Become a Financial Planner with an Online College Degree or Certificate
Take advantage of our friendly, interactive website and begin the process of becoming a certified financial planner. Financial planners work with everyone from young working families to senior citizens. Career centers have predicted that as baby boomers age, and the current middle class members see the elimination of once dependable retirement programs, the need for financial planners will only increase. read more »
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| The College for Financial Planning is one of the nation's education leaders in the financial services field. The College provides professional designations in financial planning, asset management and retirement planning. In addtion they offer three graduate degree programs and numerous continuing education products. |
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Jones International University |
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| View additional schools that offer Financial courses » |
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| Kaplan University offers a certificate
program in Financial Planning. In this program, students learn
how to analyze all aspects of one's finances, including assets,
income, and tax management. Coursework includes Investment Planning,
Estate Planning, Financial Planning, Fundamentals of Personal Financial
Planning, Income and Tax Planning, Insurance and Employee Benefits,
and more. |
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Financial planning involves an understanding of accounting, statistics, the economy, along with savings and investments. In addition, a CFP needs to be personable as the people who need the most help in managing their finances are often the ones who have difficulty trusting someone else to make those decisions for them.
Becoming a financial planner does not require a four year college degree as certificate programs—both pre and post graduate are available. However, you will find that having a college education behind your CFP certificate will inspire more trust from your potential clients. More and more people today want one person who can advise them regarding their financial needs—from purchasing the right kind of insurance policies to managing retirement estates and financial assets, and helping them design wills that both protect them while living and distribute their assets in the manner they desire.
As a financial planner, you could be working as an advisor in a bank or in a Department for Health and Human Services. You could find yourself in a brokerage where you could do more than merely “sell insurance,” or you could be in a firm of retirement attorneys. One of the biggest attractions for financial planning as a career is that it is very possible to work from home under your own “shingle.” In fact, the US Dept of Labor Statistics reports that 4 out of 10 financial advisors are self employed.
How much money does a CFP make? Since the career has a great deal of possible applications and choices, it’s difficult to predict your salary. However, in 2004, the median career group enjoyed an average salary of $64,000 while the upper income bracket averaged $110,000. That’s a pretty rewarding income for a career that gives you a genuine opportunity to help people by earning their trust and protecting their interests. Your starting salary will probably be smaller—more in the $30,000 bracket, but you can expect that to go up once your name becomes known and people begin referring their family members and friends to you.
Begin your online preparation certificate by applying to one of the many fine schools that offer degrees in business and financial planning. You will have the advantage of sitting in “classes” from the comfort of your own home and on your own computer. You will also have flexibility of scheduling in that you can study at your own pace and gradually develop your expertise while holding another job.
