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With an increasing number of Americans approaching retirement age and given that over half of older workers in the US do not have any retirement savings, the need for financial planning skills and  expertise is ever increasing and will continue to increase in the future. The financial planning profession offers students the potential for a high income career that also provides the satisfaction of helping people plan effectively for their futures and achieves their financial goals. To that end, the financial planning certificate is designed to help students meet the increasing demand for this expertise while unlocking the power of informational platforms such as Bloomberg, as well as provide a foundation upon which for them to build a fulfilling career in a growing and respected profession.

Any student seeking a business degree is eligible for a Transcripted Financial Planning Certificate. This represents a multidisciplinary approach to demonstrate their focused study in this specific area of expertise and to increase employment opportunities. The following courses (and any applicable prerequisites) are required to obtain the transcripted certificate:

Required courses:

ACCT 3308 Income Tax:Analysis of Federal income tax laws, emphasis being placed on the determination of net taxable income and preparation of income tax returns for individuals. Prerequisite: ACCT 2302

FINC 3310 Personal Financial Planning: Applying financial principles to household decision making, stressing integration between areas. Income tax and estate planning, retirement, investments, portfolio management and risk management.

FINC 4331 Investments: Principles governing the proper investment of personal and institutional funds; the characteristics of a sound investment and the analysis of different securities offered to investors. Topics include valuation of stocks and bonds, portfolio valuation, and mutual funds. Simulations allow the student to create and manage a portfolio of securities. Prerequisite: FINC 3321

FINC 4332 Portfolio Management:Analysis and evaluation of the decision-making process in investments. Asset valuation, portfolio management, and performance evaluation. Theoretical and analytical developments in security selection and portfolio management. Risk measurement and risk reduction through portfolio construction. Analysis of derivative securities, including options and future contracts. Student-directed simulated portfolio management. Prerequisite: FINC 4331