I started the BU program in August of 2020 while I was still working as a high school math teacher. I had volunteered in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program for five years, and increasingly had friends reaching out for general financial advice (since I had some experience with taxes). I thought the BU Financial Planning Program would be a fun way for me to develop a deeper understanding of personal finance. I didn’t expect at the time of enrollment that I would be so deeply engaged by the material!
Show MoreThe first webinar I attended was Phuong Luong’s webinar on pro bono financial planning, where she referenced VITA, and I instantly knew I had found a program that was going to speak to me! I particularly enjoyed the retirement class where Dan Galli broke down complicated topics into relevant and understandable pieces, and the Capstone with Ken Dean which was a challenging but incredibly rewarding experience! I was also very grateful for Jake Northrup’s webinar where I learned about the FPA Externship, which I also completed in the summer of 2021.
It became clear to me in the spring of 2021 that I wanted to make the professional jump from teaching to financial planning. It was on the BU Employment Opportunities page where I saw the opening for a planning analyst position at Single Point Partners in Boston. After a few interviews, I was hired to work at Single Point at the end of summer 2021. I’m really enjoying working at Single Point—I’m learning from exceptional planners and I get to interact directly with clients on a daily basis. Starting in financial planning has definitely been a learning curve, but the education I received at BU provided me with a solid foundation.
Again, I think the BU program did an excellent job of providing me with the foundational knowledge I needed to pass the exam, even with limited professional experience. I’m now on my way to fulfilling the hour requirement. The BU Financial Planning Program had resources and opportunities for me at every stage of the educational process. I feel tremendously grateful for the well-rounded educational experience I had at BU!
Abraham Kirby-Galen, Single Point Partner
I found that the Boston University online format was just what I needed to accelerate my personal study program. I passed the CFP® exam on my first attempt.
Joseph Knarr, CFP®, Ameriprise Financial
The Boston University program is convenient for working professionals. I was able to access the program from any computer and take the reading with me on the go. Also, the quizzes and tests were very helpful in solidifying the information I had learned.
Rebecca Clark, CFP®, The Vanguard Group
Boston University’s online Financial Planning Program was a great program for preparing for the CFP® exam. I learned all the needed topics covered on the exam, but what I found most beneficial was that you can work at your own pace on your own computer.
William H. Bender II, CFP®, Merrill Lynch
The Boston University online Financial Planning Program was great since it gave me control of when and where to study. Not being forced into a time slot was key for me passing this exam quickly as compared to others who attended a live course.
Brian Doughney, CFP®, Ernst & Young
I completed the Boston University program over an eighteen-month timespan. I enjoyed the program because I could study at my own pace and from the convenience of any computer terminal. I thought the material was well presented and prepared me for the CFP® exam. I also found the price point of the program quite attractive compared to in-house programs offered at other universities. I took and passed the exam on my first attempt.
Edmund J. Ricker, CFP®, Ameriprise Financial Services
After completing the Boston University Financial Planning Program online I sat for the CFP® exam. I am happy to say that I passed the exam. The coursework was well organized, rigorous and well worth all of my time and effort. The study scheduler was very helpful in keeping me on pace to finish the program in a timely fashion, and the periodic email reminders nudged me to pick up the pace if I was falling behind. I would highly recommend Boston University’s online program to anyone considering a self-study approach.
Matt Hartman, CFP®, RubinBrown Advisors
Boston University’s Financial Planning Program is an engaging and comprehensive option for continued professional development in the field of financial planning.
Harold Flecker, CFP®, Merrill Lynch
This is a great program for the self-motivated individual who has an unpredictable schedule. It worked for me and helped me pass on my first try.
Sonny Gancaygo, CFP®, Merrill Lynch
The education I received in the BU program helped me pass the CFP® exam on the first try. We had our second child about three months into the program. There is no way that a classroom schedule would have worked for me and my family. With the online program I was able to work through the classes and tests after putting the kids to bed. For me there was no other reasonable option, and fortunately, the quality of BU’s program was excellent.
