Personal Financial Planning (PFP)

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1000 Level Courses

1301. Cultural Issues in Personal Finance (3:3:0). Study of financial attitudes and behaviors of cultural and gender groups in the U.S. Financial content includes budgeting, banking and saving, credit and debt management, major purchases, and other basic financial activities. F, S.

2000 Level Courses

2310. Technological Applications in Personal Financial Planning (3:1:3). Introduction to computer software programs used in financial planning, including spreadsheets, word processing, data base management, and presentations. Fulfills Core Technology and Applied Science requirement. F, S.

2315. Personal Financial Planning for Professionals (3:3:0). Prerequisite: MATH 1330, ACCT 2300, ECO 2301 or 2302 with a grade of C or better; PFP majors only. Introduction to personal financial planning, including goal setting, cash management, credit, housing, education planning, and selected professional issues. F, S.

2325. Family Financial Counseling (3:3:0). For nonmajors only. Methods and procedures to assist individuals and families of different socioeconomic environments to resolve dysfunctional financial behaviors including skills essential in counseling clients. S.

2330. Personal Financial Counseling I (3:3:0). For majors only. Methods and procedures to assist individuals and families of different socioeconomic environments to resolve financial behaviors, including skills essential for financial planning professionals. F, S.

2370. [ECON 1301, 1303] Consumers in the Marketplace (3:3:0). Analysis of current consumer problems and the decision-making process. Overview of consumer policies and programs for consumer protection and education.

3000 Level Courses

3178. Estate Planning Lab (1:0:1). Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in PFP 3378. Enrollment in this course and concurrent enrollment in PFP 3378 will provide coverage of all aspects of estate planning and taxation. F, S.

3210. Professional Field Experience (2:2:0). Prerequisite: 2.8 GPA, 6 hours of PFP courses. Supervised attendance and participation in professional conferences, tours of professional practices, and seminars focusing on professional issues. May be repeated for up to 4 hours of credit. F.

3301. Personal and Family Finance (3:3:0). For nonmajors only. Introduction to personal financial planning, including goal setting, cash management, credit, insurance, taxes, housing, investment alternatives, and retirement plans. Fulfills Core Social and Behavioral Sciences – Individual or Group Behavior requirement. F, S, SS.

3330. Personal Financial Counseling II (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 2.8 GPA, PFP 2310, 2330, and ENGL 2311 with a grade of C or better. Counseling techniques and interviewing strategies for use in financial counseling and planning settings. Emphasis on the importance of communication processes in helping individuals and families. F. (Writing Intensive)

3350. Individual Tax Planning Topics (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 2.8 GPA, ACCT 3307 and PFP 2315 with a grade of C or better. Study of the impact of federal and state taxation on personal financial planning decisions. S.

3374. Retirement Planning (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 2.8 GPA; PFP 2310, 3376, ACCT 3307, and ENGL 2311 (may take concurrently) with a grade of C or better. A foundation course in retirement planning. F, S.

3375. Risk Management and Employee Benefits (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 2.8 GPA; PFP 2310, 2315 (may be taken concurrently) with a grade of C or better. A foundation course in personal risk management and employee benefits. F, S.

3376. Asset Management I (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 2.8 GPA; PFP 2310, MATH 2345 with a grade of C or better. This course focuses on the theory and practice of personal asset allocation planning with a special emphasis on the basic tools, techniques, and methodologies employed by financial planners. Topics covered include basic security valuation and analysis, capital markets, investment alternatives, fundamentals of portfolio design, money management process, client goals and expectations, regulation of financial advisors, and financial planning issues in asset management. F, S.

3378. Estate Planning (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 2.8 GPA; BLAW 3391, PFP 2310, 2315, and ACCT 3307 with a grade of C or better. Concurrent enrollment in PFP 3178. Application of estate planning methodologies and policies to personal financial planning. F, S.

3397. Life and Health Insurance Planning (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 2.8 GPA; PFP 2310, 2315, ENGL 2311 with a grade of C or better. This course explores the use of life insurance, health insurance, and annuities in personal financial planning, with an emphasis on advanced planning techniques. F.

3398. Professional Practices in Personal Financial Planning (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 2.8 GPA; PFP 3374, 3375, 3376, 3378, and 3397 with a grade of C or better. Principles of professional practices focusing on ethics, effective managerial strategies, and the student’s transition to the professional workplace. S. (Writing Intensive)

3399. Internship in Personal Financial Planning (3:1:6). Prerequisite: 2.8 GPA, PFP 3398 with a grade of C or higher. Supervised intern experiences in established career-related positions. May be repeated for credit. SS.

4000 Level Courses

4000. Individual Study (V1-6). Prerequisite: Written consent of instructor. Individual study or research under the guidance of a family financial planning faculty member to enhance the degree program. May be repeated for up to 6 hours credit. F, S.

