This course introduces the principles of financial planning from a professional perspective; applying basic financial, economic, and institutional concepts to advise individuals, families, and small businesses in achieving their financial goals. Tools and topics include financial analysis, budgeting, credit management, time value of money, investment strategies, income taxes, risk management, and retirement and estate planning. This class does not count as an accounting elective for the accounting major.

The course covers estate planning and taxation for the Personal Financial Planning professional. This course is targeted for Finance or Accounting majors as well as current CPAs interested in pursuing financial planning as a career but is open to anyone with an interest in a career in personal financial planning. This course is part of the sequence for the certificate in Personal Financial Planning.

The course discusses key topics in risk management and insurance, selecting the right retirement plan for the business and on individual retirement planning.

The course covers tax planning for the Personal Financial Planner. This course is targeted for Finance or Accounting majors as well as current CPAs interested in pursuing financial planning as a career but is open to anyone with an interest in a career in personal financial planning. This course is a starting point for understanding the tax issues facing a professional tax planner. This course cannot be counted as an accounting elective for an accounting degree. This course cannot be taken if the student has already taken ACC 407. ACC 407 will count towards the certificate in lieu of ACC 357.

This course covers various aspects of the principles of investments, securities markets, and their application to financial planning. It also prepares students to apply the concepts and principles through a financial calculator and Microsoft Excel.

This capstone course offers a comprehensive overview of the financial planning process, and an opportunity for the students to demonstrate the ability to integrate and apply his or her knowledge of financial planning topics through case analysis, understanding of ethics and professional conduct, and usage of a financial calculator, Microsoft Excel and/or other software.