Continuing Education
Financial Planner Certificate
CFP® Exam Preparation Program
Jan. 24-Sept. 27, 2014
For many Americans, the challenge of managing their personal finances is a daunting task.
They lack the time, knowledge and resources to accumulate, conserve and transfer wealth,
and achieve their financial objectives. Americans frequently turn to financial planners for
assistance in achieving their financial goals.
Financial planning is a highly competitive growth industry. Financial planners help clients
establish financial goals, design and implement comprehensive plans to achieve these
goals, and periodically re-evaluate plans to adjust for changing needs and circumstances.
Financial planners work in private practice, brokerages, accounting firms, insurance
companies, banks, employee benefit departments, and other sectors of the industry. Some
sell financial products; others work on a “fee-for-service” basis. Practitioners help clients
develop budgets, cash management plans, and investment and tax strategies; design
retirement and education plans; determine insurance needs; and provide numerous
additional services.
The USF Financial
Planner Certificate
program is registered
with the CFP® Board
of Standards and is
offered in partnership
with Kaplan Schweser,
the leading provider
of financial planning
education and review
course materials.
The Certified Financial Planner™ Certification
The CFP® certification has become the most widely recognized financial planning
certification. USF does not certify individuals to use the CFP®, Certified Financial
Planner™, and CFP (with flame logo)® certification marks. CFP® certification is granted
only by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc., to those persons who,
in addition to completing an education requirement such as this CFP Board-Recognized
Program, have met its ethics, experience, and examination requirements. To earn the
CFP® certification, you must:
 Complete the education requirement
 Pass the two-day CFP® Certification Examination
 Satisfy a work experience requirement in the personal financial services industry
(This may be satisfied before or after passing the CFP® Certification Examination but
must be completed within ten years prior to or within five years after passing.)
 Agree to abide by CFP Board’s Code of Ethics, Professional Responsibility and Financial Planning Practice Standards
 Have a college degree
USF’s noncredit Financial Planner Certificate Program is registered with Certified Financial
Planner Board of Standards Inc. Students who successfully complete the program are
eligible to apply to sit for the CFP® Certification Examination.
Visit conted.usf.edu/CFPprep for more information
USF Financial Planner Certificate/CFP Exam Prep Program
®
The USF noncredit Financial Planner Certificate/CFP® Exam Preparation
Program is a comprehensive CFP Board Registered Program taught by
prominent professionals. The program trains the core financial planning
competencies identified by CFP Board at the prescribed cognitive levels.
The program is designed to:
• Qualify and prepare you for the CFP® Certification Examination
• Develop the knowledge and skills needed to provide comprehensive
financial planning services and advice
The Certificate Program consists of six core modules. Core modules are
graded. Students must complete each of the six core modules with a
passing score to earn the USF Financial Planner certificate and to qualify
to sit for the CFP® Certification Examination. To complete a module
successfully, you must have an 80% in course attendance and a 70% in
course work. You must complete the program in a two-year period.
V. Estate Tax Planning
This course will provide students with an introduction to estate planning and
the taxation of estates for the purposes of financial planning. In addition, the
overall tax implications of gifts and bequests will be presented in a manner
that provides students with taxation avoidance and minimization techniques
to be used when planning a client’s estate. (36 hours)
VI. Capstone Case Course in
Financial Planning
This course will involve case analysis and the integration of the five major
areas of personal financial planning, which include:
• Fundamentals of Financial Planning and Insurance
• Investment Planning
• Taxation of Persons, Property and Other Entities
• Retirement and Employee Benefits
• Estate Tax Planning
Program Modules
I: Fundamentals of Financial Planning and
Insurance
This course will introduce student to the theory and practice of financial
planning. Students will receive an overview of specific areas of financial
planning such as income tax planning, investment planning, retirement
planning and estate planning. In addition, the course will present topics on
the concepts of time, value of money, education and retirement funding, and
insurance planning. A financial calculator, such as an HP 12C, is required
for this course. (48 hours)
II. Investment Planning
This course introduces investment strategies, portfolio allocation theory and
application, debt and equity securities, and portfolio management strategies.
This course will also emphasize the importance of determining a client’s
risk tolerance and goals and then managing an investment portfolio that
incorporates a client’s level of risk, while achieving financial goals.
(36 hours)
III. Taxation of Persons, Property and Other
Entities
This course will focus on the federal income tax system. Topics will
include gross income inclusions, exclusions, deductions, exemptions
and credits. This course will consider the income taxation of individuals,
sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLC’s, and corporations (including S
corporations). Finally, this course will present the students with taxation
avoidance and minimization alternatives. (36 hours)
IV. Retirement and Employee Benefits
This course includes the comprehensive study of qualified and non-qualified
retirement plans, other tax-advantaged plans, and employee benefits. In
addition, this course will present an overview of the Social Security, disability
and health care programs. (36 hours)
Students will examine the financial condition of individuals or families
in a real-world application of the financial planning topics that have been
covered in the previous five courses. Students will have the opportunity to
develop a financial plan and present their recommendations. The course
is an excellent preparation tool for professionals entering the field and for
case-type questions on the CFP® Certification Examination. (36 hours)
Additional take home assigments bring the total course hours to 270.
To obtain CFP Board’s Guide to CFP® Certification or request
information, call 303-830-7500 or write to:
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc.
1670 Broadway, Ste. 600
Denver, CO 80202
Web site: www.cfp.net
“While some online programs may have been less
expensive, I am glad I chose the USF program. I
was taught by experts in their respective fields in a
classroom setting, able to tape sessions with a voice
recorder to replay while studying. I was also able to ask
questions and get authoritative answers right away.
