Introduction

This course integrates the different aspects of the financial planning process and demonstrates how to apply this knowledge to the development of a comprehensive financial plan. Students learn how to solve the main problems related to the financial planning process: cash management, debt management, taxation, insurance, retirement, investment, portfolio optimization, and estate planning. At the end of the course, students should be able to construct a plan according to the CFP Board’s Financial Planning Practice Standards and client objectives. The course is appropriate for students who want to become financial planners and especially for those that plan to take the CFP® Certification Examination.

Prerequisites: FIN 550 Financial Planning and Risk Management, FIN 560 Federal Taxation of Individuals, FIN 555 Retirement and Estate Planning

Course Objectives

The course is designed to:

• Synthesize the content found within the Financial Planning curriculum
• Illustrate sources of information for the formulation of a Financial Plan, including research, peer, colleague or simulated client interaction and/or results emanating from synthesis of material.
• Outline qualitative and quantitative information required to develop a financial plan.
• Explain approaches to analyze personal financial situations, evaluating clients’ objectives,needs, and values to develop an appropriate strategy within the financial plan.
• Develop logic and reasoning capacity to identify the strengths and weaknesses of various approaches to a specific problem.
• Illustrate the impact of economic, political, and regulatory issues with regard to the financial plan.
• Explain the CFP Board Financial Planning Practice Standards as they apply to the financial planning process.

Course Outcomes

By the end of this course, the students will be able to:

• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the content found within the Financial Planning curriculum and effectively apply and integrate this information in the formulation of a financial plan.
• Effectively communicate the financial plan, both orally and in writing, including information based on research, peer, colleague or simulated client interaction and/or results emanating from synthesis of material.
• Collect all necessary and relevant qualitative and quantitative information required to develop a financial plan.
• Analyze personal financial situations, evaluating clients’ objectives, needs, and values to develop an appropriate strategy within the financial plan.
• Demonstrate logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of various approaches to a specific problem.
• Evaluate the impact of economic, political, and regulatory issues with regard to the financial plan.
• Apply the CFP Board Financial Planning Practice Standards to the financial planning process.

Textbook or References

• Sid Mittra, Anandi Sahu, and Brian Fischer, Practicing Financial Planning for Professionals and CFP® Aspirants, 12th Edition, 2016.

Optional Textbook

• Michael Dalton, James Dalton, Katheleen Oakley, Cases in Financial Planning, Analysis and Presentation. 3rd Ed., Money Education, 2017.

Grading Policies

1	HW/Cases	20%
2	Participation	10%
3	Final take home exam	30%
4	Comprehensive case study	40%