MSFP
Master of Science in Financial Planning
Best For
Financial advisors and practice leaders seeking planning mastery skills.
Timing
15 Months
Format
The MSFP is a hybrid learning program including a required residency and some live virtual classes. Learn more below.
Hybrid
Tuition
Starting at $2,050/course
Save $750 on your first certificate course by applying before 10/6
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Achieve Planning Mastery
Build Advanced Expertise
Meet complex client needs with a flexible, modular graduate program that delivers real-world planning expertise.
Finish in 15 Months
Accelerate your education without compromising depth — complete your MSFP in as little as 15 months.
Customize Your Learning
Choose from four tracks and seven graduate certificates to tailor your degree to your unique career goals.
Get Your Questions Answered
Register Now for a Free Info Session
If you’re seeking to master financial planning and get deep knowledge and insights, you’ve come to the right place. Sign up for a free info session now and see how MSFP can power your growth!
Program Overview
Admissions Requirements
The prerequisite for this program is an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university. Below is a list of the standard requirements when applying to the MSFP Program:
- A completed MSFP Program application and $50 application fee.
- An official transcript demonstrating the completion of a bachelor’s degree program.
- A resume/CV
For the Advanced Planning, Leadership, and Interdisciplinary Studies tracks, additional documentation is required to demonstrate years of experience and designations earned.
To receive the MSFP, you must:
- Successfully complete 10 courses, including two core residency courses
- Online courses are conducted synchronously and asynchronously
- Residency class sessions meet on campus in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania
What You'll Learn
Earning your MSFP unlocks advanced expertise in the areas that matter most to your career and your clients. Whether you're building foundational planning skills, deepening your knowledge in specialized areas, or preparing for an advanced leadership role, the MSFP gives you the options to focus on the skills and knowledge you need most.
With customizable tracks and stackable certificates, you’ll gain the expertise to meet complex client needs, lead with confidence, and grow your impact across the financial services industry.
Your learning outcomes may include:
- Advanced strategies in tax planning, estate planning, retirement income, and investment planning
- Behavioral finance, financial psychology, and client communication techniques
- Leadership development in team building, decision-making, and organizational strategy
- Business valuation, succession planning, and small business transition strategies
- Practical application of insurance, legacy planning, and philanthropic strategies
Course Delivery
The MSFP program is designed with working professionals in mind—delivering a flexible, modular learning experience that lets you advance your career without putting it on hold. With a combination of online courses and in-person residencies leading to stackable credentials, the MSFP helps you meet today’s client demands while building toward long-term goals.
- Flexible, modular curriculum: Choose from four tracks and seven graduate-level certificates to customize your degree around your interests, experience, and goals.
- Hybrid design: Engage in a rich learning and networking experience that blends self-study coursework, live weekly sessions with your peers and expert faculty members, and one required in-person residency for networking and hands-on learning.
- Rolling admissions and immediate start options: Apply anytime and start your first course within a few weeks
- Grading: Students must earn a minimum score of 80% in each course to pass.
Why Earn Your MSFP?
20%
Fewer clients requested portfolio changes from financial planners than investment-focused advisors.1 Comprehensive planning promotes client confidence.
89%
Of HR professionals do not believe their companies have a strong bench to fill leadership roles. Step up and demonstrate your skills.2
40%
Of advisors say they focus primarily on financial planning, yet many clients say their needs aren’t being met.1 Become part of the solution and grow your practice.
Enroll Now If:
Discover the MSFP Tracks
Available Tracks
4
Typical Completion Time:
15 Months
Foundational Track
Earn Your CFP Mark + Your Master’s Simultaneously
This track enables you to fulfill the CFP Board’s educational requirement to sit for the CFP® exam while completing specialized graduate-level coursework to earn your master’s degree at the same time.
Admissions Requirement: Bachelor’s degree
Course of Study:
- Financial Psychology Certificate
- MSFP 536 Behavioral Finance
- MSFP 591 Financial Psychology
- MSFP 592 Financial Therapy and Counseling
- Additional Required Courses
- MSFP 551 Intro to Financial Planning
- MSFP 554 Income Taxation
- MSFP 555 Fundamentals of Insurance Planning
- MSFP 557 Retirement Planning
- MSFP 558 Investment Planning
- MSFP 559 Fundamentals of Estate Planning
- MSFP 650 Capstone Case Development (In-Person Residency)
Advanced Planning Track
This track empowers you to excel across the most critical areas of modern financial planning. Upon completion, you will be prepared to help clients with complex needs by combining expertise in behavioral finance with advanced knowledge in retirement, aging, and estate, portfolio, and tax planning.
