financial planning course online

financial planning (online) A Message from the Director As a practicing financial planner and director of the Boston University Online Program for Financial Planning, I am keenly aware of the value of education. My experience has taught me that the more education planners have, the better they are able to assist their clients in making important financial decisions. I have also discovered that this program provides an excellent mid-career education for professionals with many different responsibilities within financial services firms. Developed in 1981, the Program for Financial Planning provides a firm educational foundation. Our program offers distinct advantages for individuals who are pursuing a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification and to financial services professionals who are looking for a midcareer educational opportunity outside the confines of graduate degree programs. This program offers: Flexibility—the program is delivered 100% online and it can be accessed from anywhere, anytime. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced professional, you can tailor the pace of study to fit your schedule and needs. Proven material from one of the nation’s most established and successful CFP® certification programs. A Boston University Certificate in Financial Planning at no cost upon successful CFP® Certification Examination completion. Completion of our six courses provides a solid foundation for students who choose to take the CFP® Certification Examination. If you are interested in the best education available in the growing field of financial planning, I invite you to consider joining the Boston University Online Program for Financial Planning. Robert J. Glovsky, CFP® Board Member, Program Director, CFP®, JD, LLM, ChFC, CLU For more information, please visit bostonifi.com, e-mail sales@bostonifi.com, or call 1-800-329-4996. PROGRAM FOR FINANCIAL PLANNING As concern for financial security has grown, individuals have increasingly turned to trained financial planners in order to make informed decisions in the face of an overwhelming, and at times confusing, wealth of information. Boston University’s Online Program for Financial Planning was established to meet the demand for professionals trained to assist clients in planning for present and future financial security. The program enhances students’ understanding of a variety of financial strategies and products, and introduces the basics of financial planning. The flexibility of the program enables students to gain knowledge in all relevant areas of interest, to obtain a Boston University Certificate in Financial Planning, and to prepare for the CFP® Certification Examination. Benefits of Boston University’s Online Program for Financial Planning: • Cost-effective—expenses related to facilities, travel, and non-productive time are eliminated. • Easy access—you can pursue your education from any computer with Internet access. • Control and flexibility—online education allows you to control the pace of your coursework. On average, students finish the program in 10 to 12 months. • Subject-matter support—e-mail links to tutors are available on every page of the course. There is no additional fee, and use is unlimited. • Upon successful completion of the online program, you will have fulfilled the education component for CFP® certification. • Receive a Certificate in Financial Planning from Boston University. • Option to obtain course-level letters of completion from Boston University. • Unlimited practice tests. • 15-day refund guarantee. "Boston University's online financial planning course was great. I worked at my own pace from my home office and passed the July 2005 exam without taking an expensive review course. By re-taking the course finals to identify the areas where I was weak, I was able to focus my study where it was needed and face the exam with confidence. I highly recommend Boston University's program."—Tom Bristow, Principled Advisors ONLINE CURRICULUM CFP Board-Registered Program Curriculum Introduction to Financial Planning This course 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. Required Books: Tools & Techniques of Financial Planning, by Stephan R. Leimberg; Time and Money: Using Time Value Analysis in Financial Planning, by Robert Crowe Estate Planning 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 non-tax 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 non-tax considerations in creating successful estate plans. Required Book: Estate Planning for Financial Planners, by Michael A. Dalton, Thomas P. Langdon Instructional Materials A Hewlett-Packard 12C financial calculator is required. Textbook costs are not included in the online course fees. For more information on purchasing the textbooks and an updated book list, please visit bostonifi.com/site/catalog/bookstore.html#cfp. Risk Management 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 homeowner’s, liability, and auto insurance. Other topics include group life and health insurance plans. Required Book: Fundamentals of Risk and Insurance, by Emmett J. Vaughan, Therese M. Vaughan Testing Structure There are six online course exams on material covered online and in the text. You may take an exam as many times as you like, at no extra fee; only your highest score is recorded. You can take each exam independently of the others; you do not need to pass one exam in order to move on to the next. The passing score for exams is 73%. Investments 