Students admitted to the program are required to have an undergraduate or graduate degree in a financial planning field, or appropriate professional and/or educational qualifications. See our Graduate Admissions Policy for Non-Business Backgrounds for additional details.

Normally, students spend around 14 months for their 10 courses in the MSFP program, with two courses per quarter.

Upon enrolling in the MSFP program, students have seven (7) years to complete full degree requirements, including 10 full courses (four core, six in concentration of choice) and electives (if applicable).

Tuition for each course includes all fees and course materials, but does not include the initial $100 application fee for the program. For a complete listing, view the Tuition & Fees section.

Program tuition is paid on a per-course basis. To see our current tuition rate and options, view the Tuition & Fees section.

We are proud to offer scholarship opportunities for qualifying active-duty military personnel, veterans, and spouses. For more information, visit our Center for Veterans Affairs.

Program discounts and promotions are offered occasionally to our email subscribers. Some partner companies also offer exclusive tuition rates. For more information, check with your employer or contact our Admissions team at 888-795-6306.

Having a master’s degree expands your career options. A graduate certificate opens doors to jobs you may not otherwise be considered for. For anyone considering pursuing an executive-level position, a master’s degree is beneficial. Whether you’re looking to work in family financial planning or another specialization, the overview of the financial industry you will receive during your MSFP courses will prove helpful in your career.

Sunsetted in 2021, the MSFS provided expertise in the wealth accumulation process and the knowledge to help business owners develop compensation, succession planning, and retirement income strategies.

The following three courses will be taught in the 10-week, online, asynchronous format starting October 3, 2022: 

MSFP 559 (539)—Fundamentals of Estate Planning

MSFP 536—Behavioral Finance

MSFP 615—Advanced Estate Management and Planned Giving

To register for one of the above courses, log into your student portal to enroll online or call 866-477-7814, press 2 then option 3.

2022 Residencies

MSMT 500—Graduate Orientation | Monday, October 3, 2022 I 8:00 am – 9:30 am ET 

MSFP 551 (531)—Introduction of Financial Planning I Monday, October 3, 2022 I 9:30 am – 12:30 pm ET

MSFP 650 (630)—Capstone Case Development I Monday, October 3, 2022 I 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm ET

If you are eligible to attend residency, the registration form was sent to you via email on September 7^th. Please complete the form and return it to graduateschool@theamericancollege.edu by September 14^th. If you have any questions, please call 866-477-7814, press 2 then option 3.

The MSFP program consists of 10 courses and 30 credits; four core courses (12 credits) along with six more courses (18 credits) in each of the three potential concentration areas.

MSFP 551- Introduction of Financial Planning (Residency I)

This course introduces the broad scope of financial planning as it relates to personal goals/values, as well as its role in the financial services industry. It is designed to provide students with an understanding of the concepts of the financial planning process, the economic environment, the time value of money, the legal environment, financial analysis, and ethical and professional considerations in financial planning. Topics include careers in financial services, management of personal financial statements, time-value-of-money analysis, calculator/computer applications, insurance, Social Security, house-buying strategies, education funding techniques, investments, retirement planning, income tax, estate planning, and financial psychology. 

MSFP 559 - Fundamentals of Estate Planning (Residency I)

This course explores the application of estate planning methodologies and policies to personal financial planning. Introduces estate planning tools and strategies to assist a client in developing, maintaining, and transferring his/her wealth consistent with objectives. Topics include: professional role differentiation between financial advisers, CPAs, and estate-planning attorneys; writing disclaimers in a financial plan; gift and estate taxation; ownership of personal and real property issues; wills; letter of last instructions; trusts; trustees/personal representatives and their fiduciary responsibilities; probate strategies; implications for individuals; general/limited partnerships; closely held businesses; corporations; life insurance funding; post-mortem planning; creative estate planning strategies consistent with client goals and values; and charitable giving strategies.

MSFP 536 - Behavioral Finance (Residency II)

This course is an applied behavioral finance course that examines the intersection of behavioral finance and financial planning. It reviews the research on behavioral finance, neuroeconomics, and investor psychology, exploring the effects of human emotions and cognitive errors on financial decisions and the financial planning process. This course focuses on the application of behavioral finance theory and research to the practice of personal financial planning to help financial planners improve the financial health of their clients.

