Online Course
Retirement Planning
Overview
Retirement Planning addresses both specific and general financial planning needs for employers and their employees.
Students learn how to determine retirement-planning needs and match those needs with appropriate retirement plans. The course discusses the steps in the planning process and how to develop retirement-plan recommendations for individuals and small businesses.
By the end of the course, students should be better prepared to match specific retirement objectives to appropriate retirement-plan strategies. A financial calculator is a necessary tool for this course.
Traditional Schedule
April & October
Fast Track
March & August
Prerequisites
Academic Preparation
There are no special degree requirements to participate in the FSU Certificate in Financial Planning program, although instruction is presented at the level of an upper-division college course.
A bachelor’s degree is a condition of CFP® certification, but it is not required in order to sit for the Certification Examination.
Students are strongly encouraged to complete Introduction to Financial Planning before taking this course.
Computer Skills
Students should have basic computer literacy, including the ability to:
- Connect to the internet and navigate the web.
- Use email and online discussion tools.
- Send and receive email attachments.
- Save, open, and manage files using common software.
Online Fast Track Program
March & August
Accelerate your progress through financial planning with a condensed program designed to cover key concepts and practical skills without sacrificing the depth of the traditional curriculum.
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Retirement Planning and Employee Benefits — 20th Edition
Authors: James F. Dalton and Michael A. Dalton
ISBN: 978-1-957511-16-0
Publisher: Money Education
FSU students receive a 20% publisher discount. The discount code is sent with the Registration Confirmation email after registration.
Optional Calculator Textbook
Financial Calculator Essentials
Author: Joseph M. Gillice, CPA, CFP®
ISBN-10: 0-9820884
ISBN-13: 978-0-9820884-1-8
Publisher: Dalton Education
This resource covers use of the:
- Hewlett Packard 12C
- Texas Instruments BA-II-Plus
- Hewlett Packard 17BII Plus
- Hewlett Packard 10B II
E-book | Print textbook | CFP® Examination Calculator Policy
Instructors
M. Kathryn (Kate) Clark, AIF®, CFP®, CPFA
Accredited Investment Fiduciary® · CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® · Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor®
Kate Clark is Managing Partner at Cypress Capital and has worked in the financial industry since 2007. Her experience includes positions with First Franklin Financial, AMB Wealth, and Barnes Capital Group before founding Cypress Capital in 2018.
She holds the AIF®, CPFA®, and CFP® designations, securities licenses, and insurance licenses covering variable and fixed life and annuity products, health insurance, and disability insurance. She earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Florida and a Certificate of Financial Planning from Florida State University.
Kate has also served as a guest lecturer for FSU’s Retirement Planning Today Series and has been involved with organizations including the Community Foundation of North Florida, Gadsden Arts Center and Museum, LPL Financial Ambassador Council, Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce, and Leadership Tallahassee.
Erin McCarty, CPFA®, CFP®
Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor® · CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®
Erin McCarty is a Partner with Cypress Capital. She began her financial career in 2015 while pursuing a Finance degree at Florida State University and has worked with Stifel Financial, Morgan Stanley, and LPL Financial.
Erin holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a Certificate of Financial Planning from Florida State University. She has earned the CPFA® designation and is a CFP® professional, with securities and insurance licenses covering variable and fixed life and annuity products.
She is also active in the Tallahassee community and has volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Big Bend since 2017.
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Let us guide you toward your financial planning education and career goals.