Admissions Requirement: Bachelor’s degree, 3+ years of financial services experience, active CFP®, ChFC®, CPA®, JD, CFA®, or similar financial services designation
Course of Study:
- Financial Psychology Certificate
- MSFP 536 Behavioral Finance
- MSFP 591 Financial Psychology
- MSFP 592 Financial Therapy and Counseling
- Advanced High Net Worth Planning Certificate
- MSFP 595 Advanced Portfolio Management
- MSFP 596 Advanced Tax Planning
- MSFP 615 Advanced Estate Planning
- Advanced Retirement Planning Certificate
- MSFP 601 Aging and Financial Planning
- MSFP 602 Retirement Financial Products
- MSFP 631 Advanced Retirement Planning Issues
- Additional Required Course
- MSFP 582 Ethical Behaviors in Financial Planning (In-Person Residency)
Leadership Track
This track empowers you to become a transformative leader for a complex world. Upon completion, you will be prepared to navigate complexity, inspire innovation, and drive sustainable success as a confident, influential leader.
Admissions Requirement: Bachelor’s degree, 3+ years of leadership experience
Course of Study:
- Financial Psychology Certificate
- MSFP 536 Behavioral Finance
- MSFP 591 Financial Psychology
- MSFP 592 Financial Therapy and Counseling
- Organizational Leadership Certificate
- MSFP 501 Fundamentals of Organizational Leadership
- MSFP 502 Leadership Communication and Organizational Direction
- MSFP 503 Organizational Change and Team Leadership
- Executive Leadership Certificate
- MSFP 504 The Effective Executive Leader
- MSFP 505 Executive Leadership Presence, Teams, Communication, and Coaching
- MSFP 506 Executive Leadership Strategic Thinking & Decision Making
- Additional Required Course
- MSFP 582 Ethical Behaviors in Financial Planning (In-Person Residency)
Interdisciplinary Studies Track
This track empowers you to build a customized learning path tailored to your career goals. Upon completion, you will be equipped with the specific skills and knowledge you need to succeed.
Admissions Requirement: Bachelor’s degree, additional requirements dependent on selected certificate programs
Course of Study:
- Financial Psychology Certificate
- MSFP 536 Behavioral Finance
- MSFP 591 Financial Psychology
- MSFP 592 Financial Therapy and Counseling
- Certificate Program 1
- Course 1 - Student Selected Certificate
- Course 2 - Student Selected Certificate
- Course 3 - Student Selected Certificate
- Certificate Program 2
- Course 1 - Student Selected Certificate (or CAP® course 1)
- Course 2 - Student Selected Certificate (or CAP® course 2)
- Course 3 - Student Selected Certificate (or CAP® course 3)
- Additional Required Course
- MSFP 582 Ethical Behaviors in Financial Planning (In-Person Residency)
Graduate Certificates
MSFP students can, depending on their chosen track, select from seven graduate-level certificates when designing their MSFP journey.
- Financial Psychology Certificate
- Advanced Retirement Planning Certificate
- Advanced High Net Worth Planning Certificate
- Executive Leadership Certificate
- Organizational Leadership Certificate
- Business Succession Planning Certificate
- Estate Planning and Taxation Certificate
Each certificate offers a targeted course of study, and upon completion, students will earn a resume-ready certificate credential.
The College’s masters program really served as a springboard for my career. It allowed me to dig deeper into our clients’ technical planning needs, and it positioned me to step into a leadership role at my firm when the opportunity arose.”
Heather Welsh, CFP®, AEP, MSFP
I love the platform that The College has provided to advisors like me: experienced, but always looking to better themselves and their clients, with the flexibility to study on their terms. I have three young children and a working spouse, so time is a valuable resource.
Michael McNall, RICP®, WMCP®
The knowledge from The American College of Financial Services is incredible, and it has definitely elevated me in the eyes of my clients. The education speaks for itself
Adam Saubel, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, RICP®, ChSNC®,CAP®,CLTC®
The American College of Financial Services is the pre-eminent choice for financial professionals looking to enhance their knowledge, ultimately benefiting our clients and communities.
