Certificate Program in Personal Financial Planning
Financial advising is expected to be one of the faster-growing occupations over the next decade, with a projected growth rate of 32 percent between 2010 and 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Financial adviser salaries are above average—median annual wages were $64,750 in 2010…and the highest-paid working in New York, California, and Texas.
—U.S. News & World Report, February 27, 2012
The financial planning field remains on an upward swing. A growing need for objective financial planning advice provides a great opportunity for those already in the financial services industry or for those contemplating a new career. Learn to help others define and meet their life goals through smart financial resources management. Gain the knowledge to analyze and provide advice on all aspects of financial planning.
This CFP® Board-Registered Program is designed specifically to cover the body of knowledge needed to prepare for the CFP® Certification Examination.The public’s growing need for objective financial planning advice, combined with the rigorous standards demanded of CFP® cerficants, has placed the CFP® certification at the forefront of the financial planning profession.
Gain practical knowledge that matters
- Acquire the expertise necessary to be a practitioner in the financial planning industry.
- Gain practical as well as academic experience.
- Enhance your knowledge and build on the experience you already have in the financial services industry.
- Broaden your opportunities by networking with other financial services professionals.
Program Director
Jeffrey Lambert, CFP®, has more than 30 years of investment and financial industry experience, and has been the program director for UC Davis Extension's Personal Financial Planning Certificate Program since 1996. His background includes financial planning, portfolio management, education, securities wholesaling, real estate investment, venture capital and consulting to financial services companies. He has won many awards, including Sacramento Certified Financial Planner of the Year.
Designed for professionals like you
This program is designed for professionals already in the financial services industry, such as bankers, accountants, stockbrokers and attorneys who want to expand their knowledge and abilities. It is also appropriate for people interested in beginning a new career as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ or those who would like to augment their knowledge of financial planning.
UC Davis Extension does not certify individuals to use the CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and 
® certification marks. CFP® certification is granted only by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. to those persons who, in addition to completing an educational requirement such as this CFP® Board-Registered Program, have met its ethics, experience and examination requirements.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, and ®, which it awards to individuals who successfully complete initial and ongoing certification requirements.
Transfer Credit
As a "next step" on your career path, UC Davis Extension has established an articulation agreement with California Lutheran University's (CLU) California Institute of Finance. CLU will accept 15 units from the UC Davis Extension Personal Financial Planning Certificate Program as credit toward their M.B.A. in Financial Planning.
For more details on the articulation, contact Cindy Grether, Program Manager at CLU at cgrether@clunet.edu or (888) 32-4155.
Certificate Requirements
Courses may be taken individually or as part of a certificate program. Participants will be awarded a certificate in Personal Financial Planning upon the successful completion of 29 required units. Tuition for the entire Personal Financial Planning Certificate Program is $6,385 to $6,760, depending on when you enroll. The certificate application fee ($45), textbooks and parking are not included in the tuition fee. A bachelor's degree, in any discipline, is required to attain the CFP® certificate. For detailed information, visit www.cfp.net.
Coming in 2013
Developing Financial Plans
This capstone course is required for anyone beginning the Personal Financial Planning Certificate Program after January 1, 2012. Integrate and apply what you've learned through the financial planning curriculum and develop financial plans that synthesize client needs with their financial goals.
| UNITS | F | W | SP | SU | ||
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| REQUIRED COURSES | Principles of Financial Analysis | 3.5 | 
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| Fundamentals of Personal Financial Planning | 3.5 |
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| Investments in Personal Financial Planning | 3.5 |
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| Risk Management in Personal Financial Planning | 3.5 |
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| Retirement and Employee Benefits Planning | 3.5 |
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| Income Taxation in Personal Financial Planning | 3.5 |
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| Estate Planning | 3.5 |
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| Developing Financial Plans | 4.5 | |||||
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F=Fall W=Winter SP=Spring SU=Summer;
Schedules subject to change
Classroom format |
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Principles of Financial Analysis has replaced Quantitative Tools for Personal Financial Planning.
Required Courses
Principles of Financial Analysis
3.5 quarter units academic credit, X420.11.
Whether you are managing your own money or serving clients as a financial adviser, the concepts of cash flow analysis and Time Value of Money (TVM) are the foundations of sound financial decision-making. Learn the fundamentals needed to comprehensively analyze a client's or your own financial situation. Gain the knowledge to apply cash flow analysis and TVM principles to a variety of circumstances by using the HP-12C financial calculator. Develop your ability to evaluate mortgages, choose the most appropriate savings plan, understand annuities, determine bond Yield to Maturity and price, and analyze stock market and real estate investments.
This course is required to complete the Personal Financial Planning
Certificate Program. An HP-12C calculator is required;
however, no
prior experience is necessary. You will need to have access to Excel or
a compatible spreadsheet.
This course is not currently scheduled.
Fundamentals of Personal Financial Planning
3.5 quarter units academic credit, X420.2.
Explore the practice of personal financial planning by examining the generic financial planning process model, and financial planning subject areas in investments, estate planning, income taxation, risk management, employee benefits and retirement planning. Examine regulatory, legal and ethical considerations, and the macroeconomic environment.
Learn
financial modeling techniques and the
basics of money psychology and counseling skills. In a concluding case
study,
discover what a planning engagement entails and how the various aspects
of the
discipline are integrated into practice.