4175. Special Topics in Personal Financial Planning (1:1:0). Prerequisite: 3.0 or better GPA, completion of ACCT 3307, and at least 21 hour of 3000-level PFP courses. Study of special topics in personal financial planning. Can be repeated for up to 6 hours when topics vary. F, S.

4370. Personal Financial Planning Capstone (3:1:3). Prerequisite: 2.8 GPA; PFP 3374, 3375, 3376, 3378; 3399, and ACCT 3307 with a grade of C or better. Integrates the financial planning content areas into the development of comprehensive financial plans. Coursework includes case studies and work with clients. F, S.

4376. Asset Management II (3:1:3). Prerequisite: 2.8 GPA; PFP 3376 ACCT 3307, FIN 4324 with a grade of C or better. The evaluation of client risk tolerance, analysis of asset manager’s historic performance, and the creation of portfolios using mutual funds and variable annuities. F, S.

4377. Practicum in Personal Financial Planning (3:1:6). Prerequisite: 2.8 GPA and consent of instructor. Supervised experience designed to prepare the student for a career in financial planning/counseling. May be repeated once for credit. F, S.

4380. Advanced Technological Applications in Personal Financial Planning (3:1:3). Prerequisite: 2.8 GPA; PFP 3374, 3375, 3376, 3378, 4370, and ACCT 3307 (may take concurrently) with a grade of C or better. Advance coursework in professional software packages for financial planning and investment portfolio applications. F, S.

4396. Asset Management III (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 2.8 GPA; PFP 3376 and 4376 with grades of C or higher. Students will work with issues regarding the blending of client risk tolerance investment objectives and holding periods into a successfully conceived investment plan. F, S.

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5000 Level Courses

5175. Special Topics in Personal Financial Planning (1:1:0). Prerequisite: 3.0 or better GPA and successful completion of at least 9 hours of graduate-level PFP courses. Study of special topics in personal financial planning. Can be repeated for up to 6 hours when topics vary.

5198. Professional Practices in Personal Financial Planning (1:1:0). Prerequisite: Completion or concurrent enrollment in PFP 5371. Emphasis on the principles of professional practice focusing on ethics, effective managerial strategies, and the student’s transition to the professional workplace. Enrollment precedes PFP 5399.

5210. Professional Field Experience (2:2:0). Prerequisite: 6 hours of PFP courses or consent of instructor. Supervised attendance and participation in professional conferences, tours of professional practices, and seminars focusing on professional issues. May be repeated for up to 4 hours credit.

5311. Independent Study in Personal Financial Planning (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Individual study or research under the guidance of a personal financial planning faculty member to enhance the degree program. May be repeated for credit.

5322. Personal Finance: Professional and Personal Applications (3:3:0). Survey course in personal financial planning for nonmajors who want to use this information in their personal and professional lives. F, S, SS, Distance.

5330. Financial Planning and Law for Settlement Planners (3:3:0). Exploration of the theoretical and practical environmental framework upon which settlement planning rests. Topics include principles of financial planning, property law, alternative dispute resolution, planning for incapacity, and other relevant topics.

5335. Settlement Planning Seminar (3:3:0). Exploration of the emerging profession of settlement planning, defined as personal financial planning for the recipient of a legal settlement. Topics include forecasting needs, structured settlement annuities, dissipation risk, and many others.

5340 Case Studies in Settlement Planning (3:3:0). Case study course designed to enable students to synthesize their understanding of settlement planning by producing comprehensive settlement plans. Emphasis will be on the needs of catastrophically injured persons.

5350. Individual Tax Planning Topics (3:3:0). Prerequisite: PFP 5371 and ACCT 5311 with a grade of C or better. Studies legal research skills and the impact of federal and state tax regulations on personal financial planning decisions.

5362. Asset Management I (3:3:0). Prerequisite: PFP major, joint degree student, or consent of instructor. Investment management concepts in a personal financial planning context; client goals, expectations, and risk tolerance; capital markets; investment alternatives; security valuation; risk assessment; and portfolio management concepts.

5367. Product Evaluation and Applications in Financial Planning (3:3:0). Prerequisite: PFP 3376 and 4376 or PFP 5362; PFP 3375 and 3397 or PFP 5395 and 5397; and PFP 3374 or 5394. This course focuses on the evaluation and use of financial planning products to meet client needs and on related client communications.

5370. Consumers in the Marketplace (3:3:0). Analysis of current consumer problems and the decision-making process. Overview of consumer policies and programs for consumer protection and education, including decision-making and other relevant theories.

5371. Introduction to Personal Financial Planning (3:3:0). Prerequisite: PFP major, joint degree student, or consent of instructor. Focus on the financial planning process and the profession, including the study of cash management, time value of money, education funding, and other planning areas.

