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Susanne M. Glasscock School of Continuing Studies
 

  • CFP Graduate Certificate Program

    Curriculum

    The Rice University CFP Graduate Certificate Program consists of nine months of study. Upon successful completion, students will be awarded a Rice University certificate of completion, which will enable them to apply to sit for the CFP® Certification Examination. To learn more about the topics covered, select a topic below or scroll down to see the full list of course descriptions.

    Course Descriptions

     General Principles
    CPEs: 30              CEUs: 2.5
    This course will provide an overview of the financial planning process and the economic and legal environments in which it takes place, the time value of money, analysis of financial statements, and the code of ethics and professional responsibility to which practitioners must adhere.

    Objectives: Upon completion students will be able to:

    • Perform time value of money calculations by understanding the underlying concepts and utilizing technology
    • Demonstrate an understanding of the inter-relatedness of insurance, investments, retirement planning, income tax, and estate planning in the financial planning process and how the changing economic environment affects that process
    • Identify and quantify the financial objectives of a client through evaluation of financial statements and other data. Assess deficiencies, recommend corrections, and develop and maintain a financial plan.
    • Articulate the code of ethics and professional responsibility to which practitioners must adhere

    Insurance and Risk Management
    CPEs: 33.5              CEUs: 2.8
    This course will give an overview of risk assessment and the management of risk through a variety of insurance instruments.

    Objectives: Upon completion students will be able to:

    • Communicate the concepts of risk assessment in a manner understandable to clients
    • Address the broad range of insurance instruments and how they may be evaluated and employed to manage the risk of loss of income and risks associated with property ownership and legal liabilities
    • Incorporate insurance into a client’s overall financial plan
    • Understand the ethical aspects of insurance advising

     Investment Planning
    CPEs: 40.5              CEUs: 3.4
    This course will provide an overview of investment terminology, the fundamentals of investing including the efficient market hypothesis, the role of financial intermediaries, securities trading, risk, and portfolio theory. Special attention will be paid to the analysis and selection of common stocks and fixed income securities.

    Objectives: Upon completion students will be able to:

    • Assess a client’s risk tolerance and exposure to determine which investments provide the best approach to reach objectives of the client’s financial plan
    • Demonstrate a working knowledge of common stock and fixed income securities and the variety of ways these instruments may be analyzed
    • Have a basic knowledge of riskier vehicles such as options, commodities, and financial futures
    • Utilize a wide range of resources to evaluate various investment vehicles and strategies
    • Employ the concepts of portfolio planning and management to provide diversification to a client’s portfolio with sensitivity to tax considerations
    • Understand the taxation of investment vehicles
    • Understand the ethical aspects of investment advising

     Income Taxation Planning
    CPEs: 40.5              CEUs: 3.4
    This course will give an overview of the federal tax system and its impact on financial planning for individuals and business entities.

    Objectives: Upon completion students will be able to:  

    • Access and apply the resources that are required to meet the challenge of annual changes to the tax code
    • Understand income taxation fundamentals, tax consequences, and tax computations
    • Identify the options available to individuals and business owners for reducing their tax burdens while preserving their wealth accumulation strategies
    • Recognize the ethical and legal implications of tax advising

     Retirement and Employee Benefits Planning
    CPEs: 40.5              CEUs: 3.4
    This course will introduce and explore the concepts involved in developing retirement and employee benefit plans from both the employer and employee perspectives. Participants will study the legislation that impacts plan design and the tax advantages and disadvantages of various qualified and non-qualified plans including IRAs and pension and profit sharing plans. Also addressed will be Federal Social Security, Medicare, and employer-sponsored health and welfare plans.

    Objectives: Upon completion students will be able to:

    • Define and differentiate between the types of plans that can be developed
    • Analyze a client’s financial health and develop the most advantageous retirement and employee benefit options to meet the long-term needs expressed in the overall financial plan
    • Identify the needs and objectives of businesses to determine the best design for their employee retirement and benefit plans

     Estate Planning
    CPEs: 40.5              CEUs: 3.4
    This course will provide students with an understanding of the basic concepts and constraints of estate and gift tax planning as the primary method of orderly and intentional wealth transfer. They will learn the major strategies employed by practitioners when developing estate plans.

    Objectives: Upon completion students will be able to:

    • Demonstrate a working knowledge of wills, trusts, and estates 
    • Demonstrate a working knowledge of the concepts of risk management, insurance, portfolio management, retirement planning, and taxation and how they are synthesized in the estate and gift tax planning process
    • Analyze and evaluate a client’s financial and non-financial status and goals in order to develop, communicate, and implement the most advantageous estate and gift tax plan

     Case Studies in Financial Planning
    CPEs: 46.5              CEUs: 3.9
    This advanced course will provide students with the opportunity to apply the knowledge they have gained through the curriculum in a synthesized manner by analyzing various cases. Included in this course is a module on improving communications with clients. One class night will be devoted to a presentation on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and how understanding personality types can aid in improving communications with clients. 

    Objectives: Upon completion students will be able to:

    • Identify and resolve financial planning issues of hypothetical clients during the various stages of the life cycle  
    • Apply financial planning concepts and techniques to specific client situations within the framework of case studies
    • Learn to prioritize, organize, and analyze financial information obtained during the data gathering process
    • Address qualitative as well as quantitative aspects of the financial planning decision-making process
    • Recognize and work through ethical dilemmas

    Below are links to articles that address the usefulness of understanding personality types when communicating with clients and helping them make financial decisions. 

    http://www.mbtitoday.org/articles/article02.html 

    http://www.fpanet.org/journal/CurrentIssue/TableofContents/tailoringclientcommunications 

  • Attention CPAs:
    The Glasscock School of Continuing Studies is a Registered CPE Course Provider
    We have registered with the Texas State Board of Accountancy (Registration no. 600) to meet the requirements of the continuing professional education rules covering maintenance of attendance records, retention of program outlines, qualifications of instructors, program content, physical facilities and length of class hours. This registration agreement does not constitute an endorsement by the Board as to the quality of the program or its contribution to the professional competence of the licensee.

    Rice University is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be addressed to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website. www.learningmarket.org 

    See more information on CPE credits offered by the Glasscock School of Continuing Studies. 

    Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, Certified Financial Planner™ and federally registered CFP (with flame design) in the United States, which it awards to individuals who successfully complete initial and ongoing certification requirements.

    The Glasscock School of Continuing Studies at Rice University does not certify individuals to use the CFP®, Certified Financial Planner™ and federally registered CFP (with flame logo). 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.