Ideal curriculum for financial planning students

Here's a mashup of university program directors' ideas for which courses would best prepare next-gen financial advisers.
SEP 01, 2018

We asked program directors at four universities — San Diego State, Texas A&M, Utah Valley and Virginia Tech — what the ideal curriculum would be to prepare next-generation financial planners. Here's a mashup of their picture-perfect course list. Required courses:
  1. Fundamentals of financial planning
  2. Investment planning
  3. Retirement planning
  4. Estate planning
  5. Life insurance planning
  6. Tax planning
  7. Capstone: Developing a financial plan

Advanced classes:
  1. Advanced investment planning
  2. Advanced tax strategies
  3. Technology
  4. Professional sales
  5. Special/current topics in financial planning (e.g., tax reform, special needs planning, case studies)
  6. Financial counseling and behavioral finance
  7. Implications of debt for the household
  8. Internship

The future of financial planning:
  1. Financial planning policy and compliance
  2. Communication and emotional intelligence
  3. Peer-to-peer financial counseling
  4. Practice management
  5. Financial planner in residence (a financial planner comes into the classroom three-four days at a time, and teaches on
  6. advanced concepts they see in practice. Repeat with various planners throughout the semester.)

Prep courses:
  1. Series 7
  2. Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) level 1
  3. Certified Financial Planner (CFP) review
  4. Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC) review
  5. Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF) review
  6. Certified Retirement Counselor (CRC) review

Latest News

Indie $8B RIA adds further leadership talent amid growth drive
Indie $8B RIA adds further leadership talent amid growth drive

Executives from LPL Financial, Cresset Partners hired for key roles.

Stock volatility remained low despite risk events
Stock volatility remained low despite risk events

Geopolitical tension has been managed well by the markets.

Fed minutes to provide signals on rate cuts
Fed minutes to provide signals on rate cuts

December cut is still a possiblity.

Trump's tariff talk roils markets, political leaders
Trump's tariff talk roils markets, political leaders

Canada, China among nations to react to president-elect's comments.

Ken Leech formally charged by SEC, US Attorney's Office
Ken Leech formally charged by SEC, US Attorney's Office

For several years, Leech allegedly favored some clients in trade allocations, at the cost of others, amounting to $600 million, according to the Department of Justice.

SPONSORED The future of prospecting: Say goodbye to cold calls and hello to smart connections

Streamline your outreach with Aidentified's AI-driven solutions

SPONSORED A bumpy start to autumn but more positives ahead

This season’s market volatility: Positioning for rate relief, income growth and the AI rebound