Financial Planners Certificate Program
Approved by the Certified Financial Planner™ Board of Standards Inc. (CFP® Board)

Program Description

The Berkeley College Financial Planners Certificate Program is a post-baccalaureate non-credit program designed to prepare students with the technical skills, general knowledge, and communication abilities necessary to enter a variety of professional positions in the growing financial services industry. The Financial Planners Certificate Program is offered both on campus and online and can be completed within nine months. It meets the educational requirements of the CFP® Board and will prepare students to seek licensure as Certified Financial Planners™. The Certificate Program is also designed to enable students to practice with the highest ethical standards and to evaluate each client’s situation independently and without bias.

Upon completion of the Financial Planners Certificate Program, students will be better prepared to:

• Secure employment as financial services professionals and analysts in the private and/or public sector.


• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of how financial service agencies and organizations operate and interface.


• Demonstrate understanding of their professional roles, including delivery of services, with emphasis on the ethical rules and principles of professional responsibility that govern the financial services professions, such as state and federal laws, the Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act, and the Sarbanes-Oxley legislation.


• Demonstrate competence and understanding of all primary areas of financial services functions and be able to perform procedural tasks in the areas of practice that include customer service representatives and managers, auditors, securities specialists, financial analysts, financial examiners specialists, securities and commodities and financial services sales agents, insurance sales agents, credit analysts, and loan officers.


• Communicate effectively by being proficient in applying technology to conduct and advance operations within financial services organizations, including computer assisted research skills necessary for delivery of effective financial services.


• Take the licensure exam of the CFP® Board to become qualified as Certified Financial Planners™ after completing the educational component.

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Curriculum

• Principles of Financial Planning
• Insurance Planning
• Investment Planning
• Tax Planning
• Retirement Planning
• Estate Planning

Certificate of Completion

To receive the Financial Planners Certificate, students must:
    1) satisfactorily complete six financial services courses, and
    2) earn a grade of C or better in each course.

Admissions

To be considered for admission into Berkeley College’s Financial Planners Certificate Program, students must have earned a Baccalaureate degree from an accredited post secondary educational institution. Students can begin the program in the Spring (April), Summer (June), Fall (September) or Winter (January) quarter and are encouraged to apply at least two weeks prior to the start of the session.

To be considered for admission, students must submit the following:

Completed Financial Planners Certificate Application with a $50 non-refundable application fee

Official transcript(s)

Application documents must be submitted to:
Berkeley College
Central Admissions Office
PO Box 440
Little Falls, NJ 07424

Contact and/or Additional Information

Online	NYC Midtown Campus 3 East 43rd St. New York, NY 10017	Westchester Campus 99 Church St. White Plains, NY 10601
Mr. Gerard Russomanno Director of Admissions (973) 405-2111, ext. 6310 grr@BerkeleyCollege.edu	Mr. Joel Martinez Director of Adult Admissions (212) 372-4446, ext. 4511 jm@BerkeleyCollege.edu	Mr. John Wool Director of Adult Admissions (914) 694-1122, ext. 3110 jdw@BerkeleyCollege.edu

Orientation

Students admitted into the Financial Planners Certificate Program are required to participate in an online new student orientation session. Information regarding program requirements, technology services, library services, and other student services is provided at this orientation session. The orientation session should be completed before classes begin.

Upon acceptance into the Financial Planners Certificate Program, students are enrolled in our Road to Success (RTS) tutorial for online learning. This tutorial is designed to provide students with a comprehensive overview of our course management system to ensure success and must be completed by all students.

Faculty

The faculty consists of certified financial planners, attorneys, accountants, and professional advisors who have significant experience in relevant areas. These professionals bring both practical and academic knowledge into the classroom.

Locations Offered

The Financial Planners Certificate is offered at the following Berkeley College location:

Berkeley College Online™ www.BerkeleyCollege.edu/Online online@BerkeleyCollege.edu

New York - NYC Midtown Campus 3 East 43rd Street New York, NY 10017

New York - Westchester Campus 99 Church St. White Plains, NY 10601

Program Duration

The Financial Planners Certificate Program is offered on campus (in a web-blended version) or online, and can be completed within nine months. There are six courses required for the program and each course is offered in a 12-week quarter. At least two courses will be offered each quarter.

Program Schedule

Students can begin the program in the Spring (April), Summer (July), Fall (September), or Winter (January) quarter. Students must enroll in the Principles of Financial Planning course (FPL 011) during the first quarter of enrollment.

Summer 2010 online schedule (July 6 through September 19, 2010):

• Principles of Financial Planning
• Insurance Planning
• Tax Planning

Cost

The cost for the Financial Planners Certificate Program, which includes tuition as well as administrative and technology fees, is $930 per course (six courses required) for a total of $5,580. The $930 per course applies if a student maintains consecutive enrollment throughout the program; otherwise, the current rate at readmission will apply. The application fee and textbooks are not included in the cost. Students are responsible for purchasing textbooks.

