomes

• Demonstrate a basic understanding of the financial planning process and profession.
• Acquire a basic knowledge of the time value of money and perform time value
  calculations.
• Understand introduction to risk management and insurance concepts.
• Evaluate various risk management techniques.
• This course will cover CFP Board Learning Objectives 1 – 16, 64 – 70

This course is designed to introduce students to modern portfolio theory, measuring risk and return, portfolio development and analysis, asset allocation and portfolio diversification, equity and bond valuation, and derivatives.

Outcomes

• Demonstrate a basic understanding of the types of investment risk.
• Demonstrate knowledge of how to assess and determine equity and bond valuations.
• Demonstrate a basic understanding of investment theory.
• Be able to explain concepts related to asset allocation.
• This course covers CFP Board topics 27 – 35 and touches on topics 65 and 66.

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

Outcomes

• Demonstrate a basic understanding of income tax law.
• Perform basic tax calculations.
• Evaluate the advantages of charitable contributions.
• Assess a variety of tax reduction techniques.
• This course covers CFP Board topics 36 – 43.

This course will give students a fundamental introduction to retirement planning and employee benefits, including public and private retirement plans and group and fringe benefits. Specifically, the course will cover public retirement plans, including Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, as well as private plans, including defined benefit and 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 the specific characteristics of the various plans available, including qualified, non-qualified, and other tax-advantaged plans. Finally, the course will detail employee groups and fringe benefits, the taxation of these benefit plans, and the issues individuals face in retirement.

Outcomes

• Demonstrate a basic understanding of qualified and non-qualified retirement plans.
• Demonstrate a basic understanding of Social Security benefits.
• Explain the formulation of retirement planning goals, taxation, and risks.
• This course covers CFP Board topics 44-53.

The estate planning course begins with a presentation of the basics that will form the foundation of knowledge students need as working financial services professionals: the estate planning process, 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.

Outcomes

• Demonstrate an understanding of the estate planning process.
• Demonstrate an understanding of gift and estate tax concepts.
• Students will be able to prepare a basic estate plan.
• This course covers CFP Board topics 54-63 and touches on topics 65 and 67.