Jeff Weronick, MBA, CFP®, ChFC®
01/00
Learn From the Who's Who of Financial Planning
Timothy Belber
JD, AEP®
Adjunct Professor of Estate Planning
Charles E. Drimal Estate Planning Professorship
Read Bio
Jason E. Heller
PhD, CFP®, CIMA®, MSFS, RICP®, ChFC®, CLU®, CAP®, CMFC®, AAMS®, CRPC®, CFS®, FSCP®, AWMA®, CRPS®, BCAA, AEP®, CFBS®, CDFA®, RMA®, CIS®, CAS®, CES®, AIF®, BFA™, APMA®, CFED®, ChSNC®, AFC®, WMCP®, LACP®, CPFA®, C(K)P®, AIFA®, CSRIC®
Adjunct Professor of Behavioral Finance in the MSFP® Program
Professor in the CLF® Program
Read Bio
Jim Petersen
PhD, MSM, MSFS, CFP®, CLF®, ChFC®, CLU®, CASL®, RICP®, WMCP®, CRPC®, CAP®, ChSNC®, AEP®, CPMBC, CPBC
Roger Hull/James S. Bingay Chair of Leadership, Chartered Leadership Fellow (CLF) Program Director
Read Bio
Kimberly Turner
PhD, MSFS, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, CAP®, AEP®, CLTC®
Adjunct Professor of Financial Planning
Connect on LinkedIn
Read Bio
Jeffrey Hatchman
PhD, JD, MSM, MSFS, MBA, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, CASL®, RICP®, AEP®
Adjunct Professor of Estate Planning
Connect on LinkedIn
Read Bio
Jodi G. Krausman
PhD, CPA, CFP®, PMP®
Assistant Professor and Program Director, Master of Science in Financial Planning
Connect on LinkedIn
Read Bio
Azish Filabi
JD, MA
Managing Director, American College Cary M. Maguire Center for Ethics in Financial Services
Associate Professor of Business Ethics, Charles Lamont Post Chair of Business Ethics, The American College of Financial Services
Read Bio
Daralee Barbera
EdD, CFP®, CMFC®, ChFC®, CPBC®, CLF®
Program Director, Master of Science in Management—Leadership
Director of Faculty, Academics
Read Bio
Jose Perez
EdD, MBA
Adjunct Professor of Organizational Leadership & Human Resource Development
Read Bio
Natasha M. Webster
PhD, MSHSA, MHA
Adjunct Professor of Organizational Leadership
Connect on LinkedIn
Read Bio
01 / 00
Timothy Belber
JD, AEP®
Adjunct Professor of Estate Planning
Charles E. Drimal Estate Planning Professorship
Read Bio
Jason E. Heller
PhD, CFP®, CIMA®, MSFS, RICP®, ChFC®, CLU®, CAP®, CMFC®, AAMS®, CRPC®, CFS®, FSCP®, AWMA®, CRPS®, BCAA, AEP®, CFBS®, CDFA®, RMA®, CIS®, CAS®, CES®, AIF®, BFA™, APMA®, CFED®, ChSNC®, AFC®, WMCP®, LACP®, CPFA®, C(K)P®, AIFA®, CSRIC®
Adjunct Professor of Behavioral Finance in the MSFP® Program
Professor in the CLF® Program
Read Bio
Jim Petersen
PhD, MSM, MSFS, CFP®, CLF®, ChFC®, CLU®, CASL®, RICP®, WMCP®, CRPC®, CAP®, ChSNC®, AEP®, CPMBC, CPBC
Roger Hull/James S. Bingay Chair of Leadership, Chartered Leadership Fellow (CLF) Program Director
Read Bio
Kimberly Turner
PhD, MSFS, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, CAP®, AEP®, CLTC®
Adjunct Professor of Financial Planning
Connect on LinkedIn
Read Bio
Jeffrey Hatchman
PhD, JD, MSM, MSFS, MBA, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, CASL®, RICP®, AEP®
Adjunct Professor of Estate Planning
Connect on LinkedIn
Read Bio
Jodi G. Krausman
PhD, CPA, CFP®, PMP®
Assistant Professor and Program Director, Master of Science in Financial Planning
Connect on LinkedIn
Read Bio
Azish Filabi
JD, MA
Managing Director, American College Cary M. Maguire Center for Ethics in Financial Services
Associate Professor of Business Ethics, Charles Lamont Post Chair of Business Ethics, The American College of Financial Services
Read Bio
Daralee Barbera
EdD, CFP®, CMFC®, ChFC®, CPBC®, CLF®
Program Director, Master of Science in Management—Leadership
Director of Faculty, Academics
Read Bio
Jose Perez
EdD, MBA
Adjunct Professor of Organizational Leadership & Human Resource Development
Read Bio
Natasha M. Webster
PhD, MSHSA, MHA
Adjunct Professor of Organizational Leadership
Connect on LinkedIn
Read Bio
MSFP Program FAQs
The program is now modular and customizable. Instead of a single fixed course path, you can choose from four specialized tracks and seven graduate-level certificates to build a degree that fits your goals.
The available tracks are:
- Foundational Track — Earn your master’s and meet CFP® exam requirements
- Advanced Planning Track — Elevate your practice with specialized planning knowledge
- Leadership Track — Prepare to lead high-performing teams and organizations
- Integrated Studies Track — Design a degree that aligns with your career goals
You’ll benefit from rolling admissions (start within a few weeks of applying), the option to stack certificates, and a modular curriculum that adapts to your interests, experience, and timeline.
Select graduate-level credits or designations—like the CAP®—may count toward degree requirements, particularly in the Integrated Studies Track.
There’s Even More to Explore
Deepen Behavioral Insights
Earn a Certificate in Financial Psychology
View the Program Presentation
See a powerpoint presentation on the MSFP
Explore Graduate Certificates
See all our certificate programs to power your career growth
Take the Next Step and Apply
With a MSFP, you'll stand out with deep knowledge of financial planning’s practical, legal, and ethical aspects along with the wide application of its techniques and tools.
1 The American College of Financial Services. Advising Through Uncertainty Study. 2025.
2 DDI. Global Leadership Forecast. 2021.