Courses - Financial Planning Program (2024)

We offer two enrollment options: 1) Academic Credit and 2) Extended Learning Credit. Courses in both enrollment options are taught 100% online. A select few are available through traditional classroom delivery for students currently enrolled at Texas A&M University in a degree-seeking program.

Both enrollment options are registered with the CFP Board of Standards.Students who wish to qualify for the CFP® Exam will need to complete all six courses and earn a ‘C’ or better in each course. Texas A&M University does not award the CFP® marks.

To learn more about the courses and what topics are covered, please visit the Learn more about the courses section.

Academic Credit & Minor Coursework

Starting Fall 2021, the prefix for all of our undergraduate courses changed to AGLS. If you do not see courses listed in Howdy, please double check that you are searching under the AGLS prefix.

Spring 2022Summer 2022Fall 2022Spring 2023
AGLS 435 Financial Planning for ProfessionalsCourses - Financial Planning Program (1)Courses - Financial Planning Program (2)Courses - Financial Planning Program (3)Courses - Financial Planning Program (4)
AGLS 436 Insurance & Estate PlanningCourses - Financial Planning Program (5)Courses - Financial Planning Program (6)Courses - Financial Planning Program (7)
AGLS 437 Tax PlanningCourses - Financial Planning Program (8)Courses - Financial Planning Program (9)
AGLS 438 Investment PlanningCourses - Financial Planning Program (10)Courses - Financial Planning Program (11)
AGLS 439 Retirement PlanningCourses - Financial Planning Program (12)Courses - Financial Planning Program (13)Courses - Financial Planning Program (14)
AGLS 441 Financial Planning CapstoneCourses - Financial Planning Program (15)Courses - Financial Planning Program (16)Courses - Financial Planning Program (17)Courses - Financial Planning Program (18)

Academic credit is limited to students who have applied to Texas A&M University through Apply Texas and were admitted into a degree program at the university. Our Academic Credit program consists of six courses with a total of 18 credit hours.

Extended Learning Certificate Coursework

Starting Spring 2022, the prefix for all of our certificate courses is changing to FPCC. Course names, numbers, and content remain the same.

Spring 2022Summer 2022Fall 2022Spring 2023
FPCC 435 Financial Planning for ProfessionalsCourses - Financial Planning Program (19)Courses - Financial Planning Program (20)Courses - Financial Planning Program (21)Courses - Financial Planning Program (22)
FPCC 436 Insurance & Estate PlanningCourses - Financial Planning Program (23)Courses - Financial Planning Program (24)Courses - Financial Planning Program (25)
FPCC 437 Tax PlanningCourses - Financial Planning Program (26)Courses - Financial Planning Program (27)
FPCC 438 Investment PlanningCourses - Financial Planning Program (28)
FPCC 439 Retirement PlanningCourses - Financial Planning Program (29)Courses - Financial Planning Program (30)Courses - Financial Planning Program (31)
FPCC 441 Financial Planning CapstoneCourses - Financial Planning Program (32)Courses - Financial Planning Program (33)Courses - Financial Planning Program (34)Courses - Financial Planning Program (35)

Extended Learning Certificate Credit is available to students who do not wish to enroll in a degree seeking program. Courses taken for extended learning credit do not count towards a degree at Texas A&M and are not transferrable to an academic program.

Learn more about the courses:

435 Financial Planning for Professionals +

This course provides a comprehensive overview of financial planning from a professional perspective. Students will learn how to apply basic financial, economic, and institutional concepts to advise individuals, families, and small businesses in achieving their financial goals. Topics covered in this course include the financial planning process, financial analysis, cash flow management, credit and debt management, time value of money, investment strategies and education planning. We will also cover a broad overview of income tax planning, risk management, and retirement and estate planning.

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436 Insurance and Estate Planning +

This course covers the core Risk Management and Insurance Planning topics outlined by the CFP Board as well as a portion of the Estate Planning topics. The main focus is on insurance and estate planning for individuals, families, and small businesses. Students will learn how to apply risk management principles to evaluate various insurance products, including life, disability, long term care, health, homeowners, auto, and liability. The estate planning process, as well as tools and considerations, are also covered in this course.

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437 Tax Planning +

This course walks students through how to apply the principles of income tax planning to enhance household income after taxes. Emphasis is placed on understanding tax laws, concepts, and rules, as well as opportunities for planning. Students will learn how to identify and implement useful tax planning strategies while focusing on practical application for tax professionals and financial planners. The remaining Estate Planning topics are covered in this course.

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438 Investment Planning +

This course teaches students how to apply investment principles while considering families’ goals, time horizons, risk tolerance, and tax implications to build investment portfolios. Other topics covered in this course include attributes of various asset classes; asset allocation, selecting securities, and portfolio management; developing successful investment programs for personal investors and financial planners. This course covers the Investment Planning topics outlined by the CFP Board of Standards.

