Master's Degree - Family Financial Planning
Fundamentals
This course focuses on issues and concepts related to the overall financial planning process and establishing client-planner relationships. Students explore services provided to families, documentation required, and client and Certified Financial Planner™ licensee responsibilities. Students develop competencies for gathering of client data, determining goals and expectations, and assessing the client's financial status by analyzing and evaluating data. Emerging issues and the role of ethics in financial planning are an integral part of the course.
Core Courses
This course is an in-depth study of risk management concepts, tools, and strategies for individuals and families. Students study life insurance, property and casualty insurance, liability insurance, accident insurance, disability insurance, health insurance, long-term care insurance, and government-subsidized programs. Students discuss current and emerging issues as well as ethical consideration in relation to risk management. Case studies provide experience in selecting insurance products suitable for individuals and families.
This course focuses on in-depth information of income tax practices and procedures including tax regulations, tax return preparation, the tax audit process, the appeals process, preparation for an administrative or judicial forum, and ethical considerations of taxation. Students learn new and emerging issues related to taxation. Family and individual case studies provide students practice in applying and analyzing tax information and recommending appropriate tax strategies.
This course is an in-depth study of investment options for families and includes a look at common stocks, fixed income securities, convertible securities, and related choices. Students study relationship between investment options and employee/employer benefit plan choices. Integral to the course is students examining current and emerging issues and ethics.
This course covers micro and macro considerations in retirement planning for individuals and families. Content includes a survey of various types of retirement plans, ethical consideration in providing retirement planning services, assessing and forecasting financial needs in retirement, integration of retirement plans with government benefits, and current research and theory in the field. Case studies provide students experience in retirement planning needs analysis.
This course focuses on fundamentals of the estate planning process, including estate settlement, estate and gift taxes, property ownership and transfer, and powers of appointment. Students explore tools and techniques used in implementing an effective estate plan, ethical considerations in providing estate planning services, and new and emerging issues in the field. Students use case studies to gain experience in developing estate plans suitable for varied family forms.
This course introduces students to the social science of family relationships as they relate to the processes of family finance and financial planning. The course covers theories of family functioning, microeconomic theory related to family resource allocation decisions, the family as an economic unit, and the influence of the economy on families.
This course is about theory and research regarding the interactive process between clients and practitioner, including communication techniques, motivation and esteem building, the counseling environment, ethics, and methods of data intake, verification and analysis. Other topics of the course are legal issues, compensation, uses of technology to identify resources, information management, and current or emerging issues.
Capstone
All other courses in the program must be completed as a prerequisite for enrolling in this course. Integrating both theoretical and applied concepts to a comprehensive personal financial plan and several smaller case studies, students illustrate their understanding of ethical considerations, regulation and certification requirements, written communication skills, presentation of technical issues, and professional responsibility.
Electives
This course features macroeconomic theory as it relates to family resource allocation decisions, theories of household behavior, the lifecycle hypothesis, behavioral economics, behavioral finance, theories of behavioral change, and psychological theories of family well-being. The course of study includes focus on empirical research investigating household financial decision-making.
This course offers an overview of topics relevant to the financial planning process and adapts the topics to unique needs, terminology, benefits, and resources that impact military service members and their families. The subject matter includes status of service members, financial readiness, financial management, recordkeeping, cash flow management, risk management, credit and debt management, savings, education planning, investment management, tax management, retirement management, estate management, and special topics.
An overview of the role of housing and real estate in the financial planning process from a theoretical perspective is the focus of this course. Students learn about taxation, legal aspects, mortgages, and financial calculations related to home ownership and real estate investments. Students examine new and emerging issues in the context of housing and real estate and the role of ethics in financial planning concerning housing and real estate.
Practicum is available through your home university. Consult with your academic advisor about course selection and scheduling. Practicum credits vary.
This course features challenges of managing financial planning practices including, but not limited to, business valuation, personnel, marketing, client services, ethics, and technological applications. Relying both on a theoretical as well as an applied approach, students analyze case studies that provide relevant, practical exposure to practice management issues with a strong emphasis on current research findings.
This course provides students with an introduction to the process of developing productive client-planner relationships. Topics will include communication strategies and techniques, client information gathering and management, various approaches for creating meaningful client deliverables, ethics, and legal issues.
Through a seminar platform comprised of readings, guest lecturers, collaborative case studies, peer interaction and practical application; students will explore the rapidly growing and changing opportunities of Sustainable, Responsible and Impact Investments (SRI), also known as Environment, Social and Governmental Investments (ESG), or simply Values and Impact Investments.
This course provides a foundational overview of the increasing popularity of digital investment assets, including cryptocurrencies, decentralized protocols and platforms like blockchain technology, and tokens. Students will explore the benefits and risks of investing in digital assets and how this emerging asset class fits within the context of Modern Portfolio Theory. Regulatory challenges and essential financial planning considerations like portfolio management, taxation and estate planning will be examined, in addition to best practices for client communication.
PREREQUISITE: Investing for the Family's Future course
This course is designed to equip the student with the knowledge and tools to better understand, engage, and serve a broad range of financial planning clients across all business models. This course focuses on areas from behavioral finance, communication and counseling, and elements of clinical and cognitive psychology to help better respond and serve a broad range of clients. Students will also gain a better understanding of their own biases and financial behaviors which can help them in better serving a broad range of clients.
This course provides students with an introduction to financial abuse across the lifespan. Theoretical approaches to understanding financial abuse, along with prevention and intervention strategies will be discussed.
Cross-Program Electives
The course covers physical, cognitive, social, and personal dimensions of adult development from a lifespan developmental perspective. This course takes an integrative perspective on aging that (a) considers the impact of prior development and socio-historical influences on late life development (b) emphasizes aging processes across diverse groups and contexts, and (c) identifies pathways to optimal functioning.
This course introduces foundational concepts to the interdisciplinary field of gerontology and aging studies, including: core theories of aging, how to be critical consumers of aging research, developing writing and other professional skills, and exploring career options in aging.
Program Summary
Cost per credit hour:
2023-2024: $600
2024-2025: $610
Learn more about Tuition and Cost
Average time to complete:
Master's degree: 25 months
Graduate certificates: 16 months
36 Hours
18 Hours
18 Hours
University Contact
These campus coordinators can help you navigate Great Plains IDEA. Click on the university name to learn more about how Great Plains IDEA works at that campus.
Iowa State OnlineM.J. Kabaci
Stacy Duffield
Rae Ann Montgomery
Sarah (Heewon) Kim
Lisa King
The Great Plains IDEA program has granted me opportunities through online learning that would never be possible in a traditional setting. As a military family, we are required to move frequently and sometimes unexpectedly. There were times when I lived in three different states in a matter of one year. The Great Plains IDEA program allows me to receive an outstanding education regardless of my home state. I have access to classes and universities throughout the United States to provide a comprehensive array of knowledge in my field. The Great Plains IDEA program has proven to be an excellent fit for myself and for my family.