Liberal Arts and Science - Manchester Community College ...

CERTIFICATES
Personal Financial Planning, Certificate
Program Design
The Personal Financial Planning certificate program is principally designed for
individuals employed in financial planning or in areas related to the financial services
industry. Students entering this program are assumed to have a business
foundation gained either through college instruction or on-the-job learning.
Student population for this program is likely to include:
• Financial planning practitioners looking to update and strengthen their
knowledge or broaden their base.
• Practitioners interested in earning the CFP® professional designation.
• Employees in financial institutions seeking professional development.
• Mature employees seeking a career change.
• Liberal arts college graduates seeking courses in financial planning.
• Students and graduates from business programs who are interested
in financial planning courses not offered by their institutions.
• Adult learners returning to the labor force who are interested in working
in the financial services industry.
Students who complete each course successfully and who meet all other certification
requirements may be eligible to sit for the national Certified Financial
Planner (CFP) exam, administered by the CFP Board of Standards.
To sit for this comprehensive exam, a student must complete a minimum of
60 semester credit hours of college level education and a fee must be paid to
the CFP Board. Anyone considering seeking the CFP designation must meet
individually with the program coordinator to be advised of CFP procedures
and certification requirements.
Curriculum
The program may be completed on a part-time basis over three regular semesters.
Evening courses will be offered during the fall and spring semesters.
Students should have a financial calculator capable of computing internal rate
of return (IRR) to successfully complete the program.
Note: Students enrolled in the Personal Financial Planning certificate program
may be interested in a dual certificate in Taxation. With the completion of two
additional courses, students may complete a dual certificate in taxation and sit
for the Enrolled Agent Examination. Please see the Taxation certificate requirements
on page 104. People coming from a non-business background should
seek the counseling of the department chairperson or program coordinator.
Required Courses
BFP* 210 Fundamentals of Personal Financial Planning 3
BFP* 220 Risk Management 3
BFP* 230 ‡ Investment Management 3
ACC* 243 Tax Planning I 3
BFP* 250 Retirement Planning and Employee Benefits 3
BFP* 260 Estate Planning 3
102
Total Credits Required: 18
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of all Personal Financial Planning certificate
program requirements, graduates will
1. Determine whether and how an individual can meet life goals through
the proper management of financial resources.
2. Explain issues and concepts related to the overall financial planning
process.
3. Apply financial planning concepts, tools, and techniques in an
objective, integrated, and comprehensive manner for the benefit of
individuals to help them achieve their financial objectives, using the
financial planning process.
4. Demonstrate an understanding of their responsibilities to the public, to
clients, to colleagues, and to employers in terms of acting in an ethical
and professionally responsible manner in all professional services and
activities.
5. Demonstrate mastery of the financial planning topics determined by the
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards to constitute the core
curriculum for personal financial planning practitioners: gather client
data and determine goals and expectations; analyze and evaluate a
client’s financial status; develop and present a financial plan; calculate
and interpret time value of money; demonstrate an understanding of
risk management, the process of risk analysis, and life insurance
needs analysis; understand investment theory and strategies; explain
the features of investment vehicles; calculate measures of investment
and portfolio performance; understand the provisions of current Federal
tax laws; apply tax planning strategies; and apply retirement and estate
planning strategies.
‡ ACC* 115 (Financial Accounting) is a prerequisite for BFP* 210 and BFP*
230 or permission of program coordinator.
WARNING: All course numbers in the Connecticut Community College System
are in the process of change. For up-to-date information on any course number,
contact the MCC Registrar’s Office.
Center for Business and Technologies: 860-512-2623 or www.mcc.commnet.edu/cbt/