Tuition Payment Plan

Tuition is payable in advance, however, Berkeley College does offer a payment plan option for students who are unable to pay the entire amount due by registration. Payment Plans consist of two payments — 50% due at registration, and 50% due in 30 days. No interest is charged, but there is a $20 fee per payment plan. Late payments will also incur a late payment fee.

To establish a payment plan, students must sign a Payment Plan Contract. Payment Plan Contracts are available in the campus Student Accounts Offices and via the Self-Service module of Blackboard.

Career Services

The Department of Career Services at Berkeley College will provide students who complete the Financial Planners Certificate Program with tools and information needed to conduct a thorough independent job search. Services provided include resume writing techniques, interviewing skills, job search strategies, and networking opportunities.

Berkeley College Library Resources

The College library provides a comprehensive collection of web accessible resources to support our Financial Planners Certificate program. Access to electronic resources is available on campus and remotely through the student portal, Blackboard. A library link from the College home page, as well as a prominent library tab in Blackboard, lead students to the online library of over sixty subscription databases, an eBook collection, live chat, and other help tools. There are also over 1,000 electronic resources in the Netlibrary Collection related to the topics of financial, insurance, investment, tax, retirement and estate planning.
Subscription Databases for the Financial Planners curriculum

Transfer Credit Policy

Transfer credits from another institution are not accepted into the Financial Planners Certificate Program.

Withdrawal/Refund Policy

Students may withdraw from courses and are entitled to tuition refunds (excluding the $50 application fee) according to the schedule below. Refunds are based on payment of 100% of the tuition. Students participating in the tuition payment plan are not eligible for a refund.

First and second weeks (from first class date): 90%
Third week: 50%
Fourth through sixth weeks: 25%
After the sixth week: 0%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Berkeley College’s Financial Planners Certificate Program approved by the CFP®?
What are financial planners?
What types of work do financial planners perform?
Is there a demand for financial planners?
Can I be considered for admission if I don’t have a Bachelor’s degree?
How long does it take to complete the program?
Where and when are courses held?

1. Is Berkeley College’s Financial Planners Certificate Program approved by the CFP®?
Yes, the program is approved by the Certified Financial Planner™ Board of Standards, Inc. (www.cfp.net).

2. What are financial planners?
Financial planners are professionals who are trained in the process of analyzing the financial needs and goals of clients. Based on the client’s current financial situation and in light of the client’s expressed goals, financial planners develop comprehensive strategies that provide the client with direction and specific ways to achieve those goals.

3. What types of work do financial planners perform?
Financial planners perform a wide variety of tasks. They gather detailed financial information from clients, including data regarding the client’s personal situation, family, etc. They analyze the information and develop comprehensive, written reports for the client. The client’s goals and needs are documented. Projected income sources are determined as well as expenses.

Goals are discussed with the client and detailed amounts for saving and a timeline are developed. The planner presents recommendations that are suitable for the client, depending on the client’s risk tolerance level. Products may be presented that meet the client’s needs.

Planners meet with clients on a regular basis to review progress to plan. They revise the plan as needed. All meetings and conversations are documented and maintained in a secure facility.

Planners are also involved in marketing activities designed to establish and build their practice. They meet with client’s other advisors, such as accountants, attorneys, real estate professionals, bankers, etc., in order to co-ordinate the planning effort.

4. Is there a demand for financial planners?
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, “overall employment of financial analysts and personal financial advisors is expected to increase faster than average for all occupations through 2014, resulting from increased investment by businesses and individuals.” (Occupational Outlook Handbook 2006-2007).

Economic growth and recovery are in the forefront of the minds of the average American worker. The changes in the workplace have given further emphasis to the need for financial professionals who are knowledgeable and able to provide a comprehensive approach to financial situations.

5. Can I be considered for admission if I don’t have a Bachelor’s degree?
To be considered for admission into Berkeley College’s Financial Planners Certificate Program, students must have earned a Baccalaureate degree. Students who do not have a Bachelor’s degree may apply for admission to the Associate's or Bachelor's Financial Services degree programs.

6. How long does it take to complete the program?
The program can be completed within nine months for students who enroll in 2 courses each quarter. It can be completed in 18 months if students enroll in 1 course each quarter.

7. Where and when are courses held?
Classes are held on our New York City-Midtown Campus (3 East 43rd St.); Westchester Campus (99 Church St.; White Plains, NY); and through our Berkeley College Online Campus (online@BerkeleyCollege.edu). Classes begin in Spring (April), Summer (July), Fall (September), and Winter (January).