5372. Asset Management II (3:3:0). Prerequisite: PFP 5362 or FIN 5325 with a grade of C or better. Portfolio management and theory in a personal financial planning context, evaluation of client risk tolerance, market efficiency, fundamental analysis, investment selection, and analysis of portfolio performance.

5373. Personal Financial Planning Capstone (3:3:0). Prerequisites or corequisites: PFP 5362 or FIN 5325; PFP 5371, 5394 (or concurrent), 5395 (or concurrent), 5397 (or concurrent), 5398 (or concurrent), and ACCT 5311 (or concurrent) with a grade of C or better. Techniques and methods for utilizing financial planning practice standards in the development of comprehensive financial plans for clients.

5377. Personal Financial Counseling (3:3:0). Prerequisite: PFP major, joint degree student, or consent of instructor. The study and use of methods to assist families of different socioeconomic groups in correcting financial behavior.

5378. Research Methods I (3:3:0). Positivistic, interpretive, and critical modes of research inquiry in personal financial planning and consumer economics.

5380. Technological Applications in Personal Financial Planning (3:1:3). Prerequisite or corequisite: PFP 5373, PFP major, joint degree student, or consent of instructor. Advanced studies in professional software packages for financial planning and investment portfolio applications.

5385. Behavioral Finance from a Personal Financial Planning Perspective (3:3:0). Prerequisite: PFP 5372 and 5377. This course introduces concepts in behavioral finance that relate to an individual’s decision making within the area of personal financial planning.

5390. Practicum in Personal Financial Planning (3:1:6). Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Supervised experience designed to prepare the student for a career in financial planning/counseling. May be repeated for up to 6 hours credit.

5394. Retirement Planning (3:3:0). Prerequisite or corequisite: PFP 5362, 5371 and ACCT 5311, PFP major, joint degree student, or consent of instructor. The study of retirement planning models, retirement plans, and selected employee benefit plans from the perspective of employees and employers. Current retirement issues will be studied.

5395. Risk Management and Employee Benefits (3:3:0). Prerequisite: PFP major, joint degree student, or consent of instructor. Application of risk management theory, personal risk analysis, and financial loss prevention with private insurance and employee benefits throughout the family life cycle.

5396. Asset Management III (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 3.0 GPA and completion of PFP 5362 and 5372 with a grade of B or higher, or consent of instructor. Synthesis of portfolio management and risk tolerance assessment concepts, participation of an actual securities portfolio, and evaluation of portfolio performance.

5397. Life and Health Insurance Planning (3:3:0). Prerequisite: PFP major, joint degree student, or consent of instructor. Explores the use of life insurance, health insurance, and annuities in financial planning with heavy emphasis on advanced planning techniques.

5398. Estate Planning (3:3:0). Prerequisite or corequisite: PFP 5371 and ACCT 5311, PFP major, joint degree student, or consent of instructor. Application of estate planning methodologies and policies to personal financial planning.

5399. Internship in Personal Financial Planning (3:1:6). Prerequisite: PFP 5198 with a grade of C or better. Supervised internship experiences in established career-related positions in the financial planning field.

6000 Level Courses

6000. Master’s Thesis (V1-6).

6101. Research Seminar in Personal Financial Planning (1:1:0). Seminar in current research topics and methodology in personal financial planning. Should be taken by doctoral student each semester of the program.

6330. Research Fund Development (3:3:0). Exploration of processes for preparing research ideas for presentation to individuals, groups, and/or organizations. Study of research proposal characteristics, how proposals are reviewed, strategies for success, and public versus private funding sources.

6374. Family Economics (3:3:0). Economic status of families at all income levels; factors influencing their standard of living; interrelationships with the economy.

6375. Current Consumer Issues (3:3:0). Analysis of current consumer problems and decision-making responsibilities. Policies and programs for consumer protection and education.

6376. Family and Personal Consumption Behavior (3:3:0). Emphasis on factors involved in individual and family consumption. Concepts related to levels and standards of living and quality of life will be examined.

6378. Research Methods II (3:3:0). Prerequisite: PFP 5378 or equivalent and 3 credit hours of statistics. Application of statistical packages to analyze data and interpret results. Includes mainframe and micro applications.

6383. Regulatory Policy (3:3:0). A survey of regulatory policies focusing on current issues, alternatives, and dilemmas concerning consumers.

6395. Financial Planning Program Development Seminar (3:3:0). Seminar focusing on the development and management of high-quality, university-level programs in personal financial planning.

6397. Doctoral Seminar in Personal Financial Planning (3:3:0). Doctoral seminar on theories and empirical evidence in personal financial planning and its areas of specialization. May be repeated for credit for up to 6 hours when topics vary.

6399. Residency in Financial Planning Research and Education (3:1:6). Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Supervised residency teaching and conducting research in personal financial planning at cooperating universities. May be repeated for credit up to 6 hours.

7000 Level Courses

7000. Research (V1-12).

8000 Level Courses

8000. Doctor's Dissertation (V1-12).

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