Overview

Prepare for the CFP® exam by completing the Certificate in Financial Planning—100% online.

Learn and practice alongside expert faculty, students, and working professionals. Seven courses have been developed in collaboration with other colleges to provide a strong foundation in financial literacy, planning, security, and management. The courses are registered under the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) Board of Standards and offered in a convenient online format. 

Career Advantage

Careers in Financial Planning are expected to grow 15% over the next 10 years. That's "much faster than average," according to the Department of Labor Statistics, with the median annual salary over $90k.1 Take your career to the next level by preparing yourself to become a Certified Financial Planner® or amplify your existing career through a greater understanding of tax policy, investment strategy, and estate planning.

Certificate in Financial Planning includes 7 courses:

  • General Principles of Financial Planning 
  • Risk Management and Insurance Planning 
  • Investment Planning
  • Tax Planning 
  • Retirement Savings and Income Planning 
  • Estate Planning 
  • Capstone Course in Financial Planning 

Courses run in 8-week sessions and are 100% online.

Curriculum

Are you ready to prepare for the Certified Financial Planner® Exam? Lasell's Certificate in Financial Planning courses will provide you with the subject matter and practice necessary to sit for the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) Exam. Classes are offered 100% online and run in 8-week sessions. An instructor facilitates each online course to ensure a dynamic classroom environment and ensure your questions are answered.

The CFP® Certificate is competitively priced at $700 per course. Undergraduate students have the option of earning 3 credits per course. It takes just a few minutes to register online. Admission documents are not required. 

Who Should Earn a Financial Planning Certificate? 

The course is designed for students interested in pursuing careers in the financial
planning and asset management profession. The courses and curriculum are approved
by the CFP® Board of Standards and meet the requirements for becoming a Certified Financial Planner. 

Next Courses offered

All classes can be taken by students in the certificate program who have already completed a baccalaureate degree program in 311-317 or a baccalaureate degree program in 301-307. 

CFP311 - Principles of Financial Planning

Dates offered: 
January 13, 2025
March 10, 2025

This course comprehensively examines the general principles of financial planning, professional conduct and regulation, and education planning. These topics constitute thirty percent of the principle knowledge topics tested on the CFP Certification Examination. The course introduces students to the financial planning process and working with clients to set goals and assess risk tolerance. In addition, students will learn to process and analyze information, construct personal financial statements, develop debt management plans, recommend financing strategies, and understand the essential components of a written comprehensive financial plan. The course also covers the regulatory environment, the time value of money, and economic concepts.

CFP312 - Risk Management & Insurance Planning

Dates offered:
January 13, 2025

This course comprehensively examines the general principles of risk management and insurance planning for individual and family clients. The course first introduces students to the risk management and insurance planning process and working with clients to analyze and
evaluate risk exposures. Second, the core insurance lines of coverage are explored in detail, including health, disability, long-term care, life, and personal property and casualty (homeowners’, personal auto policy, etc.). In addition, the student will learn to analyze an individual and family’s insurance needs, select the most appropriate insurance policy and company, and to understand a business owner's use of insurance to protect the business’ assets and future income.

CFP313 - Investment Planning

Dates offered:
January 13, 2025

This course explores the securities market, sources of information, risk/return, stocks, bonds, options, futures, and security analysis, and culminates in portfolio construction and analysis. You will learn how to evaluate different asset classes for different investment objectives and determine their suitability for investors considering investment goals, time horizons, risk tolerance, and tax situations.

CFP314 - Tax Planning

Dates offered: TBA

This course covers taxation for individuals, sole proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations and the tax aspects of investments, insurance, annuities, and retirement planning. Students will be able to identify the likely tax consequences of personal and business financial activities and select appropriate and lawful tax-minimizing tactics and strategies.

CFP316x - Estate Planning

Date offered: TBA

This course introduces federal gift, estate, and generation-skipping transfer taxes and the many planning techniques used to minimize the impact of these taxes on wealth transfers. It also explores the income-tax effects of gifts and bequests, with particular attention to the limitations on income-shifting to family members. The nontax aspects of estate planning, including the estate planning process, property ownership, planning for incapacity, and planning for business owners are examined as are the need for estate planning documents for individuals, spouses, and unmarried couples. The course stresses balancing tax and non-tax considerations in creating successful estate plans.

CFP317 - Capstone in Financial Planning

Dates offered: TBA

This course allows students to demonstrate the knowledge learned through the prerequisite six-course CFP® curriculum. Students will participate in developing a complete financial plan through the use of case studies and interviewing mock clients. Presentations of a formal financial plan, demonstrating the ability to set client expectations and communicate with clients by answering questions and concerns, are also required.

How to Register

What is the Cost

The CFP® Certificate is competitively priced at $700 per course. Undergraduate students have the option of earning 3 credits per course. It takes just a few minutes to register below. Admission documents are not required. 

Are you ready to get started?

Registering for classes is easy and will only take a few minutes.  Press the plus sign next to the courses you want to take and click "checkout."  Add your payment information and click on "submit."   You will be all set to get started taking classes.  Once you sign up, further instructions will be sent to you on accessing the courses. 

 

International Applicants:

This program is not F-1 eligible, international applicants can only be considered for the online curriculum option.

All International applicants need to submit English equivalency from one of the following: TOEFL scores: minimum required score is 80 (iBT) or IELTS, minimum required score is 6.0; or Pearson PTE Academic minimum score is 53; or Duolingo minimum required score is 105. The English equivalency scores may be waived for international applicants who have earned a bachelor's degree at an accredited college/university in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, or Canada.

For additional requirements, please visit our International Admission Requirement page.

Materials should be submitted through MyPortal or emailed to gradinfo@lasell.edu:
The Office of Graduate Enrollment
Lasell University
1844 Commonwealth Ave.
Newton, MA 02466

Questions about your application? Call/text us today at 617-243-2400!