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439 Retirement Planning +

This course provides students with an overview of retirement planning basics. Topics covered include: retirement plans (both qualified and nonqualified), Social Security provisions, and government healthcare plans along with the basics of employee benefits. We focus on both quantitative (i.e. calculating retirement needs and plan limits) and qualitative (i.e. retirement age decisions, retirement income management) aspects of retirement. This course covers the Retirement Savings and Income Planning topics outlined by the CFP Board of Standards.

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441 Financial Planning Capstone +

This course pulls together all of the concepts from the previous coursework and walks students through the creation of a comprehensive financial plan for a real client. Students need to have a firm grasp of education planning, tax planning, retirement planning, investment planning, risk management, and estate planning before enrolling into this course. Core areas we focus on in this course include all areas in the financial planning process, data gathering, approaches to financial planning, analysis of financial statements, and client presentation. We also incorporate case analysis, ethics and professional conduct, use of financial planning software, advanced financial calculator usage, and usage of Microsoft Excel. This class is required for anyone who wishes to qualify for the CFP® Exam.

Courses - Financial Planning Program (2024)

FAQs

Is CFP difficult to pass? ›

It's easy to get discouraged when looking at the CFP® exam pass rates, which typically hover around the 60%-65% percentile for first-time takers.

How many people pass CFP first time? ›

The CFP Board stats show that the 67% pass rate was the highest since July 2015 (70%), although the exam blueprint has been updated twice since, in March 2016 and March 2022.

What score is needed to pass CFP? ›

However, historically, the passing rate for the CFP exam has been around 62-67%, which means that the average score for those who pass the exam is likely to be in the range of 65-70%. It's worth noting that the CFP exam is known for being challenging, so achieving a passing score is a significant accomplishment.

How long does it take to complete the CFP coursework? ›

Quick Facts. Average time to complete the coursework requirement: 12-18 months.

Is 3 months enough time to study for CFP? ›

That means you'll need to study for about 2.5 – 3 months (100hrs/10hrs per week) before attending the review class. So, the best rule of thumb is to determine how many hours you can study each week and how many hours it takes to complete the pre-study materials.

How much math is on the CFP exam? ›

The CFP Board exam (the exam) consists of 170 questions. Anecdotally, the average exam has from 8 to 12 calculation questions which rank from moderately difficult to highly difficult. It's been said (but not by us!) that studying calculations should not be a high priority.

Which is harder CPA or CFP? ›

The pass rate for the CPA Exam was 54% overall. Comparatively, CFP is easier than CPA. The historical pass rate has been above 60%, which indicates that the tests are of a difficulty level that is considered to be moderate.

How many times can you fail CFP? ›

What is CFP Board's policy for retaking the CFP® exam? You may attempt the CFP® exam a lifetime maximum of 5 times.

What is the hardest part of the CFP exam? ›

Most examinees that have taken the certified financial planner (CFP) board exam agree that the case studies are the most difficult and important portion of the test.

How much does the CFP exam cost? ›

CFP Exam Registration

If you register within the first six weeks of the registration window, the fee is $825. If you register between two and seven weeks before the registration window closes, the fee will be $925. If you register in the last two weeks of the window, the fee is $1,025.

How many questions can you miss on CFP? ›

New Format

With the new six hour, 170 question format, candidates may only be able to miss about 54 questions.

Do you need to be good at math to be a CFP? ›

Like other finance specialists, financial planners need sharp analytical and mathematical abilities, but this client-facing role also demands a robust interpersonal skill set. If you're an outgoing, detail-oriented person with a flair for numbers, financial planning might be a good fit for you.

Can I self study CFP? ›

There are numerous formats for taking an exam review course, including classroom, online or self-study. If you are looking for an exam review course, consider available providers and their offerings, qualifications and ability to meet your requirements.

How many hours should I study for CFP? ›

CFP Board recommends you spend at least 250 hours studying for the exam. While that sounds overwhelming, the time goes pretty quickly between pre-study, the Candidate Handbook, required education courses, question bank time, review, practice exams, and your own preparations.

Is CFP exam multiple choice? ›

The CFP® exam is a computer-based exam consisting of 170 multiple-choice questions over the course of two 3-hour sessions.

Is CFP more difficult than CPA? ›

The pass rate for the CPA Exam was 54% overall. Comparatively, CFP is easier than CPA. The historical pass rate has been above 60%, which indicates that the tests are of a difficulty level that is considered to be moderate.

What is the hardest part of the CFP? ›

Certified financial planner (CFP) is a certification granted to professionals who have met specific requirements, such as passing the CFP exam. Most examinees that have taken the certified financial planner (CFP) board exam agree that the case studies are the most difficult and important portion of the test.

Is CFP more difficult than CFA? ›

While both the CFA and CFP exams are quite difficult, the CFA exam is known to be one of the most, if not the most, challenging certification exams in the financial industry. It consists of three 6-hour exams that must be completed and passed in sequential order.

How many times can you fail the CFP? ›

What is CFP Board's policy for retaking the CFP® exam? You may attempt the CFP® exam a lifetime maximum of 5 times.

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