Online Financial Planning Degree Programs & Certificates

Online financial planning degree programs and financial planning certificate programs allow you to gain the knowledge and skills that will enable you to offer sound financial advice and quality client service.

What is Financial Planning?

Financial planning is a branch of the financial advising field that caters to individual clients rather than organizations. A financial planner looks at where money is going and why. He or she works with clients on strategies to protect and improve their financial future. Financial planners need good interpersonal skills and an ability to work with numbers.

While most financial planners offer services in many areas, some specialize in one area, such as investments, taxes, estate planning, or debt reduction.

Financial Planning Degree and Certificate Programs

Courses cover topics such as personal financial planning, retirement planning, estate planning, insurance, tax planning, accounting, risk assessment, statistics, and investments. Most financial planning certificate programs are designed for working professionals with previous business education and financial experience who want to improve their skills without losing work time. You will receive training in comprehensive financial planning which makes you eligible to sit for the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) exam.

Online Colleges that offer Certificate or Degree in Financial Planning

Kaplan University offers the following online certificates in financial planning:

• Financial Planning Certificate
• Financial Planning - Accelerated Certificate

Colorado Technical University Online offers the following financial planning degree online program:

• Bachelor of Science in Financial Planning

University of Phoenix offers the following online financial planning degree program:

• Bachelor of Science in Business - Finance and Portfolio Management

Careers in Financial Planning

About 30 percent of financial planners are self-employed. Others work for credit unions, insurance companies, accounting firms, law firms, credit-counseling organizations, the government, banks, and brokerage companies. Financial planners may also teach financial planning or work in the employee benefits or pensions departments of large corporations.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of financial advisors is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations, making financial planning among the 10 fastest-growing occupations.

Despite strong job growth competition will be keen for entry-level jobs. Employers prefer at least a bachelor's degree, preferably in accounting, finance, economics, business, or mathematics. An MBA or professional certification improves opportunities for advancement.

The mean annual wage for personal financial advisors was $92,970 in May 2008, according to BLS figures. New York State has the highest concentration of financial planners and pays the highest annual mean wage, $134,390.

Return to the top of Online Financial Planning Degree Programs and Certificate Courses