Online Financial Planning Program

The Boston University Online Financial Planning Program is administered by the Boston Institute of Finance. Visit www.bostonifi.com or call 1-800-329-4996 for more information. For students who qualify for veteran's benefits, please call 617-358-3287.

The Boston University Center for Professional Education Online Financial Planning Program is a self-paced, web-based program designed to provide the finest financial planning education, encompassing the practical experience of Boston University's scholar-teachers.

The program is a multimedia, interactive educational experience that includes input and guidance from outstanding faculty drawn from major financial institutions in the Boston area. In addition, when you complete the CFP Board Registered Boston University Online Financial Planning Program, you will fulfill the educational component for the CFP^® certification. The program is self paced and students have access to the course for 18 months. There is also an accelerated program, with bi-weekly virtual classroom sessions, so you can complete your required education in just nine months.

The Financial Planning Program consists of the following seven online courses:

• Introduction to Financial Planning

  This course provides a comprehensive examination of the entire financial planning process, along with an overview of the specific areas of personal income tax planning, risk management and insurance, investment planning, retirement planning, and estate planning. The course introduces methods of gathering client data and teaches you how to work with clients to set goals. Learn how to process and analyze information, construct personal financial statements, and understand a written comprehensive financial plan, including implementing, monitoring, and reviewing the plan. The course also covers communication skills, the regulatory environment, time value of money tools, and other financial planning economic concepts.

• Risk Management

  This course covers various aspects of life, disability, and medical insurance, including how insurance rates are developed, what types of contracts are available, how to read insurance proposals, and how life insurance is used in financial planning. Students also learn about property and casualty insurance, including homeowners', liability, and auto insurance. Other topics include group life and health insurance plans.

• Investments

  This course explores the securities market, sources of information, risk/return, debt and equities, stocks, bonds, options, futures, and security analysis, and culminates in portfolio construction and analysis.

• Tax Planning

  Participants in this course study taxation for sole proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations, as well as the tax aspects of investments, insurance, annuities, and securities. The course also introduces other special tax considerations

• Retirement Planning and Employee Benefits

  This course is taught in two sections. The retirement planning section covers tax-deferred retirement plans, IRAs, and nonqualified plans. The employee benefits section covers Social Security and Medicare, civil service, group life, disability, dental, and health insurance.

• Estate Planning

  This course provides an introduction to gift, estate, and generation-skipping transfer taxes at both the state and federal levels, and to the many planning techniques used to minimize the impact of these taxes on transfers of wealth. It explores the income-tax effects of gifts and bequests, with particular attention to the limitations on income-shifting imposed by the Tax Reform Act of 1986. The nontax aspects of estate planning, including the estate planning process, wills, trusts, durable powers of attorney, powers of appointment, and probate procedure are also studied. The course stresses the need for balancing tax and non tax considerations in creating successful estate plans.

• Capstone Course in Financial Planning

  This course integrates financial planning topics learned in the previous courses and demonstrates how to apply this knowledge to the development of a comprehensive financial plan. Students will learn how to construct a plan according to CFP Board’s Financial Planning Practice Standards and client objectives. Instructors will guide students through the online course material, quizzes and assignments via participation in discussion boards. For the final project, students will prepare and orally present (taped) a comprehensive plan to the faculty. For additional information, please consult the CFP Board’s website.

Boston University does not certify individuals to use the CFP^®, Certified Financial Planner^™ and marks. CFP^® certification is granted solely by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. to individuals who, in addition to completing an educational requirement such as this CFP Board-Registered Program, have met ethics, experience and examination requirements.