Grow Your Career with Guidance from Experienced Financial Planners
Get real-world insights from experienced CFP® professionals with Boston University’s online Financial Planning Program.
Build the expertise clients rely on and fulfill CFP® certification requirements with a board-registered program that prioritizes practical skill-building and client-centered practices.
Boston University’s self-paced, fully online Financial Planning Program is made for professionals from all backgrounds and experience levels—whether you’re changing careers or an established finance professional looking to expand your expertise.
Throughout the program, you’ll study the latest industry practices and gain advanced technical skills so you can make informed decisions in a changing financial environment.
Learn strategies that provide every client with a personalized experience. You’ll finish the program as a thoughtful and responsible financial planner—ready to help clients build strong financial futures.
Quick Facts
- Format: 100% online
- Duration: 9 to 21 months, based on student’s pace (or 3 months of access per individual course)
- Cost: $4,395 (single course registration available)
- Start dates: Open admissions, start at any time
- Course structure: 7 flexible courses
- Certification: Fulfills education requirement for CFP® certification
Request Information
To download a program brochure and learn more about the Online Financial Planning Program offered by Boston University, please fill out the form. You can also contact an enrollment specialist directly by calling (857) 971-4728.
BU’s instructors are practicing financial planners, and that’s a key differentiator. We know what our students are going through because we’re working with clients regularly.
Phuong Luong, MEd, CFP®, Program Director
How BU’s Financial Planning Courses Prepare You for Success
- Our instructors are CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professionals who practice what they teach. They bring direct insights from their work with clients, providing you with key best practices and real-world scenarios.
- Our curriculum consists of courses that can be taken individually or together. Take a single course to strengthen your knowledge in a specific area of finance or complete the entire program and gain a full framework for managing client finances.
- You can earn your certificate on your timeline. This program is fully online and self-paced, so you can begin whenever you’re ready. You can also spread out your coursework by taking one course at a time in a sequential order.
- Create a résumé-ready project in a Capstone course that brings it all together. In this final course, you’ll apply your knowledge by developing a comprehensive financial plan for a client. Choose between a self-paced or instructor-led format to complete your project and showcase your skills. For professionals with specific backgrounds, BU also offers the Capstone as a challenge course. While this option doesn’t earn the full certificate, it satisfies the requirements to sit for the CFP® exam.
Get Ready for CFP® Certification with BU’s
Proven Support
The Financial Planning Program is a CFP Board Registered Program that meets the education requirements for the CFP® exam. Our program has an exceptional pass rate that exceeds the national average.
I have been a financial advisor for seventeen years. When I finally decided that I needed the CFP® certification for client credibility, this certificate not only helped me prepare for the CFP® Exam but honestly taught me a lot I didn’t know about financial planning.
Mark Dutram, CFP®, LPL Financial Services
Join a High-Demand Industry
—No Master’s Needed
With the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting job growth of 17% over the next decade and 27,000 job openings expected each year, there’s plenty of room for new professionals to thrive in this expanding field.
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professionals earn a median annual salary of $90,100 and 22% of them make more than $153,000, according to the labor database Lightcast.
If you’re already working in a related field, our program is also an ideal match. See if your prior education qualifies you for an accelerated option.
Frequently Asked Questions
- If you’re already working in financial services and looking to advance your career, this program gives you the knowledge and skills to take the next step. Many of our students are in entry-level positions or service roles and want to move up by earning CFP® certification.
- If you’re switching careers and don’t want to go back to school for a master’s degree, this certificate is a great option. Many students choose our program as a second or third act in their careers.
- If you’re a recent graduate, this program provides a practical and accessible way to enter the financial planning field. By completing the education requirement, you’ll be well on your way to meeting the qualifications for CFP® certification, which combines education, work experience, and passing the CFP® exam. It’s an ideal first step to building your expertise and establishing yourself in the industry.
When you complete the Financial Planning Program, you will fulfill the educational requirement* for the CFP® certification.
In addition to meeting the education requirement, you will gain the knowledge needed to confidently tackle the CFP® exam. This program provides a solid understanding of key financial planning concepts and the ability to apply them in real-world scenarios.
*To achieve CFP® certification, you’ll need to meet the CFP Board’s “4 E’s” requirements: education, exam, experience, and ethics. This includes completing a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university, passing the CFP® exam, gaining the required work experience, and adhering to the CFP Board’s ethical standards. For more details, visit the CFP Board website.
The program is self-paced, fully online, and structured around seven courses:
- Introduction to Financial Planning
- Insurance and Risk Management
- Investments
- Tax Planning
- Retirement Planning and Employee Benefits
- Estate Planning
- Capstone Course in Financial Planning
Each course is an interactive, multimedia experience that includes an extensive webinar library that you complete on your own schedule.
Throughout the program, students also gain access to email support and live optional weekly sessions with a team of CFP® professionals and instructors ready to answer questions about the coursework and CFP® certification. Visit our curriculum page for more information, including course descriptions and key concepts.
Yes, we offer flexible pacing options designed to support students in completing their coursework within a timeframe that suits their needs. You can choose from recommended pacing schedules of nine, twelve, eighteen, or twenty-one months.
Each pacing option offers a structured plan detailing the recommended sequence and timing for each course, along with guidance to keep you on track. You also have the option to design your own schedule and register for one course at a time.
Yes, you can register for one course at a time. You will have access to each course for three months. Students who choose this option are required to take the courses in sequential order.
On average, learners can expect to dedicate ten to fifteen hours per week to their studies, depending on their pace and familiarity with the subject matter
No prior experience is necessary. The program is designed to accommodate learners from various backgrounds, including those new to financial planning.
Learn more: visit our full FAQ page or download our program brochure.