Course Descriptions

GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF FINANCIAL PLANNING
This course is designed to introduce students to the financial planning process. The course focuses on the general principles required to become a sucessful financial planner which include the ethics of the profession as well as the knowledge and skills required to prepare a financial plan. 

INSURANCE PLANNING
This course is designed to acquaint students with the principles of risk management and various types of insurance including casualty, fire, health, life, auto, home, disability. The principles taught prepare students to identify a client's risk exposure and select appropriate risk management techniques. 

INVESTMENT PLANNING
This course introduces the wide variety of investment vehicles that may be included in a client's portfolio. Topics include client assessment, tax considerations, economic factors, valuation methods, asset allocation techniques, portfolio performance evaluation, and more. 

TAX PLANNING
This course emphasizes the fundamentals of individual income taxation, the tax implications of various types of businesses, tax-advantaged investments, employee compensation issues and planning, alternative minimum tax, tax traps, and more.

RETIREMENT PLANNING
This course provides a complete overview of retirement planning including retirement savings need analysis, qualified retirement plan design, Social Security, Medicare, and more. In addition, group life, health, and disability insurance; non-qualified deferred compensation; and other commonly provided employee benefits are examined.

ESTATE PLANNING
This course covers planning and managing federal estate and gift tax planning and opportunities. The perspectives of a variety of parties are considered including heirs, fiduciaries, estates, trusts, beneficiaries, donors, and donees. Topics include asset valuation, estate tax deductions, exemptions and credits. Significant time is given to the transfer of amount at death and the dispositive tools available to clients.

CFP CASE STUDY
This course builds upon the material in the above courses. Emphasis is on the applications of financial planning concepts in an intergrated planning environment. This "capstone-like" course utilizes case studiese and mini-cases to tie together the various discipline studied in the individual prior courses into a comprehensive financial planning process.

Course Materials

• All course registration fees include a textbook and a Ken Zahn workbook.
• A financial calculator is also required for class and it is the responsibility of the student to provide their own calculator.

The CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER Professional Certificate Program at University of Dallas is registered with Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. (CFP Board). As a CFP Board-Registered Program, our courses satisfy the Board's education requirement, allowing an individual to sit for the CFP Certification Examination. (www.CFP.net)  If you would like to speak to a program advisor, please contact Jennifer Howard by e-mail or call (972) 721-5299.  For additional information regarding the actual exam go to www.cfp.net/become/education.asp