The Registered Settlement Planner Program is a product of collaboration between the Registry of Settlement Planners Board (RSP Board) and Texas Tech University's Personal Financial Planning Division. The coursework is rigorous and compares to graduate-level work. It is designed for people who have made a serious commitment to the field of comprehensive settlement planning. The program consists of two courses, each of which must be completed within a year of registration. Successful completion of these courses is required to meet education requirement of the RSP designation.

Upon successful completion of this program, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate a mastery of the legal environment as it relates to planning for the needs of personal injury victims and their families.
• Demonstrate a mastery of the financial planning environment as it relates to planning for the needs of personal injury victims and their families.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the entire settlement planning process from defining the scope of the engagement to creating a settlement plan.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the role of dissipation risk in a settlement plan.
• Acquire knowledge of the ethical issues and practice standards faced by settlement planners.
• Acquire the ability to practice in the area of settlement planning without supervision.
Develop a thorough understanding of the tax issues faced in settlement planning.
• Prepare and present a written comprehensive settlement plan for a catastrophically injured client.

Although these classes do not carry academic credit, the course work can be rigorous and demanding in terms of time and content. When successfully completed, the student will have met the education requirement of the RSP certification. No partial credit can be received.

Rolling admission with completion required within a year.

Course 1: Financial Planning and Law for Settlement Planners
This course explores the theoretical and practical environmental framework upon which settlement planning rests. In particular, the most relevant parts of the legal and financial planning environment to settlement planning will be discussed. Topics include: principles of financial planning, financial institutions, time value of money, trial procedure, property law, alternative dispute resolution, torts, wills & trusts, planning for incapacity, income and estate tax systems, investment principles, life insurance, annuities, and estate planning.

Course 2: Settlement Planning Seminar
This course explores the emerging profession of settlement planning, which is defined as personal financial planning for the recipient of a legal settlement. Topics include: forecasting needs, liquidity analysis, structured settlement annuities, rated-age annuities, controlling dissipation risk, taxation issues, planning for government entitlements, medical cost inflation, asset management issues, settlement preservation trusts, basics of litigation, estate planning, Monte Carlo analysis and qualified settlement funds.

Current employment in settlement planning or a field closely associated with settlement planning.

Joseph Tombs, JD, MBA, CFP®, ChFC, CLU, ARM
Thomas Langdon, JD, LLM, MBA, CLU, ChFC, CFP®
David Cordell, PhD, CFA, CFP®, CLU
Vickie Hampton, PhD, CFP®
John Salter, PhD, CFP®

Joseph W. Tombs, Program Coordinator
Email: joe.tombs@ttu.edu
Phone: 806.698.1122

The cost of the program at Texas Tech University is $1,250 per course. This price does not include the cost of the required texts* (see 'textbook' section below). Payment may be made by check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express.

Refunds, less a $50 processing fee, will be granted on a case by case basis.

1. Tools & Techniques of Financial Planning, 7th Edition, National Underwriter, ISBN 0872186563, Leimberg, et al.
2. The Legal & Regulatory Environment of Business, 14th Edition, McGraw Hill, ISBN 139780073048499 Reed, et al.

The online portion of the program will be delivered via WebCT. Minimum computer requirements for a successful experience are: Pentium II processor with at least 266 Megahertz (MHZ) or faster, 128 MB memory, 5-10 MB free disk space, internet access service, minimum internet connection speed of 56K per second. These are minimum requirements only. Faster computer and internet speeds are recommended. A reliable email address, word processing software, and spreadsheet software will be needed. Students accepted into the program will be provided with web access to coursework via the Registrar for Outreach at Texas Tech University, following completion of registration.

For registration information, contact us or call (806)742-7200, ext. 270 or 251.