Master’s Program in Financial Planning

At the University of Texas – Dallas, our Master’s Certificate in Financial Planning Program is a fully interactive financial planning program designed to meet the education requirements for the CFP® Certification Examination.

Key program benefits:

Web-delivered live online
Instructor-led
All live lectures are recorded and available at any time
Accelerated program, can be completed in nine months

Using a headset and voice-over-IP technology, students with Internet access can attend a virtual classroom and interact with instructors and fellow students. The program is offered in partnership with Dalton Education, innovators in online financial services education.

Composed of former members of the CFP® Board of Examiners and textbook authors, the faculty offers a rigorous, high-quality curriculum informed by their expertise. All faculty members in the program hold either CFP® certification or a relevant professional designation or license.

The accelerated program can be completed in nine months or less, and is presented in the following six modules:

Fundamentals of Financial Planning and Insurance
Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management
Taxation of Persons, Property and Other Entities
Retirement and Employee Benefits
Estate Tax Planning
Financial Plan Presentation Course

Upon completion of the Master’s Certificate in Financial Planning Program students have:

Satisfied the course requirements of the CFP® Board.
Substantial knowledge and technical skills for professional competency as a financial planner.
Knowledge of all 78 topics mandated by the CFP® Board.

If you miss a class, sessions are recorded and available for playback at any time. Through this flexible online program, professionals from across the country can fulfill the educational requirements to sit for the CFP® Certification Examination from the convenience of their personal computer.

Dalton Education, LLC is a leading provider of innovative education solutions in financial planning. The founders of Dalton Education have helped thousands of financial professionals earn the CFP® certification marks. Our program consists of providing the highest quality CFP® education through premier university partners and the leading CFP® review course in the industry, THE DALTON REVIEW® for the CFP® Certification Examination. No other review course is as comprehensive and exam focused as THE DALTON REVIEW® for the CFP® exam.

For more information, please e-mail info@dalton-education.com or call 877.426.2373.

Fundamentals of Financial Planning and Insurance

This course introduces participants to the theory and practice of financial planning. It provides an overview of the financial planning process and offers guidance for managing a client’s risk while achieving goals through savings and investments. Topics include life, health, disability and long-term care as well as property, Social Security and personal liability insurance. In addition, the course covers time value of money, education and retirement funding. A financial calculator, such as an HP 12C or 10BII, is required.

Investment Planning

This course introduces concepts regarding modern portfolio theory, risk reduction, debt and equity securities, derivatives (including options and futures contracts) and asset allocation strategies. Participants will learn how to determine a client’s risk tolerance and select appropriate assets based on the assessed risk tolerance and the client’s goals.

Income Tax Planning

This course provides detailed coverage of gross income inclusions, exclusions, deductions before and after adjusted gross income, and tax credits, while focusing on the taxation of individuals, sole proprietorships, C-corps, S-corps, partnerships and LLCs. In addition, participants will learn planning techniques for taxation avoidance and minimization strategies.

Retirement Planning

This course provides a comprehensive overview of qualified (defined benefit, profit share, 401(k) plans and non-qualified (deferred compensation, incentive stock options, employee stock purchase plans) retirement plans, other tax-advantaged plans (SIMPLE, Roth and traditional IRAs), and employee benefits. This course also presents an overview of the Social Security disability and health care programs such as Medicare.

Estate Planning

This course provides professionals with an introduction to wills, trusts, the probate process and the taxation of estates. Course participants also will learn the tax implications of gifts and bequests during lifetime and at death. The approach provides students with taxation avoidance and minimization techniques useful in planning a client’s estate.

Financial Plan Presentation Course

The Plan Presentation course consists of both online, self-paced study combined with live online instruction. Students will learn how to prepare and present a financial plan using financial planning software and multiple approaches to identifying and planning for a client’s goals and risks. The course will require students to perform all functions of the financial planning process and apply the CFP® Board’s Practice Standards.