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. The course is designed to help students understand, among other things, how money and capital markets operate, how to conduct investment and financial research, and how to evaluate the risks and rates of return for various types of investment vehicles. Required Book: Investments: An Introduction, by Herbert B. Mayo Certificate in Financial Planning Students who achieve a minimum grade of C (73%) in each of the six online courses, and an overall grade average of B- (80%), will be eligible to receive a Certificate in Financial Planning from Boston University. Upon completion of both these requirements, please fill out the Certificate Completion Application and send it to the Boston University Center for Professional Education office. Packages Available All packages include 18 months of online access. • Platinum All-Inclusive Package (full online program, review materials, and textbooks) • Get-Started Package (full online program) • Individual Online Courses (with/without books) Call 1-800-329-4996 for prices and low monthly payment plans. Tax Planning 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 including charitable giving, sale of assets, and more. Required Book: Federal Taxation: Principles, by Thomas R. Pope, Kenneth E. Anderson, and John L. Kramer Advisory Board Vir Herbert K. Daroff, JD, CFP® Baystate Financial Services, Estate and Business Planning Roy T. Diliberto, CFP®, ChFC, CLU Chairman and CEO, RTD Financial Advisors, Inc. Robert J. Glovsky, CFP®, JD, LLM, ChFC, CLU Board member, program director Karen Mineo, Vice president, Producer Training Group, Merrill Lynch and Co. Jack Sharry, President, Private Client Group, Phoenix Investment Partners, Ltd. Retirement and Employee Benefit Planning 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. Required Book: Retirement Planning and Employee Benefits for Financial Planners, Fifth Edition, by Michael Dalton For more information, please visit bostonifi.com, e-mail sales@bostonifi.com, or call 1-800-329-4996. WHY CHOOSE BOSTON UNIVERSITY’S ONLINE PROGRAM FOR FINANCIAL PLANNING? • Since 1981, Boston University has trained thousands of financial planners. Its prestigious and time-tested program is now available to you online, when and where you want it. • Students taking the Boston University Online Financial Planning course have a higher exam pass rate. • Boston University is the largest private university offering a CFP® certification preparation program registered with Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. • BU offers the most comprehensive and affordable online program. ABOUT THE TUTORS KENNETH DEAN, CPA, CFP®, MST Kenneth Dean is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Financial Planner™. He has provided accounting and tax services to personal clients for 20 years. As an international tax manager, he gained 10 years’ experience dealing with large multinational companies such as Toshiba and ColgatePalmolive. Ken received a Master of Science in Taxation in 1995 and a State and Local Taxation Certificate in 1999 from Fairleigh Dickinson University. A former instructor for Merrimack College, Ken has taught all seven financial courses over the past four years. Additionally, he has taught all sections of the CFP® Certification Examination Review courses for various CFP® programs. Ken is currently a consultant to Boston University’s Online Program for Financial Planning, where he provides input to enrolled students. Ken is a current member of the AICPA and the NJSCPA. CAROLYNN TOMIN, CFP® Carolynn Tomin is a Certified Financial Planner™ professional who specializes in financial education. For fourteen years, she has taught estate planning courses and CFP® Certification Examination Reviews at Boston University, Merrimack College, and Northeastern University in Massachusetts, and for Florida Gulf Coast University. She has also taught estate planning courses for Merrill Lynch, Salomon Smith Barney, Fleet Bank, Bank Boston, Harvard University, John Hancock, and Met Life. Carolynn is currently a consultant to Boston University’s Online Program for Financial Planning, where she edits, writes, and oversees the curriculum. Carolynn has written and presented ethics and estate planning courses for organizations such as the FPA (Financial Planning Association), the Massachusetts and New Hampshire Association of Public Accountants, and NAPFA (National Association of Personal Financial Advisors), and at national conferences for American Express, Linsco Private Ledger, and Mutual Service Corporation. She is a current member of the FPA and serves on the SW Florida chapter Board of Directors. She was also a member of the Boston Estate Planning Council for seven years. CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ The CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification is the best-known certification in the financial planning community. The Boston University Online Program for Financial Planning is registered with the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) and fulfills the requirements for education to qualify to sit for the CFP® Certification Examination. Any student who satisfactorily completes the six courses may sit for the two-day CFP® Certification Examination. Students who pass the examination and fulfill the work experience and ethics requirements may be entitled to the CFP® certification. Boston Institute of Finance | 99 High Street, 7th Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02110 | Phone: 617-443-0009 | Fax: 617-443-0991 | E-mail: sales@bostonifi.com Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. owns the marks CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, complete initial and ongoing certification requirements. and CFP®, which it awards to individuals who successfully Boston University does not certify individuals to use the CFP®, federally registered and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification marks. CFP® certification is granted only by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. to those persons who, in addition to completing an educational requirement such as this CFP Board-Registered Program, have met its ethics, experience, and examination requirements. For more information, please visit bostonifi.com, e-mail sales@bostonifi.com, or call 1-800-329-4996. ONLINE PROGRAM FOR FINANCIAL PLANNERS: COURSE & MODULE LISTING Course 1 – Introduction to Financial Planning Module 101 – Course Preview Module 174 – Insurance Policy Selection Module 175 – Insurance Company Selection Module 189 – Course Review Module 190 – Course Exam Course 3 – Investments Module 191 – Course Preview Module 192 – Introduction to Fixed Income Securities Module 193 – Introduction to Stocks Module 194 – Introduction to Pooled Investments Module 195 – Derivatives, Insurance Securities & Other Investments Module 196 – Investment Risks Module 197 – Measures of Investment Returns Module 198 – Time Influence on Valuation Module 199 – Valuation of Stocks & Bonds Module 200 – Portfolio Management & Measurements Module 201 – Formula Investing & Investment Strategies Module 202 – Asset Allocation & Portfolio Diversification Module 203 – Efficient Market Theory (EMT) Module 204 – Asset Pricing Models Module 205 – Buying & Selling Securities Module 206 – Hedging & Option Strategies Module 207 – Tax Efficient Investing Module 208 – Taxation of Investment Vehicles Module 219 – Course Review Module 220 – Course Exam Module 265 – Tax Compliance Module 266 – Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) Module 267 – Tax Management Techniques Module 279 – Course Review Module 280 – Course Exam Course 5 – Retirement Planning & Employee Benefits Module 221 – Course Preview Module 222 – Retirement Needs Analysis Module 223 – Qualified Retirement Plans Module 224 – Nonqualified Retirement Plans Module 225 – Government Plans (457) Module 226 – Other Tax-Advantaged Retirement Plans Module 227 – Investment Considerations for Retirement Plans Module 228 – Distribution Rules, Alternatives & Taxation Module 229 – Plan Selection for Businesses Module 230 – Employee Benefit Plans Module 231 – Employer/Employee Insurance Arrangements Module 232 – Social Security Module 233 – Regulatory Considerations Module 249 – Course Review Module 250 – Course Exam Financial Planning Basics Module 131 – Introduction to the Financial Planning Process Module 138 – Life Cycle Planning Module 103 – Time Value of Money Concepts Module 134 – Budgeting & Personal Financial Statements Module 136 – Emergency Fund Planning Module 137 – Credit & Debt Management Module 108 – Buying vs Leasing Module 139 – Educational Funding Module 140 – Monetary Settlements & Special Circumstances Module 132 – CFP Board's Code of Ethics & Practice Standards Module 133 – CFP Board's Disciplinary Rules & Procedures Foundations of Business Module 102 – Basic Economic Concepts Module 104 – Characteristics of Various Business Entities Module 106 – Business Law Module 109 – Function, Purpose & Regulation of Financial Institutions Module 141 – Financial Services Industry Regulation Requirements Module 159 – Course Review Module 160 – Course Exam Course 6 – Estate Planning Module 281 – Course Preview Module 282 – Overview of Estate Planning Module 283 – Forms of Property Ownership Module 284 – Gifting strategies Module 285 – The Gross Estate Module 286 – Calculating the Estate Tax Module 287 – Generation Skipping Transfer Tax Module 288 – Estate Planning Documents Module 289 – The Probate Process Module 290 – Trusts Module 291 – Charitable Gifting Strategies Module 292 – Business Planning Module 293 – Miscellaneous Estate Planning Issues Module 294 – Estate Planning Process Module 309 – Course Review Module 310 – Course Exam Course 4 – Tax Planning Module 251 – Course Preview Module 252 – Income Tax Law Fundamentals Module 253 – Gross Income Module 254 – Income Tax Fundamentals & Calculations Module 255 – Tax Characteristics of Entities Module 256 – Basis Module 257 – Cost-Recovery Concepts Module 258 – Introduction to Tax Consequences on Sale of Assets Module 259 – Like-Kind Exchanges & Involuntary Conversion Module 260 – Income Taxation of Trusts & Estates Module 261 – Passive Activity Module 262 – Charitable Contributions & Deductions Module 263 – Tax Implications of Changing Circumstances Module 264 – Tax Accounting Methods Course 2 – Risk Management Module 161 – Course Preview Module 162 – Principles of Insurance Module 163 – Evaluation & Analysis of Risk Exposure Module 164 – Legal Aspects of Insurance Module 165 – Property & Casualty Insurance Module 166 – General Business Liability Module 167 – Health Insurance Module 168 – Disability Income Module 169 – Long Term Care Module 170 – Life Insurance Module 171 – Viatical Settlements Module 172 – Insurance Needs Module 173 – Taxation of Insurance TOTAL 88 Lesson Modules 6 Course Exams For more information, please visit bostonifi.com, e-mail sales@bostonifi.com, or call 1-800-329-4996. 10 08