MSFP 650 - Capstone Case Development (Residency II)

This course covers Capstone Case Development. This course applies students’ knowledge and skill set in personal financial planning techniques to a comprehensive fact pattern. Students will develop and integrate core financial planning disciplines of retirement, investment, risk management, income tax, employee benefits and general principles into integrated analysis and presentations.

MSFP 554 - Income Taxation 

This course explores the strategies used by financial planners to help clients achieve greater tax efficiency. Topics include income tax concepts and calculations, income tax research methods, gross income realization, exclusions and deductions, passive activities, alternative minimum tax, tax considerations of business forms, taxable and non-taxable property transactions, compensation planning, family tax planning, audit risk, and dealing with the IRS.  

MSFP 555 - Fundamentals of Insurance Planning

This course introduces students to the application of insurance planning and risk management in personal financial planning. It is designed to provide students with an understanding of the concepts of identification of risk exposure, legal aspects of insurance, property and liability policy analysis, life insurance policy analysis, health insurance policy analysis, employee benefits, social insurance, insurance regulation, and principles of insurance taxation. Topics include career issues; contractual and agency legal issues; insurance distribution systems (including Internet); evaluating insurers; personal risk assessment; risk strategies; alternative risk transfer approaches; life insurance programming and product analysis; key-person insurance; business continuation applications; life insurance use in income & estate tax planning; applicability of other insurance products  (e.g., health, disability, general liability, property, and casualty); HMOs, group insurance plans; workers compensation; relevant aspects of social security; negligence issues; errors & omissions policies; & professional ethics.  

MSFP 557 - Retirement Planning 

This course covers retirement planning and employee benefits. Retirement planning addresses accumulation and distribution phases and covers the various types of retirement plans, including employer-provided retirement plans (pension, profit-sharing, stock bonus, ESOP, 401(k), 403(b), 457, SEP and SIMPLE plans as well as nonqualified deferred compensation and stock option plans), Social Security, and IRAs. Employee benefits covers medical plans, group term life and disability plans, cafeteria plans and flexible spending plans. This course explores the advantages and disadvantages of the various types of plans and provides the understanding and skills necessary to assess the costs and benefits of such plans from the perspective of clients, whether employers or employees. This highly participative course will help students evaluate client-specific goals, identify key issues, and recommend appropriate solutions.  

MSFP 558 - Investment Planning

This course provides two major areas of investment planning in security analysis and portfolio management. The portfolio management examines a) financial markets; b) the concept of risk/return; c) modern portfolio theory, including market efficiency and behavioral finance; d) integrate investor objectives, their risk tolerance, e) asset allocation decisions and f) performance evaluation. The security analysis examines a) selection and timing of financial and real securities; b) selection and trading of common stock, bonds, mutual funds, and exchange-traded funds; c) issues concerning macroeconomics, industry and sector analysis; d) alternate (qualitative and quantitative) methods of valuation; e) timing of buy/sell decisions; e) portfolio hedging; and f) alternative investments. 

MSFP 615 - Advanced Estate Management and Planned Giving

An advanced gift and estate planning course which presents an overview of basic gift, estate, and generation-skipping transfer tax law and tax computation processes. This course also discusses the ownership and taxation of transfers of property during a lifetime and at death in addition to marital, charitable giving, and life insurance planning. Family business entity planning, and buy-sell agreements are also addressed in the course. 

MSFP 631 - Advanced Retirement Planning Issues

This course addresses current issues relevant to helping clients save for retirement and ensure that adequate retirement income lasts a lifetime. The first half of the course focuses on retirement savings issues including the retirement savings crisis, determining retirement needs, motivating clients to save, and maximizing savings through tax strategies. The second half of the course primarily addresses the issue of choosing an appropriate retirement income strategy but also addresses a very practical issue, when to claim Social Security benefits.

MSFP 615- Advanced Estate Management Planned Giving

An advanced gift and estate planning course which presents an overview of basic gift, estate, and generation-skipping transfer tax law and tax computation processes. This course also discusses the ownership and taxation of transfers of property during a lifetime and at death in addition to marital, charitable giving, and life insurance planning. Family business entity planning and buy-sell agreements are also addressed in the course.

