The program curriculum consists of six required courses and one Capstone review course
that delivers information about areas in financial planning for both beginning and
established practitioners. Required courses in Seton Hall's certificate program include:
FP100: General Principles
This course is designed to introduce students to the financial planning process. The
course focuses on the general principles required to become a successful financial
planner which include the ethics of the profession as well as the knowledge and skills
required to prepare a financial plan.
FP200: Insurance Planning
This course is designed to acquaint students with the principles of risk management
and various types of insurance including casualty, fire, health, life, auto, home,
disability. The principles taught prepare students to identify a client's risk exposure
and select appropriate risk management techniques.
FP300: Investment Planning
This course introduces the wide variety of investment vehicles that may be included
in a client's portfolio. Topics include client assessment, tax considerations, economic
factors, valuation methods, asset allocation techniques, portfolio performance evaluation,
and more.
FP400: Income Tax
This course emphasizes the fundamentals of individual income taxation, the tax implications
of various types of businesses, tax-advantaged investments, employee compensation
issues and planning, alternative minimum tax, tax traps, and more.
FP500: Retirement Planning
This course provides a complete overview of retirement planning including retirement
savings need analysis, qualified retirement plan design, Social Security, Medicare,
and more. In addition, group life, health, and disability insurance; non-qualified
deferred compensation; and other commonly provided employee benefits are examined.
FP600: Estate Planning
This course covers planning and managing federal estate and gift tax planning and
opportunities. The perspectives of a variety of parties are considered including heirs,
fiduciaries, estates, trusts, beneficiaries, donors, and donees. Topics include asset
valuation, estate tax deductions, exemptions and credits. Significant time is given
to the transfer of amount at death and the dispositive tools available to clients.
FP700: CFP Case Study/Capstone
This course builds upon the material in the above courses. Emphasis is on the applications
of financial planning concepts in an integrated planning environment. This "capstone-like"
course utilizes case studies and mini-cases to tie together the various discipline
studied in the individual prior courses into a comprehensive financial planning process.
