Master of Science In

Advanced Financial Planning

The Master of Science in Advanced Financial Planning is an innovative degree designed for financial planners who have already passed the CFP^® examination and who wish to reinforce key planning skills and increase their expertise in the critical areas of either taxation, estate planning, or financial life planning skills, while adding the weight of a master’s degree to their professional credentials.

Online
San Francisco
Hybrid

1,090 /unit
(See other rates)

30 Total Units

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GGU’s financial planning program permits students to build on their CFP® background and move directly into advanced study in their chosen field. This degree program is particularly well-suited for more experienced planners who aim to take their careers to a higher level.

The financial life planning concentration was designed and is taught by many of the founders of the field, while the taxation and estate planning concentrations are co-taught with the nationally known Bruce F. Braden School of Taxation.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants should hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited US institution or the equivalent from a recognized foreign (outside the US) institution, and provide official transcripts.
Master's degree holders only need to submit transcripts from previous graduate programs. However, applicants are encouraged to submit all transcripts to maximize transfer credit.
Applicants whose native language is not English must meet the English Language Proficiency Admission Requirements.
Applicants with an undergraduate GPA below 2.50 should submit a statement of purpose and a resume.
The statement of purpose should address the circumstances that may have led the applicants to poor academic performance, what had changed and why they think they'll be successful now.
Applicants for the Advanced Financial Planning program must submit documentation showing that they have already passed the CFP examination.

TOTAL UNITS — 30

Core Courses — 6 units

FI 430: Business Development in Financial Services
FI 434: Cases in Financial Planning

Concentrations — 24 units

Students choose one of the following concentrations for 24 units:

Estate Planning
Financial Life Planning
Taxation

CONCENTRATIONS

ESTATE PLANNING CONCENTRATION

A structured graduate concentration program designed to prepare CFP-certificated students for a career in Estate planning and gift taxation. The concentration in Estate Planning gives CFP® students an intimate knowledge of estate law, such as lifetime gifting, marital deduction planning, and alternate forms of wealth transfer. In addition to estate planning, graduates with this concentration learn about dealing with the financial aspects of individual retirement plans and the laws surrounding taxation of trusts and estates as well as the interpersonal skills needed when dealing with such sensitive issues as estate planning and personal finance.

REQUIRED COURSES — 18 UNITS

TA 318: Advanced Federal Income Tax
TA 325: Estate & Gift Taxation
TA 329: Tax Research & Decision Making
TA 334: Estate Planning
TA 337: Individual Retirement Plans & Distributions
TA 344: Federal Income Taxation of Trusts & Estates

ELECTIVES — 6 UNITS

Take two courses (6 units) of 300- or 400-level FI prefix courses.

FINANCIAL LIFE PLANNING CONCENTRATION

Financial planning has the power to transform lives for the better and much of that power is found in the personal, internal realm. Research in psychology and behavioral finance has given us insights into what it takes to facilitate positive change in clients' lives. This is the new frontier for financial planners and our innovative, research-based program is designed to equip you with the tools necessary to become an effective change agent in your clients' lives. You will survey the landscape and meet the innovators who have been developing the tools and perspectives of financial life planning over the past 20 years. From financial therapy, to coaching skills, positive psychology, therapeutic interviewing, and behavioral finance, you'll expand your knowledge and gain the ability to apply these powerful insights to your work with clients.

REQUIRED COURSES — 15 UNITS

FI 360: Behavioral Finance
FI 424: Facilitating Financial Health
FI 448: Intro to Financial Life Planning
FI 449: Coaching Skills for Financial Planners
PSYCH 320: Therapeutic Communication & Counseling Skills

ELECTIVES — 9 UNITS

Take three courses (9 units) of 300- or 400-level FI or PSYCH prefix courses.

TAXATION CONCENTRATION

A customizable graduate degree concentration designed to prepare CFP-certificated students for success in taxation.

Students who undertake the concentration in taxation will gain expert knowledge of taxation practices and policies. Paired with tax courses are a number of finance classes, which will provide students with a solid base in financial analysis and planning. Paired together, these course offerings allow graduates a firm grasp of both finance and taxes, so that they can implement a financial plan and understand exactly how taxation factors into all the varied aspects.

REQUIRED COURSES — 12 UNITS

TA 318: Advanced Federal Income Taxation
TA 329: Tax Research & Decision Making
TA 330: Property Transactions
TA 338: Tax Timing

ELECTIVES — 12 UNITS

FINANCE ELECTIVES — 6 UNITS

Take any two courses (6 units) 300- or 400-level FI prefix courses.

TAX ELECTIVES — 3 UNITS

Any course with a TA prefix.

GENERAL ELECTIVE — 3 UNITS

Any 300- or 400- level course.

DECLARING CONCENTRATIONS

Students may declare concentrations when they have completed the coursework required for their desired concentrations, or after the “Last Day to Drop Course without Tuition Charge” (per the Academic Calendar) for their final terms, if they will be able to complete their concentrations in their final terms.

To be eligible to declare concentrations, students must have already completed the required concentration coursework, or be able to complete it in their final terms without requiring waivers, substitutions, or directed study courses, unless they are approved in advance by the department chair, program director, or dean.

Students may declare up to two concentrations in a given degree program. Students seeking to declare more than two concentrations will be required to appeal to the dean or vice president of academic affairs for approval. Students’ diplomas will list the concentrations that they had successfully completed at the time their degrees were conferred. Students may not declare additional concentrations after their degrees have been conferred.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Graduates of the MS in Advanced Financial Planning program will demonstrate the following skills and capabilities:

Interpersonal skills necessary to maintain successful client relationship and to work effectively with colleagues, individually or in teams.
The quantitative, analytical, and technical skills needed to address complex financial situations.
The ability to apply their knowledge to real-world problems in financial planning.
Knowledge of the principles of managing a financial planning practice.
Knowledge of the legal and regulatory environment in which financial planning occurs and familiarity with relevant licensing, reporting and compliance requirements.

Graduates with a concentration in Financial Life Planning will demonstrate the following skills and capabilities:

Advanced interviewing skills for uncovering client history, vision, and values.
Identify specific client behavioral biases and heuristics and adapt advice accordingly.
Advanced coaching skills for helping clients affect positive change and achieve goals.
Apply research on client trust and relationship commitment to develop and sustain highly-functional client relationships.
Apply research on the impact of money scripts to facilitate better financial health for clients.

Graduates with a concentration in Taxation or Estate Planning will demonstrate the following skills and capabilities:

Knowledge of essential tax principles and doctrines, including, but not limited to the following; and be able to critically apply these principles to practical situations:
- Common law
- Claim of right
- Assignment of income
- Realization
- Constructive receipt
- Related party transactions
- Gross income
- Tax benefit rule
The ability to identify tax issues, to research these issues, and to communicate effectively the results orally and in writing