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Financial Planning Education Program
For more information specific to the certification, access
the CFP Board of Standards
website. The College of Charleston’s Certified
Financial Planner™ Certification Education Program
is designed to broaden the financial skills and career
options of professionals practicing in the financial services
industry. This academically rigorous and challenging program
is offered over an 11-month period. The next program is scheduled to begin on February 4, 2008. Courses will meet on Monday and Thursday evenings from 6-9:00 PM and will be held at 5300 International Boulevard,
Building B, Suite 100,
North Charleston, SC 29418.
The CFP® Credential
Please note that the College of Charleston does not award
the CFP® or Certified Financial Planner™ certification.
The certification marks, owned by Certified Financial
Planner Board of Standards, Inc., are awarded to individuals
who successfully complete the CFP Board’s initial
and ongoing certification requirements.
CFP®, and Certified Financial Planner™ are
federally registered service marks of the Certified
Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board).
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The program curriculum reflects the
job knowledge requirements needed by financial planners
as determined by the CFP Board. There are six modules to
the program, each lasting 7-8 weeks, plus an optional
review session.
- Fundamentals of Financial
Planning—A foundation providing a comprehensive
overview of the financial planning process. Topics covered
include goal and priority setting, data gathering, and
implementation of a financial plan as well as time value
of money, the legal and economic environment, and ethical
and professional considerations.
- Insurance Planning—A
course designed to acquaint the student with the basic
principles and various types of insurance devices. It
prepares students to work with clients by teaching them
methods of gathering client data, identifying the client’s
risk exposure and helping the client select products to
protect them against loss.
- Individual and Property
Taxation—A course emphasizing the concepts
and methods of determining tax liability for individuals
and the taxation of property transactions. It provides
the students with information critical for efficient tax
planning.
- Investments—This
course prepares students to work with clients to achieve
their financial objectives. It provides them with the
skills required for the effective analysis of investment
alternatives in a risk-return framework. Emphasis is placed
on selection, timing, and diversification techniques.
- Retirement Planning—This
course offers students an understanding of the planning,
implementation, and monitoring of retirement needs, including
an examination of employer benefits.
- Estate Planning—This
course provides students with an overview of estate planning
and the tools and techniques which minimize the impact
of state and federal taxes on estates, trusts, charitable
transfers, gifts and bequests.
- CFP® Certification
Examination Review—Students have many options
for examination review including the fast paced four-day
review offered through Kenneth Zahn, Inc. or an intense
six-day review course, offered in partnership with BISYS
(formerly Dalton Publications). These review courses are
separate from the College of Charleston Financial Planning
Program and are not included in the tuition.
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Advantages
of the Program at the College of Charleston
Since the College of Charleston’s
Financial Planning Education program is an educational program
registered with Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards,
Inc. (CFP Board), students who successfully complete the
program will be eligible to apply for the CFP® Certification
Examination. Other advantages include:
Distinction—With so many people
calling themselves financial planners, your certificate
from the College of Charleston and your CFP® designation
will be an indication that you are a true professional
and among the elite in your field and will provide you
with the credibility which today’s sophisticated
client demands.
Proven Success—Of the people in
the last College of Charleston class who took the CFP®
Certification Examination, 80% passed. Nationally, the
pass rate is 57%.
Knowledge—The more you know, the
more services you can provide to your clients. Expanded
knowledge of financial planning is the key to attracting
new clients and opening new career options.
Networking—Typical students are
accountants, bankers, stockbrokers, investment advisors,
insurance professionals, financial planners and other
associated professionals from the Charleston area.
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Tuition for the program is $3,850.
There is $100 application fee. This does not include costs
for books and materials. |
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| Application Fee |
$100 |
| Tuition |
$3,850 |
| Total for CofC Program |
$3,950 |
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Most choose to take
the Dalton Review course and, of course, the CFP® Board
Exam. Many choose a deferred payment plan. Thus
a student might incur these additional costs: |
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| Books and Materials (estimated) |
$900 |
| College of Charleston Deferred Payment Plan |
$150** |
| Dalton Live Review (estimated) |
$975 |
| Dalton Review Materials (estimated) |
$335 |
| Zahn Live Review (estimated) |
$925 |
| CFP® Board Examination Fee (estimated) |
$595 |
| CFP® Board Licensure Fee (estimated) |
$100 |
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**Those choosing the deferred payment plan for tuition, pay $500 at
the program start (in addition to the application fee), then $350 a month for 10 months. |
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Who Should Apply?
The course is designed for those in the financial services
industry. Generally, applicants are expected to have earned
a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or
university. In addition, successful financial planning
students usually have three or more years of experience
in the financial services industry.
Applicants without the credentials described above can
be admitted if, after an interview with the academic coordinator,
it is determined that success in the program is highly
likely.
Successful students in the past have included several making a career change and with no professional financial
background. Also, some have gone through the program for their own personal growth. Students without a strong financial
background can expect to put in additional study time to keep pace, but can have a very rewarding experience.
How Should I Apply?
Download An Application
(Adobe
PDF.)
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The College of Charleston North campus administers the
Certified Financial Planning Education Program along with
other College of Charleston Continuing Education and Professional
Development Programs.
For more information, contact:
Dr. Rew A. “Skip” Godow, Dean
godowr@cofc.edu
Patricia Simpson, Coordinator
simpsonp@cofc.edu
College of Charleston North Campus
5300 International Boulevard
Building B, Suite 100
North Charleston, SC 29418
(843) 953-6684
Fax: (843) 953-7454
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