Prepare to Become a CFP® Professional with an online Financial Planning Degree
The world of personal finance is changing rapidly. Driving the change are baby boomers, who are not only retiring in record numbers but also living longer and shifting from pensions to personal investments. Couple that with rising retirement in the finance industry and the result is unprecedented demand for a new breed of financial planners.
UMS's CFP Board-registered online Bachelor of Science in Finance with a concentration in Financial Planning prepares students for a rewarding career, guiding people toward the achievement of their personal financial goals. Graduates will receive required foundational knowledge in the main areas of financial planning including investments, retirement and estate planning, risk management and taxes. Earn a degree from an online program that:
- Meets educational requirements to sit for the CFP® exam
- Provides real-world learning through industry-leading trading simulation software
- Examines financial markets, wealth management, and financial regulation and ethics.
- Incorporates the leading industry standards to help you gain the expertise you need to guide clients through key investment and financial decisions
Earn a degree that will prepare you to enter a valuable, growing industry.
See Yourself Succeed in Financial Planning
UMS's financial planning program is ideal for individuals with a solid mix of interpersonal and analytical skills, who are strong communicators and have the desire to help clients make thoughtful choices and navigate life's most important financial decisions.
You'll use industry-leading trading simulation software (TD Ameritrade U) to develop those skills and advise clients on their financial goals, applying your knowledge of tax and investment strategies, securities, insurance, pension plans and real estate.
As a private, nonprofit university, UMS has one mission - to help you see yourself succeed. The benefits of earning your finance degree at UMS include:
- Affordability. Take advantage of some of the most affordable tuition rates in the nation
- Convenience. Attend class when it's convenient for you - online education means 24/7 access
- Efficiency and flexibility. Complete your undergraduate degree at your own pace, over six 8-week terms per year
- Expert instruction. Learn from instructors with relevant, real-world experience
- Networking. Tap into our nationwide network of alumni for internship and career opportunities
- Simple application process. Just fill out an online undergraduate application, and we'll retrieve U.S. transcripts from your previous institutions and automatically complete an official credit evaluation. Plus, there's no application fee
- Student support. Count on the ongoing support of dedicated academic and career advisors specialized in your area of study
- Transfer-friendly enrollment. Transfer up to 90 credits toward an undergraduate degree
Career Outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of personal financial advisors is projected to grow 14% through 2026, putting job demand ahead of the national average.* Whether you're looking to enter the field or change careers, UMS's online financial planning degree can prepare you to pursue a wide range of jobs in finance, insurance, business and banking.
Potential job titles include:
- Financial planner
- CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™
- Personal financial advisor
- Financial analyst
- Financial manager
- Budget analysts
- Securities, commodities and financial services agent
Curriculum
Courses To Prepare You For Your Career
UMS's bachelor's in financial planning program includes:
- General education
- Business core
- Degree-specific courses
General Education Program
Our programs are designed to equip you with the skills and insights you need to move forward. In recent years, employers have stressed the need for graduates with higher order skills - the skills that go beyond technical knowledge - such as:
- Writing
- Communication
- Analysis
- Problem solving
All undergraduate students are required to take general education classes. Through foundation, exploration and integration courses, students learn to think critically, creatively and collaboratively, giving you the edge employers are looking for.
Business Core Program
Programs in the School of Business require learners to complete the business core program, which includes a variety of business-specific courses. This program focuses on 10 core competencies to prepare you for success wherever you go.
Courses May Include
Program Outcomes
- Apply personal financial planning knowledge to identify immediate and long-range measures to increase income, reduce expenditures, and achieve financial stability
- Develop financial plans that utilize appropriate investment for counseling clients in making appropriate investment recommendations
- Assess domestic and global economic environments and market conditions for supporting strategic goals and effective financial planning within organizations
- Analyze organizational financial statements for forecasting and meeting organizational goals and objectives
- Apply quantitative and qualitative methods of analysis for supporting sound financial decisions
- Apply ethical and legal practices that comply with internal policies and external regulations to guide conduct and decision-making in the field of finance
