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You know that personal financial planning plays a fundamental role in the well-being of individuals and families everywhere. Yet, it is increasingly difficult for everyday people to navigate our complex economy. You want to help. That means you need to become a certified expert.
The 100% online graduate certificate program in personal financial planning at the University of Missouri (Mizzou) provides a rare opportunity to prepare for the rigorous CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ examination at an accredited university on a flexible schedule that works for you. As a CFP® professional, you will have the gold standard designation for expertise in helping individuals and families chart their financial future.
Mizzou’s graduate certificate program was designed for ambitious financial professionals like you. It allows you to pursue the valuable CFP® certification while continuing to work full time. Take courses with industry-leading researchers and professionals. Unlike many CFP® certification courses, Mizzou’s online program is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, which means you can apply your course credits toward a master's degree later if you choose.
You’ll join a network of like-minded professionals and scholars whose interests and goals align with your own and develop the skills you need to help individuals plan for everything from their first home purchase to retirement and beyond. In a final project, you’ll gain hands-on experience with a financial planning case study.
Upon completion, you can sit for the CFP® examination with confidence, aware that your hard-earned certification and university credentials will be a testament to your skill as an advisor. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, you’ll offer people the relief of knowing they have an expert on their side, regardless of what the future holds.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) owns the CFP® certification mark and the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification mark in the United States, which it authorizes use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.
Quick facts
Official name
Graduate certificate in personal financial planningCampus
Program type
Graduate certificateAcademic home
College of Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources | Division of Applied Social SciencesDelivery mode
100% onlineAccreditation
Higher Learning CommissionCredit hours
18Estimated cost
$10,868.40*This cost is for illustrative purposes only. Your hours and costs will differ, depending on your transfer hours, your course choices and your academic progress. See more about tuition and financial aid.
Career prospects
Potential careers
Students in this program gain skills that prepare them to meet the increasing demand for CFP® professionals. Job titles for certificate holders include:
- Financial analyst
- Personal financial advisor
- Loan officer
- Social and community service manager
Program structure
Delivery is 100% online. Courses are semester-based. Students taking two classes per semester for three semesters can finish in one year.
Course work includes
- Employee benefits
- Estate planning
- Investment planning
- Retirement planning
- Risk management
- Tax planning
Delivery
100% onlineCalendar system
Semester-basedTypical program length
1-2 yearsTypical course load
1-2 courses per semesterAccreditation
The University of Missouri is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States.
Faculty spotlight
Dr. Yao’s research interests focus on individual and family financial decision-making and well-being. Specific topics include retirement, saving and investment behavior and motives, risk tolerance, debt management, and consumption patterns. She received the best paper award from the CFP® Board, AARP, American Council on Consumer Interests, and American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences. Dr. Yao serves as an associate editor, an editorial board member and as a reviewer for a number of academic journals and conferences.
Dr. Ivey has more than 20 years of experience in college teaching at the University of Missouri, Spalding University and Oklahoma State University. She has taught courses in insurance, investments, taxes, personal finance, management and leadership while also providing academic and career advising to students. Her professional background includes experience in banking, insurance and employee benefit management.
Dr. Rabbani teaches the personal financial planning curriculum in employee benefits and retirement planning, as well as risk management and insurance. His research is focused primarily on financial risk tolerance, financial knowledge and financial wellness. He is the lead investigator on the Investment Risk Tolerance Assessment program and a partner administrator of the 2020 Study on Collegiate Financial Wellness (SCFW).