Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®)

Web-Based Program (Classroom Supported)
E-mail: cebusiness@mtroyal.ca
Information: 403.440.6636 or toll-free 1.888.392.3655
Register: Start here
Location: Lincoln Park Campus, 4825 Mount Royal Gate SW

Required Courses | Optional Courses | Student Testimonials

“Careers in the financial industry, particularly financial planning, will continue
to be in top demand in 2014 due to retirement and increased demand
for financial planning advice.”
(source: Canadian Business Magazine)

FREE!
Information Night
Certified Financial Planner® Program
Date: Thursday, March 22, 2012
Interested in learning more about the Certified Financial Planner® program? Attend this free information session. Presenters will be available to answer your questions in person.
To register for the Info Night: 403.440.6636 or e-mail us with your name and state that it is for the CFP® Info Night.

Earn the mark that is the gold standard in financial planning – the prestigious Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®). If you are interested in becoming a financial planning professional, Mount Royal offers in-class instruction of the CFP® education program designed by the Canadian Institute of Financial Planning (CIFP). Graduates of the CIFP CFP® Program have consistently achieved a first-time write average pass rate on the Financial Planning Standards Council (FPSC) CFP® exam that is above the national average pass rate over the past 5 years.

Registered Retirement Consultant - (RRC®) Certification
By successfully completing both Financial Planning 1 courses listed below as well as the RRC® online practice module and examination, you can now earn the new industry-standard RRC® certification from CIFP on your way to becoming a Certified Financial Planner®. For more information, please contact Business Education and Training at cebusiness@mtroyal.ca or 403.440.6636.

Earn Credit Toward a Degree/Diploma
Certain Extension Certificates have been developed in cooperation with Mount Royal University credit faculties. These certificates have components which are transferable into various diplomas, applied degrees and degrees, provided applicants achieve the minimum required grade in the course(s) and meet the entrance requirements for the degree. Please see credit program websites for diploma, applied degree or degree entrance requirements. For more information on transfer credit please contact Business Education & Training at cebusiness@mtroyal.ca or 403.440.6636.

CIFP FPSC-approved Capstone Course         NEW!
Successful completion of all CIFP CFP courses plus the final program review/exam now qualifies you to take CIFP's online Capstone course at no charge ($50 case study/administration fee will apply.) Visit The Canadian Institute of Financial Planning website for full details on this course.

Requirements
It is strongly recommended that students complete this program (four required courses plus final program review/exam) within 5 years.  Courses offered may vary each semester. You require access to a financial calculator (HP-10BII is recommended) and the Internet. Optional printed materials (approx. $60+GST) available at the BookStore.

Earning Your Designation
Successful completion of this program (four required courses listed below plus final program review/exam) satisfies the Financial Planning Standards Council’s (FPSC) education requirement for the Financial Planning Examination Level 1 (FPE1). In addition, candidates must:

• Agree to abide by the CFP® Code of Ethics and maintain registration in the Registered Candidate Program
• Pass the Financial Planning Examination Level 1
• Amass at least one year of full time (or equivalent) financial planning work experience
• Complete an FPSC-approved Capstone Course
• Pass the Financial Planning Examination Level 2
• Amass at least two additional years of full time (or equivalent) financial planning work experience (total financial planning work experience must be at least three years)
• Meet other administrative requirements such as payment of fees, attestation as to professional fitness, and agreement to abide by all ongoing maintenance requirements.
  

Visit the  Financial Planning Standards Council website for further information on the CFP® Examinations and certification guidelines. 

Career Outlook
More and more Canadians are looking to qualified professionals to help secure their financial futures. Many of those who have earned the CFP® designation work as professional financial planners in banks, credit unions, investment firms, insurance companies and private practice.

Mount Royal University does not award the CFP® and Certified Financial Planner® designation.  CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and are certification marks owned outside the U.S. by Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd. (FPSB). Financial Planning Standards Council is the marks licensing authority for the CFP marks in Canada, through agreement with FPSB.

Required Courses 

Financial Planning 1 - Retirement Planning
Become familiar with how financial planning clients plan for retirement, use their financial assets during retirement and make financial decisions related to retirement. Gain an overview of retirement planning with case studies, followed by a detailed look at pensions. Examine the characteristics of RRSPs, the taxation of retirement income and tax planning opportunities.
Note: We strongly recommend completion of this course before registering in any other courses in the CFP® program.

Financial Planning 1 - Risk Management and Estate Planning
Discover how to provide expert guidance on the many issues involved in risk management and estate planning. The risks of disability, death and property/liability losses and the legal requirements of insurance policies are addressed. The estate planning process and the main strategies involved in developing an estate plan are also reviewed.

Financial Planning 2 - Income Tax Planning
Discover how business and financial assets are used to acquire and preserve wealth. Examine how various business forms (proprietorships, partnerships and corporations) are structured and taxed, and how they can generate wealth for owners/managers or investors. Review taxation of employment income and benefits with an emphasis on increasing compensation without increasing taxable income.

Financial Planning 2 - Strategic Investment Planning
Gain knowledge of the investment products that clients use to accumulate wealth and discover methods to design or evaluate a client’s investment portfolio. Topics include financial securities, personal use assets, investment theory and financial economics, as well as real estate investments and tax shelters.

