Financial Planning

Curriculum

Fundamentals of Financial Planning and Insurance Planning
This course will introduce students to the theory and practice of financial planning. Students will receive an overview of specific areas of financial planning such as income tax planning, investment planning, retirement planning and estate planning. In addition, the course will present topics on the concepts of time value of money, insurance planning, and the practice of personal financial planning by professional planners. A financial calculator, such as an HP 12C, is required for this course.

Course Objectives:
Upon completing this course, students will:

  • Gain a firm grasp of financial planning concepts.
  • Obtain an introduction to the financial planning profession and the practice of personal financial planning by professional planners.
  • Understand time value of money concepts and the calculations to support them.
  • Learn about insurance planning and risk management and a working knowledge of risk management/insurance techniques.

 

Investments
This course introduces risk-return concepts, debt and equity securities, and options and futures contracts. The course uses a Portfolio Project to evaluate the array of financial instrument investment alternatives and their risk profile. Participants analyze expected return characteristics, individually and in combination within a portfolio. Different investment strategies and valuation models are used to understand basic investment principles and practices.

Course Objectives:
Upon completing this course, students will:

  • Gain a firm grasp of theoretical concepts underlying modern portfolio theory.
  • Understand and apply theoretical concepts to real-world investment analysis.
  • Learn about and evaluate investment alternatives, their risks, and their expected return characteristics.
  • Discuss investment strategies and valuation models while applying them to sample client situations.
  • Calculate various measures of investment risk and return used in portfolio analysis and construction; understand methods of evaluating investment results.

 

Taxation
The application of income tax laws to the transactions of individuals and businesses is important in planning for the avoidance, minimization, and deferral of taxation. This course examines the federal income tax system with particular reference to the income taxation of individuals, sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLCs, and corporations (including S corporations).

Course Objectives:
Upon completing this course, students will:

  • Gain a firm grasp of fundamental tax concepts.
  • Analyze situations involving the individual tax computation and recommend basic individual income tax planning strategies.
  • Learn about the income tax implications of persons, property and other entities to include tax consequences of life insurance, annuities, and securities.
  • Obtain increased practical knowledge of the tax laws/audit process and understand situations involving tax traps, penalties, penalty taxes, special tax computations, and other taxable events.

 

Retirement
This course includes the comprehensive study of qualified and non-qualified retirement plans, other tax-advantaged plans, and employee benefits. In addition, this course will present an overview of the Social Security, disability and health care programs.

Course Objectives:
Upon completing this course, students will:

    • Gain a firm grasp of retirement planning concepts.
    • Undergo a comprehensive study of the characteristics of retirement plans including qualified, non-qualified, tax-advantaged plans and employee/group benefits; Social Security and Medicare as they apply to a given planning situation.
    • Learn about plan characteristics, advantages, disadvantages and be able to recommend the appropriate plan to a given employer or situation.
    • Understand implementation, administration and items such as discrimination testing, participation requirements, and contribution limits at the plan level.
    • Learn how these plans integrate with financial planning concepts and financial planning processes.

 

Estate Planning
This course will provide students with an introduction to estate planning and the taxation of estates for the purposes of financial planning. Topics covered by this course include the tax implications of gifts and bequests, federal estate tax, revocable and irrevocable trusts, including bypass and marital deduction trusts.

Course Objectives:
Upon completing this course, students will:

  • Gain a firm grasp of estate planning concepts.
  • Learn more about the tax implications of estate taxes, gift taxes, fiduciary income taxes, and beneficiary income taxes.
  • Learn how a decedent’s property is transferred to others within and without the probate process.

 

Capstone Case
This course will involve case analysis and the integration of the six major areas of personal financial planning, which include:

  • Fundamentals of Financial Planning
  • Insurance Planning
  • Investment Planning
  • Taxation of Persons, Property and Other Entities
  • Retirement and Employee Benefits
  • Estate Tax Planning

Course Objectives:
Upon completing this course, students will:

  • Gain a firm grasp of financial planning comprehensive cases.
  • Complete case analysis and integration of the six (6) major areas of personal financial planning (Fundamentals of Financial Planning, Insurance Planning, Investment Planning, Income Tax Planning, Retirement Planning and Estate Planning).
  • Learn how to manage case scenarios for clients which includes but is not limited to:
    • Case overview and breakdown of facts
    • Identifying issues within case scenarios
    • Analysis of client and financial situations
    • Make recommendations
    • Implement recommendations