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TPCP™

Tax Planning Certified Professional™

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Best For

Financial professionals who need comprehensive knowledge in tax planning

Timing

<12 Months

Format

Study the curriculum at your own pace, engage through virtual office hours, and receive support from the nation’s preeminent tax planning leaders. Learn about Personal Pathway®

100% Virtual

Tuition

Starting at  
$995/course 

Three-course package available for $2,695
Enrollment opens in November

Join the Waitlist Request Info
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Explore Our Latest Insights

2024 Advisory Services Survey

Our latest survey reveals critical insights for all financial professionals. The profession is broadly doing tax planning now, perhaps with a different name and not enough knowledge. Read our biggest takeaways and how to navigate the increasing demand for tax planning services.

Learn More
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Admissions Requirements

There are no prerequisite courses required to begin the TPCP™ Program, but you must have at least three years of experience in financial planning or a related profession to use the designation.

To meet the program’s requirements and receive the TPCP™ designation, you must:

  1. Successfully complete the three required courses
  2. Score 70% or higher on each course’s final exam
  3. Have at least three years of experience in financial planning
  4. Agree to comply with The American College Code of Ethics and Procedures
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Tuition & Scholarships

Program tuition may be paid on a per-course or package basis. Tuition covers your course fees, course final exams, and course materials, including:

  • Virtual access to all course materials and assignments
  • Video lectures and expert interviews
  • Dynamic case studies and assessment questions

Individual course: $995 

Three-course package: $2,695

Scholarship opportunities are available for those who qualify. Learn more

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What You'll Learn

The TPCP™ Program equips learners with the skills to identify, evaluate, and implement holistic tax strategies for individuals and businesses owners across their lifespan, focusing on maximizing tax benefits while ensuring compliance with current legislation.

Your learning outcomes of gaining specialized knowledge include:

  • The ability to navigate complex tax situations, employing tailored tax-informed strategies for estate planning, retirement savings and distribution, and investment management to achieve optimized, goal-oriented planning solutions
  • Familiarity with unique situations, such as: divorce, planning for individuals with special needs, and incorporating philanthropic intentions into estate planning for optimized tax advantages
  • Foundational knowledge on key tax implications of various investment vehicles, such as Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and 529 plans
  • Understanding of retirement and investment strategies, including Roth conversions, IRC Section 1031 exchanges, and strategies for minimizing state and federal taxes for high-net-worth individuals and business owners
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Course Delivery

Complete the three-course curriculum at your own pace and receive support from the nation’s preeminent academics and thought leaders as well as our academic advising team.

Our program features:

  • Elite faculty of nationally recognized academics and researchers
  • Up-to-date curriculum covering current trends
  • Virtual on-demand, self-study format 
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80%

Of investors believe their advisors should be focused on minimizing their tax obligations.1

70%

Of consumers with at least $250,000 in investable assets want help with tax and retirement planning.2

50%

Of independent advisors say advanced tax planning is a significant knowledge gap for them.3

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The TPCP™ Is Right for You If:

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You Want Specialized Expertise

Make Tax Planning a Priority

The TPCP™ Program is the only professional designation program of its kind, focused exclusively on analyzing a client’s holistic financial situation to help achieve their goals while reducing their tax liability.

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You Want to Differentiate Yourself

Showcase Your Applied Knowledge

Tax planning is the #1 service clients want,2 yet one of the top knowledge gaps for professionals, according to independent advisors.3 With the TPCP™ conferred by The College, position yourself to meet a growing client need.

Certified tax professional meeting with clients

You’re Ready to Connect the Dots

See Why Financial Planning Is Tax Planning

Through the TPCP™, you’ll be able to connect financial concepts with tax consequences. Most financial professionals are already offering tax planning – now’s the time to level up and expand your services for your clients.

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Inside the TPCP™ Program

TPCP 101 Tax Planning During the Accumulation Phase

Provides a foundation to support the first stage of the client lifecycle to help improve the likelihood that investment growth will outpace tax liability.

