North Carolina Central University

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CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™

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Program Overview

North Carolina Central University, in partnership with Zahn Associates, Inc., provides a focused Certified Financial Planning (CFP) Board-registered education program that allows you to sit for the CFP Board exam. This certificate program has been established to meet the need for professionals who are able to plan, assess, and evaluate a client's financial future through the development of a comprehensive financial plan. The program's courses are taught by CFP® professionals and will provide the latest information available in a variety of financial planning areas. 

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Job Outlook

The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook predicts 7 percent job growth in the financial advising field through 2028, significantly faster than the average 4 percent growth across all occupations (Source, CFP Board).

Frequently Asked Questions

A financial planner is a qualified financial advisor. Practicing in full service personal finance, they advise clients on investments, insurance, tax, retirement and estate planning.  A certified financial planner has achieved an additional professional certification mark for financial planners conferred by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards (CFP Board).

The NCCU Certified Financial Planner courses can be completed in ten months. Upon completion of the course, participants may take the CFP exam.

A certificate of completion will be awarded to participants who complete all seven classes in this program. Undergraduate students who complete the coursework will acquire the certificate upon graduation. A bachelor’s degree is required to earn the certificate.

The Certified Financial Planner Certification is registered through the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards.  Participants who earn the certificate have fulfilled the education component for obtaining certification and are eligible to take the CFP® Certification Examination. For more information and to create an account, visit https://www.cfp.net/become-a-cfp-professional.

The program consists of “live” virtual classes that meet via web conference on Friday evenings and Saturday.

Course Objectives

Prerequisites and Requirements

This course requires participants to have completed a bachelor's degree in any discipline from an accredited college or university.  The certification requires education, experience, and an exam.  Visit CFP Board’s website for more details:  https://www.cfp.net/become-a-cfp-professional/cfp-certification-requirements/experience-requirement.

Curriculum

Module 1: General Principles
This course is designed to introduce students to the financial planning process. The course focuses on the general principles required to become a successful financial planner, which include the ethics of the profession as well as the knowledge and skills required to prepare a financial plan.

Module 2: Insurance Planning
This course is designed to acquaint students with the principles of risk management and various types of insurance, including casualty, fire, health, life, auto, home, and disability. The principles taught prepare students to identify a client's risk exposure and select appropriate risk management techniques.

Module 3: Investment Planning
This course introduces the wide variety of investment vehicles that may be included in a client's portfolio. Topics include client assessment, tax considerations, economic factors, valuation methods, asset allocation techniques, portfolio performance evaluation, and more.

Module 4: Income Tax
This course emphasizes the fundamentals of individual income taxation, the tax implications of various types of businesses, tax-advantaged investments, employee compensation issues and planning, alternative minimum tax, tax traps, and more.

Module 5: Retirement Planning
This course provides a complete overview of retirement planning including retirement savings need analysis, qualified retirement plan design, Social Security, Medicare, and more. In addition, group life, health, and disability insurance; non-qualified deferred compensation; and other commonly provided employee benefits are examined.

Module 6: Estate Planning
This course covers planning and managing federal estate and gift tax planning and opportunities. The perspectives of a variety of parties are considered, including heirs, fiduciaries, estates, trusts, beneficiaries, donors, and donees. Topics include asset valuation, estate tax deductions, exemptions and credits. Significant time is given to the transfer of amount at death and the dispositive tools available to clients.

Capstone
This course builds upon the material in the above courses. Emphasis is on the applications of financial planning concepts in an integrated planning environment. This "capstone-like" course utilizes case studies and mini-cases to tie together the various discipline studied in the individual prior courses into a comprehensive financial planning process.

Instructors

Tim Hummel, CFP® 

A native of Central Florida, Tim obtained his BS in marketing from the University of Central Florida. He passed the CFP Board's National Comprehensive Exam in November of 2005 and currently holds his Series 7, 24, and 66 as well as his 2-15 insurance license for the State of Florida. Tim is also licensed for securities and insurance in various states across the country. 

Tim started his current firm, Strategic Planning Partners, in 2016. The practice focus remains on small business owners and their unique needs, ranging from group benefit packages, Buy Sell/keyman insurance, personal financial planning, and various other financial planning areas.

Tim currently teaches a comprehensive CFP live review course for Zahn Associates, Inc. around the country. He taught the CFP® educational courses at University of Central Florida from 2008 through 2016 and has taught at Tallahassee Community College since 2010.  In addition, he travels the country teaching continuing education courses and has presented to the following groups: Ameriprise Financial, Charles Schwab, and local Financial Planning Association chapters.

Tim is an adjunct faculty member at Tallahassee Community College and teaches Live Review classes around the US. Tim is a member of FPA of Central Florida. 

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