MSFP 563 - Business Succession Strategies

This course covers advanced topics in business succession planning. Provides an overview of gift and trust taxation to illustrate how charitable transfers facilitate business succession planning objectives. Presents detailed coverage of family limited partnerships and limited-liability companies. Covers sales and gifts of business interests using discounting techniques. The course discusses the use of executive benefit and retirement plan strategies to facilitate succession planning. The course includes a comprehensive case study.

HS 353 - Retirement Income Process, Strategies, and Solutions

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to: understand the steps in creating an effective retirement income plan; identify retirement income needs, objectives, and goals by evaluating the client’s current situation; determine how to choose the appropriate retirement income strategy for your clients; evaluate income tax, estate issues, retirement risks, and other threats to an effective retirement income plan; and integrate risk management tools, products, and strategies to create an effective retirement income plan.

HS 354 - Sources of Retirement Income

This course explores sources of retirement income in depth. After completion, you should be able to: recommend the optimal age to claim Social Security benefits as appropriate for each client's situation; help the client evaluate the factors to consider when determining an appropriate retirement age; understand the role of annuities in a retirement income plan; have a better understanding of how executive benefits and retirement benefits for federal and military employees fit into the plan; understand the different ways that life insurance can be used in planning and how to address the retirement needs of the small business owner; understand how to build a retirement income portfolio; and become more familiar with the latest research on strategies for ensuring that retirement assets last a lifetime.

HS 355 - Managing the Retirement Income Plan

This course will help you: choose the appropriate tax-efficient distribution options from a retirement plan; help a client create a health expense budget and navigate the many decisions regarding Medicare and other health care options; help a client prepare for their long-term care needs; navigate retirement housing decisions and address home equity strategies; identify the key ethical issues in retirement income planning; and create and manage retirement income portfolios appropriate for each client’s situation.

MSFP 631 - Advanced Retirement Planning Issues

This course addresses current issues relevant to helping clients save for retirement and ensure that adequate retirement income lasts a lifetime. The first half of the course focuses on retirement savings issues including the retirement savings crisis, determining retirement needs, motivating clients to save, and maximizing savings through tax strategies. The second half of the course primarily addresses the issue of choosing an appropriate retirement income strategy but also addresses a very practical issue, when to claim Social Security benefits.

MSFP 615 - Advanced Estate Management and Planned Giving

An advanced gift and estate planning course which presents an overview of basic gift, estate and generation-skipping transfer tax law and tax computation processes. It discusses the ownership and taxation of transfers of property during lifetime and at death in addition to marital, charitable giving, and life insurance planning. Family business entity planning and buy-sell agreements are also addressed in the course.

MSFP 563 - Business Succession Strategies

This course covers advanced topics in business succession planning. It provides an overview of gift and trust taxation to illustrate how charitable transfers facilitate business succession planning objectives, presents detailed coverage of family limited partnerships and limited-liability companies, and covers sales and gifts of business interests using discounting techniques. The course discusses the use of executive benefit and retirement plan strategies to facilitate succession planning. This course includes a comprehensive case study.

GS 839 - Planning for Impact in the Context of Family Wealth

The focus of this course is on wealth in families and wealthy families in community with others. By the end of this course, the fundraiser or advisor should have the knowledge needed to elicit client or donor goals for self, family and society and to convene a team to achieve those goals now, later, at death or beyond death, through a financial plan, business exit plan, estate plan, or gift plan.

GS 849 - Charitable Gifting Strategies

The focus of this course is on charitable tax strategies, tools, and techniques. By the end of this course, students will have the knowledge needed to open a client-specific or donor-specific conversation about the features and benefits of appropriate charitable tools. The student will then be able to convene a planning team, or in simpler cases, close for the gift.

GS 859 - Gift Planning in a Nonprofit Context

The focus of this course is on gift planning for nonprofits. By the end of this course, students should have the knowledge needed to apply the concepts and processes introduced in MSFP 544 and MSFP 549 to develop six- to eight-figure gifts for a specific nonprofit from its highest-capacity donors.

MSFP 631 - Advanced Retirement Planning Issues

This course addresses current issues relevant to helping clients save for retirement and ensure that adequate retirement income lasts a lifetime. The first half of the course focuses on retirement savings issues including the retirement savings crisis, determining retirement needs, motivating clients to save, and maximizing savings through tax strategies. The second half of the course primarily addresses the issue of choosing an appropriate retirement income strategy but also addresses a very practical issue, when to claim Social Security benefits.