Program Overview

Program Overview

The Capstone course is designed to prepare students of financial planning to effectively and appropriately develop, communicate, and monitor financial plans. Students will recall, integrate, and apply knowledge and skills from the eight core domains of financial planning to create a financial plan appropriate for a specific client.

Course Objectives

During the course, students are expected to:

• Review the key points of financial planning
• Complete a series of case analysis and development activities to practice the integration and application of essentials of financial planning
• Write an original targeted financial plan
• Simulate presentation of a specific section of the plan to a client
• Evaluate and make changes to the plan as necessary

Prerequisites

In order to be eligible to take the Capstone course, students must meet the following criteria:

• Have successfully completed the six courses that satisfy the CFP® Board topic requirements
• Be exempt from completing the coursework
• Take the CFP® Board Examination under "challenge status"

Program Details

While there are no special degree requirements to participate in the FSU Certificate in Financial Planning program, the level of instruction is that of an upper-division college course. A bachelor's degree is a condition of CFP® certification, although not a requirement to be able to sit for the Certification Examination.

Technical Requirements

Basic computer literacy is required, including:

• The ability to connect to the Internet and navigate the web using search engines and links
• The ability to use online communication tools including email and discussion boards
• The ability to send and receive email attachments
• The ability to navigate software including saving and opening files to and from specific locations

Course Materials

• Cases in Financial Planning: Analysis and Presentation – 4th Edition by Michael A. Dalton, James F. Dalton, and Katheleen F. Oakley
• The Fundamentals of Writing a Financial Plan – 2nd Edition by John Grable, Michelle Kruger, and Megan Ford
• Financial Calculator: The following models are among those that comply with the CFP® Board calculator policy:
  • Hewlett Packard 12C
  • Hewlett Packard 17BII Plus
  • Hewlett Packard 10B II / Hewlett Packard 10B II PLUS

Instructor

Donna Jordan, AIF®, CLU®, RHU®, is a Financial Planner Practitioner and Investment Advisor with over 30 years of experience in a broad range of financial services. She holds a Master's degree and four professional designations and has instructed consumer education courses in financial planning at both Pensacola Junior College and Okaloosa-Walton Community College.