About Us

Founded in 1835, Oglethorpe emphasizes the preparation of the humane generalist needed by a complex and changing society. Its purpose is to produce graduates who are broadly educated in the fundamental fields of knowledge and the basic concepts and principles of their disciplines. The academic nature of a liberal arts college fosters the intellectual agility that enables students to deal with change and to be prepared to exercise responsible leadership in public and private life. This mission leads students to learn how to, in the words of former president Philip Weltner, "make a life and make a living."

The Financial Planner Program at Oglethorpe
The Oglethorpe University Certificate in Financial Planning is a registered program with the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc and is based on their set guidelines. This is an educational program, taught by dedicated, qualified instructors who are active members of Atlanta's financial service community. Successful completion of the six core courses provides a student with a Certificate of Completion and a Completion Letter from Oglethorpe University. The Letter is required for individuals to apply to take the CFP Board of Standards, Inc. CFP® Certification Examination. The Exam is offered each year in March, July and November. (Certain individuals may meet criteria to "challenge" the exam – see the education requirements for details).

What Makes the Financial Planner Program at Oglethorpe Right For You?
Our Certificate Program in Financial Planning provides you with the knowledge you need to meet the educational requirements of Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. (CFP Board) and provides existing and future financial professionals with the skills and knowledge necessary to demonstrate competent, ethical and comprehensive personal financial planning services. Students include existing financial service professionals, CPAs, Attorneys and others who wish to supplement or broaden their existing knowledge and skills as well as individuals who are interested in acquiring the knowledge provided in the courses for personal wealth management purposes, or getting a head start on a career change. All students must fully recognize that the courses are rigorous and fast paced. Students without financial experience and/or education should enter the program only after careful consideration. The Professional Financial Planner Program does offer assistance for students in the program who are career changers. Through established connections, we can help students fulfill their career goals in the financial industry.

Regarding the CFP Certification
Oglethorpe University does not certify individuals to use the CFP^®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^tm, and CFP (with flame logo) certification marks. CFP certification is granted only by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. to those persons who, in addition to completing an educational requirement such as this CFP Board-Registered Program, have met its ethics, experience, and examination requirements.

Curriculum
The curriculum of the Financial Planner Program contains 6 core courses outlined below plus a 4-session “Capstone” course. The six core courses are 9 to 12 weeks in length with classes held once per week. (See Course Schedules). Students typically complete the Program in about 20 months. Some students choose to accelerate their pace and finish sooner, while others take up to 36 months to complete the curriculum. We have designed the curriculum and course schedules for maximum flexibility.

All courses are based on the “Topic List for CFP® Certification Examination” published by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, although our courses do not specifically “teach to the test.” Our instructors all have financial planning practice experience and make sure that all Board Topics are covered for understanding and applicability to real financial planning requirements.

CORE COURSES

Fundamentals of Financial Planning
Covers the financial planning process, ethics, financial planning practice standards & regulations, personal financial statements, cash flow management, financing strategies, financial institutions, education planning, special financial needs, economic concepts, time value of money concepts & calculations, and business & consumer protection law.

Insurance Planning and Risk Management
Covers principles of risk and insurance, response options to risk, analysis and evaluation of risk exposures, property, casualty & liability insurance, health insurance & health care cost management, disability income, long-term care, & life insurance, taxation of life insurance, business uses of life insurance, insurance needs analysis, insurance policy & company selection and annuities.

Income Tax Planning
Includes income tax fundamentals, tax compliance, fundamentals & calculations, tax accounting, characteristics & income taxation of business entities, taxation of estates & trusts, tax basis concepts, depreciation-recovery concepts, like-kind exchanges, tax consequences of property disposition, alternative minimum tax, tax reduction/minimization techniques, passive activity & at-risk rules, tax implications of special circumstances, and charitable contributions & deductions.

Investment Planning
Includes characteristics, uses & taxation of investment vehicles, types of investment risks, quantitative investment concepts, measurement of investment returns, stock & bond valuation concepts, investment theory, portfolio development & analysis, investment strategies, asset allocation & portfolio diversification, and asset pricing models.

Employee Benefit & Retirement Planning
Covers group life, disability & medical insurance, other employee benefits, employee stock options, stock plans and non-qualified deferred compensation. Also includes retirement needs analysis, Social Security benefits, types of retirement plans, qualified plan rules & options, other non-qualified deferred comp options, regulatory considerations, factors affecting plan selection for businesses, investment considerations for retirement plans, and distribution rules, alternatives & taxation.

Estate Planning
Includes characteristics & consequences of property titling, methods of property transfer at death, estate planning documents, gifting strategies, gift tax compliance & tax calculation, incapacity planning, estate tax compliance & tax calculation, sources of estate liquidity, estate planning use of trusts, qualified interest trusts, charitable transfers, use of life insurance in estate planning, valuation of estate assets, marital deduction, deferral & minimization of estate taxes, intra-family & other business transfer techniques, fiduciaries, postmortem estate planning techniques and estate planning for non-traditional relationships.

Capstone
Our Capstone course is a review of three substantial Case Studies that incorporate the topics covered in the six core courses.

^{CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, and CFP (with flame logo) marks are certification marks owned by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. These marks are awarded to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements. Oglethorpe University does not certify individuals to use the CFP® , CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and CFP (with flame logo) certification marks. CFP certification is granted only by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards.}