Prerequisites:
Principles of Financial Analysis, or Quantitative Tools for Personal Financial Planning
Sections of this course open for enrollment:
- Fundamentals of Personal Financial Planning starts June 13
Investments in Personal Financial Planning
3.5 quarter units academic credit, X420.4.
Examine various investment categories utilized by financial planning practitioners. Gain knowledge of security laws and regulations, Time Value of Money, risk analysis, common stock valuation and expected rates of return. Learn about market indicators and monetary policy.
Acquire the ability to apply fundamental and technical
analysis, and discover what financial planners need to know about the
bond
market, yield curves, preferred stock, convertible bonds, options,
warrants,
futures, mortgages, mutual funds, portfolio construction and
management, and
capital market theory.
Prerequisites:
Fundamentals of Personal Financial Planning, Principles of Financial Analysis, or Quantitative Tools for Personal Financial Planning
This course is not currently scheduled.
Risk Management in Personal Financial Planning
3.5 quarter units academic credit, X420.7. 35 DOI Hours
Gain
an understanding of risk management, primarily in the areas of life annuity,
health, casualty and liability insurance. Learn how to determine insurance
needs, evaluate various insurance plans and evaluate contract selection
criteria from a cost/benefit standpoint. Topics include alternative methods of
funding insurance premiums, the role of insurance in retirement and estate
planning, and the role of property and casualty insurance in the business
environment.
Prerequisites:
Fundamentals of Personal Financial Planning, Principles of Financial Analysis, or Quantitative Tools for Personal Financial Planning
This course is not currently scheduled.
Retirement and Employee Benefits Planning
3.5 quarter units academic credit, X420.8. 35 DOI Hours
Gain an understanding of fiduciary responsibility requirements in connection with retirement plans, as well as how to evaluate taxation of benefits received and alternatives in choosing the appropriate plan.
Learn to evaluate qualified plans such as pension and profit sharing, 401(k), 403(b) and Employee Stock Ownership. Examine individual retirement alternatives, including traditional and Roth IRA, SEP and SIMPLE IRA programs as well as group medical plans, cafeteria, disability, stock options and nonqualified deferred compensation.
Prerequisites:
Fundamentals of Personal Financial Planning, Principles of Financial Analysis, or Quantitative Tools for Personal Financial Planning
This course is not currently scheduled.
Income Taxation in Personal Financial Planning
3.5 quarter units academic credit, X420.6.
Learn to recognize the many opportunities for successful income tax
planning, as well as the occasional dilemmas that arise in personal
financial planning. Focus on the interrelation of the more common
income tax rules, regulations and planning techniques applicable to
individuals, tax shelters and corporations. Topics include income,
deductions, real estate and tax shelters; retirement plans; rates and
credits; sales and exchanges; corporations and planning vis-a-vis the
individual shareholders; and employees, partnerships and sub-chapter S
corporations.
Prerequisites:
Fundamentals of Personal Financial Planning, Principles of Financial Analysis, or Quantitative Tools for Personal Financial Planning
Sections of this course open for enrollment:
- Income Taxation in Personal Financial Planning starts June 14
Estate Planning
3.5 quarter units academic credit, X420.9. MCLE Hours, DOI Hours
Learn what all accountants, trust officers, attorneys, life insurance underwriters and financial planners need to know to solve estate planning problems. Examine tax objectives, business interests, the unlimited marital deduction and saving the "second tax." Acquire the knowledge to advise on holding title to property, lifetime gifts and trusts, wills and living trusts, life insurance and annuities and post-death tax and legal problems. Review recent tax law changes.
There is a reading assignment due for the first class meeting: Chapters 1, 2 and 3.
Prerequisites:
Fundamentals of Personal Financial Planning, Income Taxation in Personal Financial Planning, Principles of Financial Analysis, or Quantitative Tools for Personal Financial Planning
This course is not currently scheduled.
Developing Financial Plans
4.5 quarter units academic credit, X420.12.
This capstone course to the Personal Financial Planning Certificate Program helps you integrate the knowledge gained from previous classes into an indepth understanding of your clients’ needs and increases your comprehension of the content found in prior program courses. Using the financial planning process, you will learn to:
- Gather and analyze data within the context of clients’ goals
- Evaluate the impact of economic, political, ethical and regulatory issues
- Synthesize client recommendations
- Communicate your findings both orally and in writing
- Assist clients in implementing their plans
Learn to create individualized plans and achieve client objectives, so they move toward their financial life goals. Through case studies and collaboration, you will apply what you have learned in all of the other financial planning courses.
Prerequisites:
Fundamentals of Personal Financial Planning, Investments in Personal Financial Planning, Income Taxation in Personal Financial Planning, Risk Management in Personal Financial Planning, Retirement and Employee Benefits Planning, Estate Planning, Principles of Financial Analysis.
This course is not currently scheduled.
PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION SHOWCASE
Join us Aug. 14 to learn about the Personal Financial Planning Certificate Program.
Downloads
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Personal Financial Planning Certificate Program factsheet
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testimonials
"The Personal Financial Planning classes from UC Davis Extension helped me become a more knowledgeable financial advisor, and gave me the quality of education essential to passing the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ exam. My UC Davis Extension Personal Financial Planning certificate is framed under the same glass as my CFP® certificate, because education is one of the most important parts of being able to use the designation. I am as proud of it as I am of being a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional."
Amanda Johnson, Financial Planner
