Certificate of Financial Planning
Overview
Missouri Southern's program combines self-study materials with the convenience of online interaction with qualified instructors.
Why Choose Missouri Southern State University?
Convenience. Missouri Southern's program is delivered to you at a time and location that will fit your busy schedule.
Personal Attention. Small classes allow more interaction with cohort members and course instructors. Students can meet virtually with each other and faculty members through the use of live chat rooms and message boards.
CFP Approved. Missouri Southern State University’s (MSSU) Personal Financial Planning Certificate program is a CFP Board-Registered Program. Accurate and timely information in the key areas of financial planning will be provided. This program meets the educational requirements of the CFP Board, which qualifies you to sit for the CFP® Certification Examination.
Online. MSSU’s program combines self-study materials with the convenience of online interaction with qualified instructors.
One Year Certificate Program. This program consists of six courses which are offered over approximately a one-year period. Students must successfully pass a competency examination related to each topic area. In addition, practice examinations similar to the format of the CFP® Certification Examination, quizzes, and cases are provided throughout the program process.
Cost
MSSU has one of the lowest cost programs in the nation. At just $2,600, the cost of the total program is only half that of most comparable programs.
Topic Areas
Introduction to Personal Financial Planning
Insurance
Investments
Tax Planning
Pension and Retirement Planning
Estate Planning
Expectations
Students are expected to read assigned material online and in the books that correspond to each course: this is the “self-study” portion of the program. All exams and quizzes will be taken online except final exams. All worksheet materials will be available online.
Contact Information
Dr. Richard Rawlins
3950 East Newman Road
Joplin, MO 64801-1595
Phone: 417-625-9716
Email: rawlins-r@mssu.edu
Curriculum
The program is offered as a 13-month program of study. Upon successful completion, you will earn a Professional Certificate in Financial Planning from MSSU. This certificate documents your understanding of the field of financial planning and qualifies you to sit for the CFP® Certification Examination. The timeline provides approximately 2 months after completion of course work for review and synthesis of the material prior to taking the exam during November. Review is strongly recommended and faculty members are available for specific questions and help.
| Introduction to Personal Financial Planning | |||
| Principles of Insurance | |||
| Investments | |||
| Tax Planning I | |||
| Pension and Retirement Planning | |||
| Estate Planning |
The Missouri Southern Online Program for Financial Planners covers the following subject areas:
Introduction to Personal Financial Planning (GB 101)
Introduction to the concepts and tools necessary for effective management of personal financial health. Includes goal-setting, investment decisions, obtaining and using credit, insurance, and retirement planning. Also provides exposure to various business careers and to comparable decisions that business owners and managers make.
Principles of Insurance (Econ 330)
Survey of the fundamentals of insurance including risk management, interpretation of policies, property insurance, liability insurance, health insurance, and life insurance. Prerequisite: Econ 201 and 202
Investments (Econ 411)
Principles underlying investment analysis and policy; salient characteristics of governmental and corporate securities; policies of companies and investing institutions; relations of investment policy to money markets and business fluctuations; and security price-making forces.
Tax Accounting I (Acct 375)
Procedures for reporting federal income taxes with emphasis on income and deductions for individuals. Practice in preparing federal income tax returns.
Retirement and Pension Planning (Econ 320)
Pension Planning is the establishment, implementation, and management of private retirement plans. Topics include: the history of private pension plans in the United States, the debate over defined benefit versus defined contribution plans, tax considerations in pension planning, important aspects of various types of pension plans, funding of pension plans, terminating pension plans, and investment issues for pension plans.
Estate Planning (Econ 370)
The study of the efficient conservation and transfer of wealth, consistent with the client's goals. The course will consider the legal, tax, financial, and non-financial aspects of this process. Topics covered will include trusts, wills, probate, advanced directives, charitable giving, wealth transfers, and related taxes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to wait until fall to begin the program?
You may begin the program at any point in the course. Courses run consecutively over a 13-month period, and each course is 2 months in duration.
When do I enroll?
You may enroll at any time up to the start of the course. Early enrollment is recommended to ensure space availability in the class.
What is the cost of the program?
The cost is $2,600 for the entire program; if a student does not wish to enroll in the program, the per course cost is $500.
How long does it take to complete the program?
The program can be completed in 13 months.
How often do online classes meet each week?
Courses in our online programs do not have mandatory class meeting times. Work can be completed at the student’s convenience. The instructor does hold virtual office hours each week for students to obtain real time answers and advice. The chat session archives are available to view if students are not free during this time. The message board and e-mail are also used for communication between the professor and students.
What educational level is your curriculum?
The courses are at a junior/senior level. They can be petitioned for college credit at the undergraduate level.
Can I satisfy the educational requirements for the CFP while working on my undergraduate degree?
Yes. The School of Business at Missouri Southern offers a BSBA in Economics with an emphasis in Financial Planning.
I'm in a different field, but looking for a career change. Am I eligible to enroll in the CFP Certificate Program?
Yes. The program is open to those from outside the world of business.
Are the courses in your program approved by CFP Board?
Yes. Our courses are approved by CFP Board and meet the educational requirements necessary to sit for the CFP Exam.
How much time would a typical participant expect to spend studying each week?
As a general rule, students need to devote 12-15 hours per week to studying.
Is your distance education program offered online or is it paper-based?
All courses are offered online and do not require students to travel to our university. While the program is totally online, it is not totally self-study. Instructors are available to work with the students as they go through the courses. Students use the Internet-based Blackboard course management system to access course materials.
Does the student take quizzes and exams from a testing center or from home?
Tests and case studies are completed online using the Blackboard course management system. They can be completed anywhere with Internet access and do not need to be proctored except the final exam, which is an on-campus exam or can be proctored by meeting the following requirements stated by Life Long Learning web page, http://www.mssu.edu/lifelonglearning/Student_Resources/SpringCheckList.shtml#p16.
How often are courses offered?
Each course is generally offered annually, and lasts two months. We currently have one certificate cohort beginning each year. Students may complete the certificate program in 13 months. There are six courses, two are offered approximately every 9 weeks.
What if a person had to be out of town for a week or two, would the participant miss deadlines or are the assignments flexible?
The courses are set up in weekly modules and are typically published 2-3 weeks ahead of due dates so that students can work ahead to complete work if they will be out of town when assignments are due.
Will there be times when phone conversations are necessary - or can the entire program be completed via Internet?
None of the courses require live interaction by phone. Interaction between faculty and students occurs utilizing the message board, MSSU Blackboard virtual classroom, and by e-mail. The course management system we use also has the capability of uploading files directly to the instructor through the system.
Are students required to enroll in all courses?
The successful completion of all courses is required for the MSSU Certificate in financial planning. Courses can be taken independently by an individual who need additional information in only certain areas due to their challenge status as CPA's, JD's, etc.
What kind of interaction between faculty and student is typical? How often? What format?
The course instructor utilizes e-mail to contact students throughout their certificate program. They are available to answer student questions by e-mail. They also hold online office hours once a week. These office hours are not mandatory, but the instructor is available for ‘real time’ questions and answers at that time. If needed, an alternative time for the student to contact the instructor by phone, or conference, can be set up by contacting the instructor and setting up an appointment.