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Optional Courses - Recommended 

Time Value of Money - Math Tutorial
This tutorial is highly recommended for anyone not familiar with a financial calculator or financial calculations. It takes you through the steps required to perform time value of money calculations using the Hewlett-Packard HP-10B II financial calculator (required for class).

Personal Financial Planning
Course details

CIFP Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®)
FPE1 and FPE2 Preparatory Training Programs    
Prepare to write the Financial Planning Standards Council (FPSC) Financial Planning Examination Level 1 (FPE1) or Level 2 (FPE2) through these new three- and two-day exam preparation training programs offered by Mount Royal in association with the Canadian Institute of Financial Planning. 

Structured in accordance with the CFP® Professional Competency Profile established by The Financial Planning Standards Council (FPSC)-—the body responsible for administering the Financial Planning Examination Levels 1 and 2 —-the preparatory series will cover testable learning objectives with an emphasis on concepts that call upon the student to possess a higher level of mastery. In addition, financial concepts commonly regarded as problem areas will be addressed and throughout the training programs, instructors will pass along invaluable exam writing and time management tips.

The CFP® Examination Preparatory Series is an interactive experience—the presentation of each learning objective will be accompanied by meaningful examples and exam-style questions designed to reinforce the student's comprehension.

Most importantly, in keeping with the format of the CFP® Examinations, students will have numerous opportunities to try their hand at questions which incorporate multiple learning objectives. Students will also face questions that test his or her ability to apply financial concepts to real life scenarios and detailed case studies.

Participants in the program are provided with a variety of study aids which address the essential learning objectives a student must understand for exam purposes. Support materials also contain hundreds of theoretical and scenario-based questions and case studies which the student can use as part of their exam preparation.

The CFP® Examination Preparatory Series will cover a variety of topic areas in detail including:

1. income tax planning
2. income tax strategies
3. retirement planning
4. risk management
5. investment planning
6. estate planning
7. family law
8. job knowledge requirements
9. small business issues

Financial Planning Examination Level 1

Note:  Special package pricing is available for the FPE1 and FPE2. Call 403.440.6636 for more details.

Financial Planning Examination Level 2

Note:  The Certified Financial Planner® examinations are held twice yearly. For information, contact the FPSC at 416.593.8587 or www.fpsc.ca. Mount Royal University does not enrol students for these examinations.

Guarantee: We are committed to your success. If you are a first-time attendee and do not pass the CFP® Examinations after attending our preparatory training program, you may attend the next session at no additional charge.

The Canadian Institute of Financial Planning has long been recognized as Canada's leading and most innovative educational provider offering web-based courses dedicated to developing financial planning professionals based on the highest standards. Our approach has worked—over the years, graduates of the CIFP CFP® Program have consistently achieved a first-time write average pass rate on the FPSC CFP® exam that is above the national average pass rate over the past 5 years.

Our experience and expertise make the CIFP CFP® Examination Preparatory Series the perfect choice! Simply put: it will enable you to maximize the benefits derived from your valuable but limited study time and it will give you the knowledge and the confidence you need to successfully challenge the CFP® Examinations.

The Certified Financial Planner® examinations are held twice yearly. For information, contact the Financial Planning Standards Council at 416.593.8587 or the FPSC website. Mount Royal University does not enrol students for these examinations.

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Student Testimonials 

“Taking this course was the best decision I’ve made so far in terms of advancing my career.”

Bryson Smith - Retirement Planning Student

"Even coming from a financial background/education, this was a very useful course in upgrading my knowledge, not only for myself but also my clients."

Trisha Sorenson, Accountant and Retirement Planning Student

"Enjoyed the relaying of real-world experience to go along with the theory."

Lila Smith, Retirement Planning Student

"By having this class background, I can identify issues for my clients and assist them through the process."

Trisha Sorensen, Accountant and Retirement Planning Student

"A great course for anyone wanting to get into financial planning or to help understand their own retirement process."

Orlando Nichols, Retirement Planning Student

"Excellent course to prepare yourself for financial decisions when you retire."

Laine Leithiad, Retirement Planning Student

"Excellent course even for an individual who is in the life phase of retirement planning…the earlier in life the better…they should be teaching elements of this in high school."

Mike Wensley, Retirement Planning Student

"Our professors are very knowledgeable and real experts in the courses they are teaching that is why we get real-life examples and situations on how we can apply the things we learned in our careers"

Dyan Arevalo, Risk Management and Estate Planning Student

"This course...made my knowledge & skills more enhanced...I strongly encourage every advisor to take this course & learn more!"

Harvey Agustin, Risk Management & Estate Planning Student

"Excellent week. I would recommend everyone who is going to write the big CFP exam to take this week-long session."

Wendy Peterson, Manager, Finance & Administration - CFP Examination Preparatory Training Session

"Excellent, very helpful...I'm ready for the exam."

Ram Bhagasan - Student, CFP Examination Preparatory Training Session

"Excellent; very informative, great tips for writing the exam."

Scott Yates - Student, CFP Examination Preparatory Training Session

"The best thing about this program for me was learning a more effective way to study and get prepared for the national exam through FPSC."

Karen Paterson, Scotiabank - Student, CFP Examination Preparatory Training Session

"This was a very good class to start a career in financial planning. I look forward to furthering my studies at Mount Royal in this field."

 David McCormick, Personal Financial Planning Student

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