Boston University’s Financial Planning Program is a flexible online program that teaches you to deliver reliable financial advice and design client-specific plans. It also satisfies the educational qualifications needed for the CFP® exam.
Program experience
The curriculum includes seven self-paced modules that align with the CFP Board’s Principal Knowledge Topics.
The courses include pre-recorded video lectures, readings, and other resources. You’ll gain experience with financial planning tools, case studies, and practical scenarios.
Estimated time commitment
Students spend ten to fifteen hours per week on average on coursework, but total completion time varies. The time it takes to complete the program depends on how much time you can dedicate. We have pacing plans for completing your studies in nine, twelve, eighteen, or twenty-one months.
Optional weekly live sessions
Each week we present a live session where you can hear from and connect with a financial planning expert. These sessions are optional and recorded for later viewing, but they’re a great chance to hear real examples of how practitioners use the knowledge you are learning in practice.
There’s never been a better time to enter the field. There are more CFP® Professionals over 70 than under 30, creating a significant gap in the profession. The demand for new, certified professionals is soaring, and firms of all sizes are eager to fill this need with qualified talent.
Phuong Luong, MEd, CFP®, Program Director
Financial Planning Program Outcomes
- Gain expertise in crucial financial planning areas such as risk management, investments, retirement, and estate planning.
- Learn how to analyze client data and meet client goals with financial plans that incorporate budgeting, tax strategies, and risk assessments.
- Recognize how clients’ backgrounds, values, and life circumstances influence their decisions.
- Provide comprehensive financial plans and advice that consider clients’ backgrounds, values, and life factors.
- Fulfill the educational requirements for and gain the knowledge necessary to confidently sit for the CFP® certification exam.
In a Related Field? Speed Up Your Progress with the Accelerated Path
The CFP Board offers an Accelerated Path option. You only need to take our Capstone course in Financial Planning to sit for the CFP® exam, and you can choose from either an instructor-led Capstone (held three times per year) or a self-paced Capstone.
If you have one of the following certifications or degrees, you qualify for this option:
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
- Licensed Attorney
- Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®)
- Doctor of Business Administration
- Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®)
- Ph.D. in Financial Planning, Finance, Business Administration, or Economics
- Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®)
- CFP Certification from Outside the U.S. [from the Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd. (FPSB) affiliate located in your territory of residence]
For more details about qualification, contact an enrollment advisor at (857) 971-4728 or complete our form.
Course Descriptions
Gain a comprehensive overview of financial planning fundamentals, including professional conduct, regulatory requirements, and the financial planning process. You’ll learn how to assess client goals, create financial statements, and develop strategies to manage debt and risk.
Key Topics: Financial planning process, time value of money, education planning, risk tolerance.This course explores how to identify and manage risk through various insurance products, such as life, health, disability, and property insurance. You’ll learn to conduct insurance needs analyses and evaluate contracts.
Key Topics: Life and health insurance, property and casualty insurance, business liability insurance.Learn the fundamentals of investment theory, asset classes, risk management, and portfolio construction. This course covers stocks, bonds, options, and other investment vehicles to help you design well-balanced portfolios for clients.
Key Topics: Risk/return analysis, asset allocation, investment strategies, portfolio management.Master the key principles of tax law as it relates to individuals and businesses. This course will help you identify tax-saving opportunities and create tax-efficient financial plans.
Key Topics: Income tax law, alternative minimum tax, deductions, estate and trust taxation.Understand how to plan for clients’ retirement by evaluating their financial needs and recommending appropriate retirement plans. This course also covers Social Security and Medicare.
Key Topics: Qualified retirement plans, Social Security benefits, pension plans, distribution strategies.Learn the intricacies of transferring wealth, minimizing estate taxes, and protecting client assets. You’ll explore the use of trusts, wills, and charitable giving in estate planning.
Key Topics: Trusts, probate, estate tax planning, property ownership.The Capstone course integrates all previous knowledge into a final project where you’ll develop and present a comprehensive financial plan. This course is available in two formats to accommodate different learning styles and schedules.
- You can choose the instructor-led format, which offers live sessions with dedicated interaction and guidance from your instructor. We offer three start dates for this course throughout the year. To learn about upcoming instructor-led start dates, please contact us at enrollment@cpeonline.bu.edu or (857) 971-4728.
- If you prefer more flexibility, you can select the self-paced option to complete the coursework on your own schedule.
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.