Financial Planning students earn more than a degree

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A Certified Financial PlannerTM (CFP) is widely accepted as the highest standard in financial planning—affirming a professional has met strict requirements in the areas of Education, Exam, Experience, and Ethics.

Not only does UNT offer the only financial planning degree in the DFW metroplex, but the program is also CFP Board Registered – putting students on a unique and marketable career path.

“To be a registered program means our courses count for more than just a degree. They also give students the education requirement necessary to earn the CFP® marks,” explains Dr. Mark Evers, Financial Planning Program director and lecturer at the G. Brint Ryan College of Business. “Completing the educational requirements unlocks a potentially lucrative career at many financial planning, wealth management, and other financial services firms.”

UNT’s program fulfills the education component of becoming a CFP (which also enables students to sit for the exam), and it gives students a head start in completing apprenticeship experience hours through its internship program.

“Each year we certify our program and course offerings... Our courses are inspected and reviewed by the CFP® Board Education Department to ensure we are adequately addressing each of the 70 principal knowledge topics required,” said Evers.

Juniors and seniors in the program are already reaping the benefits with full time job offers in their back pockets, while some are even being paid by their employers to enroll in the program.

The advantages of the Financial Planning degree at UNT are many. And while one of the goals of the program is to help students pass the exam, any student can enroll and benefit from the financial literacy education it offers.

“Students go through courses like Personal Finance, Risk Management, Life and Health Insurance Planning, Federal Income Tax Accounting, Investments, Retirement Planning and Employment Benefits, and Estate Planning. Additionally, in the courses we explore topics, like money behaviors, financial psychology, and client decision making.” said Evers.

With plans to grow, the program anticipates offering students even more in the future, including a Personal Finance course that Evers is hoping to be approved as a core elective option. As a core elective, the course will open more doors across campus for students to become well-versed in financial literacy. Other courses, such as Client Communications and Behavioral Finance, and the Security Industry Exam (SIE) Prep course are also slated to join the curriculum.

Big name financial advisory institutions are seeing the value in UNT and assisting the program’s expansion. Fidelity will be sponsoring the SIE course, covering all materials and exam fees for students, while the Charles Schwab Foundation and Schwab Advisor Services are hosting a “Demystifying Financial Planning” event on October 19th.

“There are so many financial planning and financial services companies in the DFW metroplex that need students to work for them. The industry has a huge need for more talent, and we want to be the first university they turn to for their needs… my goal is to become the number one program in the country in quality and in number of graduates,” said Evers.