Upon completion of this course, you’ll be able to:

  • Select appropriate tax-favored accounts for retirement, health care, and education that can enhance the achievement of a client’s financial goals through greater tax-efficiency.
  • Determine appropriate tax planning strategies and investments related to taxable accounts that can improve the tax-efficiency of a client’s financial plan.
  • Assess the tax efficiency of a client’s investment plan during the accumulation phase of the lifecycle using global concepts of investment tax planning.
  • Evaluate viable tax strategies relevant to small business owners and high-net-worth clients.

TPCP 102 Tax Planning During Retirement

Focuses on withdrawal strategies and other considerations for the decumulation stage of the client lifecycle after they start taking income from their investments.

Upon completion of this course, you’ll be able to:

  • Evaluate distribution strategies from retirement accounts to help clients take advantage of tax-saving opportunities and effectively avoid distribution errors.
  • Determine tax-efficient withdrawal sequencing, Roth conversion, and Social Security income strategies that can optimize retirement spending and legacy goals.
  • Assess tax planning strategies that address common retirement planning scenarios.

TPCP 103 Tax Planning for End of Life and Special Situations

Covers ways to minimize client tax liability in various scenarios that may occur at any time and have significant tax implications.

Upon completion of this course, you’ll be able to:

  • Determine strategies for optimizing the step-up in basis for property in order to maximize after-tax wealth transfer to beneficiaries.
  • Assess strategies used to minimize estate taxes, including post-mortem tax planning.
  • Evaluate strategies for maximizing the transfer of retirement, health care, and education accounts.
  • Evaluate planning strategies designed to address the estate planning needs of business owners and other special situations.
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Learn From the Leaders in Tax Planning

Jeffrey Levine headshot

Jeffrey Levine

CFP®, CPA/PFS, ChFC®, RICP®, CWS, AIF, BFA™

Connect on LinkedIn
Sophia Duffy

Sophia Duffy

JD, CPA, AEP®

Associate Professor of Business Planning

Connect on LinkedIn Read Bio
Michael Finke

Michael Finke

PhD, CFP®

Professor of Wealth Management, WMCP® Program Director, Director for the Granum Center for Financial Security, Frank M. Engle Distinguished Chair in Economic Security

Connect on LinkedIn Read Bio
Alan Gassman headshot

Alan Gassman

JD, LLM (Taxation), AEP® (Distinguished)

Connect on LinkedIn
Ed Slott

Ed Slott

CPA

Professor of Practice

Connect on LinkedIn Read Bio
Michael Kitces headshot

Michael Kitces

MSFS, MTAX, CFP®, CLU, ChFC, RHU, REBC, CASL

Connect on LinkedIn

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Jeffrey Levine headshot

Jeffrey Levine

CFP®, CPA/PFS, ChFC®, RICP®, CWS, AIF, BFA™

Connect on LinkedIn
Sophia Duffy

Sophia Duffy

JD, CPA, AEP®

Associate Professor of Business Planning

Connect on LinkedIn Read Bio
Michael Finke

Michael Finke

PhD, CFP®

Professor of Wealth Management, WMCP® Program Director, Director for the Granum Center for Financial Security, Frank M. Engle Distinguished Chair in Economic Security

Connect on LinkedIn Read Bio
Alan Gassman headshot

Alan Gassman

JD, LLM (Taxation), AEP® (Distinguished)

Connect on LinkedIn
Ed Slott

Ed Slott

CPA

Professor of Practice

Connect on LinkedIn Read Bio
Michael Kitces headshot

Michael Kitces

MSFS, MTAX, CFP®, CLU, ChFC, RHU, REBC, CASL

Connect on LinkedIn
footnotes

1 Orion Study. 2021

2 Herbers and Company Service Market Growth Study. 2023.

3 RIA Growth and Specialized Knowledge Survey. The American College of Financial Services. 2022.