Thank you for all the positives your program has meant
to me. I now feel confident I can pass the exam and
begin a new career as a financial planner.”
-Steve Surosky
USF Financial Planner Certificate/CFP Exam Prep Program
®
Application for Admission
Payment
To enroll in the USF Financial Planner Certificate/CFP® Exam Prep
Program, you must first apply and be admitted to the program. A college
degree is required. To apply, complete both sides of the attached Financial
Planner Program Application and mail, email, or fax it to the address/fax
number listed below. A $100 nonrefundable application fee (see payment
methods in next column) must accompany this form. Submit your
application should be submitted by Jan. 10 to ensure adequate time for
processing.
Application and program fees may be paid by Visa, MasterCard, American
Express, Discover Card, or company-approved purchase order. A
nonrefundable fee of $100 must be paid with application. Our office will
contact you after the application has been reviewed. If you are accepted
into the program, you may register by paying the program fees in full or
by electing our no-interest deferred payment plan. The payment plan
requires an initial payment of $2,595; the remaining balance is paid in two
installments of $750.
Continuing Education - Registration Services
University of South Florida
4202 E. Fowler Avenue, NEC116
Tampa, FL 33620-6758
FAX: 813-974-5732
Email: UC-registration@usf.edu
Registration
Upon admission to the program, you will receive a formal letter of
acceptance (usually within two weeks). The $4,095 course fee or an initial
$2,595 payment must be submitted prior to the program start date to
complete the registration process.
Fees
Application Fee:
Program Fee: Estimated Materials Cost:
Estimated Total:
$100
$4,095*
$550
$4,745
*The CFP® Certification Examination (approximately $600) is not
included. Supplemental instructional costs may be incurred as needed
throughout the program.
Discounts
When three individuals from the same company register simultaneously, each
individual receives a 5% discount on the program fee. There is a 10% discount
for four or more simultaneous registrations from the same company. Discounts
will be honored once all simultaneous registrants from the same company
complete the program. If a company pays the program fee, the discount amount
will be refunded to the company once all simultaneous registrants from that
company complete the program. There is a 10% discount for USF faculty and
staff.
Refund/Cancellation
The application fee is nonrefundable if you are accepted for the program.
No refunds or transfers after program start date. Requests for withdrawals,
refunds, or transfers must be in writing. If you withdraw by Jan. 17, 2014,
you will receive a refund of the program fee. If you withdraw Jan. 18- Jan.
24, 2014, you will be charged an administrative fee of $200 and refunded
the remainder of the program fee. USF reserves the right to cancel any
program, in which case a full refund of fees is automatic. Allow 5-7
working days for credit card refunds, 6-8 weeks for check refunds. See
additional information and policies at conted.usf.edu/register.
Schedule
Attendance, Homework and Tests
The scheduled classes meet bi-weekly on Friday evenings, 5:30-9:45 p.m.
and on Saturdays 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Classes are held on a bi-weekly basis,
but may be held on back-to-back weekends depending on holidays. Our
programs are scheduled to allow you to complete the program and sit for the
next CFP® Certification Examination.
This program is academically challenging. You must commit to attending
classes regularly, completing homework and preparing for tests/quizzes.
To complete a module successfully, you must have an 80% in course
attendance and a 70% in course work. You must complete the program in a
two-year period.
For a detailed schedule, visit our web site at conted.usf.edu/cfpprep.
Attendance is critical. If you need to make up a class meeting within a
module to meet the attendance requirement, you may do so for a re-sitting
fee of $45. If you need to retake an entire module, you may do so, on a
space available basis, the next time the module is offered for a retake fee of
$75. A transfer fee of $25 per module also applies.
Continuing Education Credits
Certain modules are approved for professional CEUs in Insurance and CPA
licensure. CEU availability will be announced at the beginning of the module.
Events, activities, programs and facilities of the University of South Florida are available
to all without regard to race, color, marital status, sex, religion, national origin, disability,
age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, Vietnam
or disabled veterans status as provided by law and in accordance with the University’s
respect for personal dignity. Persons with a documented disability requesting reasonable
accommodations should contact the ADA Coordinator at 813-974-2403 at least ten
working days in advance of the event. Persons with speech or hearing impairments should
call 800-955-8770 (voice) or 800-955-8771 (TDD).
Homework assignments/projects are given for each program module. We
anticipate a minimum of 8-12 hrs. of homework to prepare for each class
meeting. We encourage students to form study groups outside of class. Time
required for class preparation will vary depending on the specific module
content and the extent of your individual background and experience.
Final exams are given for each program module. If you do not pass a
module’s final exam, you have one opportunity to take a make-up exam
for a fee of $75. If you do not pass the make-up exam, you must retake the
specific program module for the retake fee of $75.
Continuing Education
USF Financial Planner Certificate/CFP® Exam Preparation Program
CFP Board-Recognized Program
Qualify for the CFP® Certification Examination
Visit our web site at conted.usf.edu/cfpprep
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards owns the marks CFP®, Certified Financial Planner™, and CFP
(with flame logo)®, which it awards to individuals who successfully complete initial and ongoing certification requirements.
Additional Programs Offered at conted.usf.edu
CMA® Exam Prep • HR Management • PHR/SPHR
Marketing and Public Relations • Nonprofit Management
Management and Supervision • Meeting and Event Planning
Project Management • Quality Improvement • English Language Skills for Non-Native Speakers
Microsoft Office • Web Design and Development • Digital Graphics
Code 2670
University College/Continuing Education
University of South Florida
4202 East Fowler Avenue, NEC116
Tampa, FL 33620-6758
USF Financial Planner
Certificate/CFP® Exam Prep Program
Qualify to sit for the
CFP® Certification Examination
Registered with CFP Board