FNAN 390: Introduction to Financial Planning and Wealth Management Master Syllabus - Online
Course Instructor:
Office Number:
Office Hours:
Email:
Course Meeting Times:
Course Materials:
- Required Text: MyLab Finance w/eText for Keown, Pearson Finance 8e $99.99
- Required Text: Financial Planning 3.0, by Richard B. Wagner, JD, CFP® $9.99 (Kindle)
- Suggested Text: 7 Stages of Money Maturity, by George Kinder, $8.99 (Kindle)
Course Website: Canvas
University Catalog Description
This course provides an introduction to the financial planning process for students interested in a career in financial planning and wealth management. Course topics include education, insurance, and retirement planning. The course also will cover professional responsibilities and regulations governing the financial services industry.
Course Learning Outcomes
After completing this course, you should be able to:
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Earn an internship and/or job in the Financial Planning/Wealth Management field
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Identify financial tools to support and create a personal financial plan
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Understand the history and evolution of the financial planning profession
Course Requirements, Structure, and Expectations
Expectations for performance in an online course are the same as those for a traditional course. In fact, online courses require a degree of self-motivation, self-discipline, and technology skills that can make these courses more demanding for some students. It is expected from you to use all available resources to ensure your success.
Structure
This course provides a hybrid learning experience and is scheduled to run for 15 weeks. Students should review the asynchronous (online) materials in advance of class to enable informed and active participation. Class time will be devoted to reviewing content, assignments and answering questions.
Student Expectations
Students are expected to:
- Ask questions to clarify their understanding and learn new things
- Submit all assignments by the deadline (all deadlines based on Eastern Time)
- Review the syllabus and all relevant University policies
- Review and follow the course calendar
Policies for this Course
- Ask questions
- Late assignments/tests will lose one letter grade (for each week late)
- Cameras on preferred for class; required for tests
Sharing of Course Content
To supplement the classroom experience, lectures may be audio or video recorded and made available to students registered for this class. I may record classroom lectures or discussions for pedagogical use, future student reference, or to meet the accommodation needs of students with a documented disability. These recordings are limited to personal use and may not be distributed, sold, or posted on social media outlets without written permission of the instructor.
Unauthorized downloading, file sharing, or distribution of any part course materials, or using information for purposes other than student’s own learning, may be deemed a violation of American University’s Student Conduct Code and subject to disciplinary action (see Student Conduct Code VI. Prohibited Conduct).
Course Calendar (Sample)
| Week/Topic | Readings & Media | Activities & Assessments | Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01/28 |
Chapter 1 & 2
|
Post-class:
|
02-04 02-11 02-11 |
| 02/04 |
Chapter 3 & 4
|
Post-class:
|
02-11 02-11 02-11 |
| 02/11 |
TEST #1 Chapter 5
|
Post-class:
|
02-18 |
| 02/18 |
Chapter 6 & 7
|
Post-class:
|
02-25 |
| 02/25 |
Chapter 8 Guest Speaker
|
Post-class:
|
03-04 03-04 |
| 03/04 |
TEST #2 Chapter 9
|
Post-class:
|
03-11 03-11 |
| 03/11 |
Chapter 10
|
Post-class:
|
03-25 03-25 |
| 03/18 | SPRING BREAK - NO CLASSES | ||
| 03/25 |
TEST #3 Chapter 11
|
Post-class:
|
04-01 04-01 |
| 04/01 |
Chapter 12 & 13
Guest Speaker |
Post-class:
|
04-08 |
| 04/08 |
Chapter 14
|
Post-class:
|
04-15 04-15 |
| 04/15 |
TEST #4 Chapter 15
|
Post-class:
|
04-22 04-22 |
| 04/22 |
Ch. 16 & 17
Guest Speaker |
Post-class:
|
04-29 04-29 |
| 04/29 |
TEST #5 REVIEW |
Post-class:
|
|
| 05/06 | FINAL REVIEW |
Post-class:
|
Prep 4 FINAL |
| 05/13 | FINAL |
Post-class:
|
FINISHED |
Grading Components
- Personal Financial Journey: 10%
- Personal Financial Plan: 10%
- Homework Assignments: 20%
- Section Tests: 40%
- Final Exam: 20%
- eMoney (financial planning software) Certification (Extra Credit for Final Exam)
Methods of Student Evaluation
- Students will be evaluated based on quizzes, exams, assignments, and participation in class activities.
- Letter grades for the course are determined by numeric grades for the course and the ranges described in the following table:
Grading Scale
| Letter Grade | Percentage |
|---|---|
| A | 93–100 |
| A- | 90–92.9 |
| B+ | 87–89.9 |
| B | 83–86.9 |
| B- | 80–82.9 |
| C+ | 77–79.9 |
| C | 73–76.9 |
| C- | 70–72.9 |
| D | 60–69.9 |
| F | below 60 |
Numeric grades for the course are rounded up to the nearest tenth (1 decimal place) and final letter grades are based on the rounded figure. For example, 68.9001 would round up to 69.0, which would be a C, but 68.9000 would round up to 68.9, which would be a D. Grades for individual components are rounded up to the nearest whole number (0 decimal places). Appeal of Grading
Course Topics (Sample):
- eMoney (Financial Planning Software)
- Financial planning processes (CFP Board Topic A.3)
- Introduction to professional responsibilities (CFP Board Topic A.6-7)
- Financial services regulation (CFP Board Topic A.4)
- Planning for education (needs, financing, savings, vehicles) (CFP Board Topic C.17 – C.21)
- Career and Cash Management
- Life Cycle of the Career
- Debt Management
- Psychology of Money – behavioral finance
- Managing your clients emotions
- Insurance: (CFP Board Topic D.22 – D.25)
- Individual health insurance
- Individual health care cost management
- Individual disability insurance
- Retirement (CFP Board Topic G.52-57, G.60-61)
- Needs analysis
- Types of retirement plans
- Qualified plan rules and options
- Other tax-advantaged retirement plans
- Regulatory considerations
- Selecting retirement plans for business
- Investing for retirement plans
- Distributions: rules, alternatives, and taxation
Disclaimer
The instructor reserves the right to make modifications to this information throughout the semester.
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