This course covers all aspects of financial planning, including cash and budget management, debt, education and retirement planning, tax and investment issues, risk management, estate planning and more. Complete with the key principles, processes and practices of financial planning, this must-have resource offers planners a well-organized approach for explaining financial planning strategies to clients while also ensuring the suitability of the products being offered.

In addition to providing helpful charts, handy checklists, and insightful case studies, this course provides students with:

- Clear, easy-to-read descriptions of all aspects of financial planning, including cash and budgeting issues, education and retirement planning, risk management, health cost management, and estate planning and tax issues
- In-depth discussions of fundamental concepts like time value of money, business law, and economic principles
- Ethical and practice standards for major professional organizations in the financial planning field
- Helpful examples show how concepts apply for real-world planning scenarios
- Detailed citations that provide jumping off points for more detailed research needs
- Updated tax and accounting information, including the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
- Expanded coverage of practice standards and ethical considerations, including the new ethical rules for the CFP Board
- Updated insurance and risk management content, including the new commercial flood program
- Newly revised health insurance and health cost management topics cover the current marketplace for individuals and small businesses
- New chapter on state best interest requirements, including New York's Section 187

Topics covered include:

Principles and Processes of Financial Planning
Education and Retirement Planning
Tax and Investment Issues
Estate Planning
The Planner-Client Relationship
Practice Standards and Ethical Considerations
Ethical Rules for the CFP Board
Financial Planning Goals
Planning for Special Needs
Financial Planning Fundamentals
Cash and Budget Management
Credit and Debt Management
Time Value of Money and Quantitative Analysis
Legal Issues
Wills and Trusts
Related Disciplines
Risk Management and Insurance
Health, Disability, and Long-Term Care Insurance
State Best Interest Requirements

The course outline is set out below:

Part 1: Principles and Processes

Chapter 1: What is Financial Planning? 1

Chapter 2: Financial Planners and the Planning Process 7

Chapter 3: Tools in the Financial Planning Process 31

Chapter 4: Financial Services Industry Regulations 47

Chapter 5: Professional Ethics and Disciplinary Rules 61


Part 2: The Planner-Client Relationship

Chapter 6: Attitudes and Behavioral Characteristics of Clients 67

Chapter 7: Financial Goals – Current Lifestyle 77

Chapter 8: Clients with Special Circumstances 81

Chapter 9: Building Relationships with Cross-Cultural Clients 89



Part 3: Financial Planning Goals

Chapter 10: Education Funding 107

Chapter 11: Comprehensive Retirement Planning 147

Chapter 12: Planning for Special Needs 177

Chapter 13: Issues of an Individual’s Estate 183


Part 4: Fundamentals

Chapter 14: Budgeting and Cash Management 205

Chapter 15: Personal Financial Statements 217

Chapter 16: Credit and Debt Management 227

Chapter 17: Financing Asset Acquisitions 247

Chapter 18: Economic Concepts 279

Chapter 19: Time Value of Money and Quantitative Analysis 307

Chapter 20: Financial Institutions 327


Part 5: Legal Issues

Chapter 21: Business Entities 349

Chapter 22: Ownership of Property 357

Chapter 23: Business Law 361

Chapter 24: Monetary Settlement Planning 377

Chapter 25: Wills and Trusts 383


Part 6: Related Disciplines

Chapter 26: Risk Management and Insurance 401

Chapter 27: Income Tax Planning 419

Chapter 28: Investment Planning 447

Chapter 29: Health, Disability, and Long-Term Care Insurance 481

Chapter 30: Charitable Planning 517

Chapter 31: Selection of Fiduciaries and Other Advisors 523

Chapter 32: State Best Interest Requirements 545


Case Studies

Jason and Andrea Dalton 555

Phillip and Marsha Sanders .561

James Wilson and Harold Newton 567

Janice Peterson 572

Tom and Sharon Brown 577

Cindy Wilson 580

Jeff and Sharon Williams 584


Appendices


Appendix A: Present Value of a Lump Sum 591

Appendix B: Present Value of an Annuity Due 595

Appendix C: Present Value of an Ordinary Annuity 599

Appendix D: Future Value of a Lump Sum 603

Appendix E: Future Value of an Annuity Due 609

Appendix F: Future Value of an Ordinary Annuity 615

Appendix G: Tax Exempt Equivalents 621

Appendix H: Will Review Checklist 625