Andrew Betts, CFP®, Bickling Financial Services
The Boston University online Financial Planning Program is the easiest, most cost effective way to get the required courses out of the way to sit for the CFP® exam. You won’t have to keep taking the quizzes/tests over and over again, but if you have to there is no additional cost. Plus, you just do it on your own time. I’m glad I did it through them. P.S. I passed the CFP® exam on my first try.
Donna Lea, CFP®, National Planning Corporation
The program was very good. The main benefit is the flexibility to study when you want.
Jim Vermillion, CFP®, Robert W. Baird & Co
I was a little apprehensive at first about an online program, but once I got into it I paced myself over eighteen months and kept feeding on my successes. I work full time and operate another business on weekends, so an online program I could take during the evenings was my only option. Between the course material and the textbooks, I was able to understand and work the modules with only a few email questions to the teaching staff. Upon completing the program, I sat for the CFP® Exam at my first opportunity relying only on a review of my course notes and a practice exam I purchased. I passed on my first try.
Darryl Eddy, CPA, CFP®, Jarrard, Seibert, Pollard & Co., LLC.
When choosing a provider of the CFP education program, I decided on Boston University. The primary reason was the ability to work at my own pace and at any time day or night. A secondary reason was that it is a great value. The format was easy to follow, covered the necessary material and they provided the necessary support on the few times questions came up. I just got the results of the CFP® exam, and I was in the 51% who passed on the first attempt. I made the right choice relying on Boston University. Thank you.
Michael D. Chamberlain, CFP®, Chamberlain Financial Planning, LLC
I admit I had some trepidation about taking an online course as the only means of study for the CFP® exam. But Boston University’s program was great. I loved the review questions throughout the courses and at the end of the chapters. They really showed you what you needed to work on. I’m happy to report that I passed the CFP® exam on my first try. From start to finish, I did it in less than a year. Thank you to Boston University and team.
Angela DeLion, CFP®, Ameriprise Financial
I enrolled in the program unsure of what I was getting into, but it proved to be a great decision. Given my work and family demands, I’m not sure I would have completed the CFP education requirement without the BU online program. When I took the CFP® exam, I came to appreciate the program’s rigor. I felt well prepared for the exam and as a result I passed the CFP® exam on my first attempt.
David McPherson, CFP®,, Four Ponds Financial Planning
Taking the courses online made it possible for me to finish the class work and schedule the exam for a time more convenient for me. I was able to work at my own pace on my own schedule. The setup was easy, the subject matter was well laid out, and I felt that all the information I needed was available. Being able to take the courses online was a tremendous help.
Beth S. Milkovits, CFP®, Tofias Financial Advisors, LP
I wanted a program that was comprehensive and prestigious, yet economical and self-paced. Boston University’s program enabled me to complete the coursework in only seven months and pass the CFP® exam on my first attempt. This program is highly recommended for anyone who values their time and money.
Jeffrey M. Joy, CFP®, Ferris, Baker Watts, Inc.
The Financial Planning Program was the perfect preparation course for a busy financial advisor. It gave me the freedom to make my own schedule, and move through the material at my own pace. I did not want to attend classes and spend two or three years satisfying the education requirement. The online program allowed me to do it all in about a year. I inform all of the potential CFP candidates I meet of the availability of the BU online program.
Samuel B. Baldwin, CFP®, Spencer Financial, LLC
I have been a financial advisor for 17 years, and a couple of years ago I finally decided that I needed the CFP® certification for client credibility purposes. After researching many of the programs available, I selected Boston University for the convenient online program you had available. It not only helped me prepare for the CFP® exam, but quite honestly it taught me a lot of things that I did not know about financial planning. Long story short, I passed the CFP® exam on my first attempt in a year when the pass ratio was 50.4%. The BU coursework and exams were well laid out and organized, and I’m convinced that it had a lot to do with my success on the exam.
Mark Dutram, CFP®, LPL Financial Services
As a portfolio manager for a hedge fund, I am very busy with my day-to-day trading activities. I needed a program of study that was flexible and fit into my schedule. With Boston University’s online program, I could study online when I wanted to and from whatever location.
David F. Tomasetti, CFP®, Tomasetti Investment, LP
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 advisor directly by calling (857) 971-4728.