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**This program is no longer accepting new students**

Why Choose Saint Rose for Financial Planning?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment in the field of financial planning, also known as wealth management, is projected to grow 30% between 2014 and 2024.

With an aging population and longer life expectancies, financial planning has become increasingly important in the U.S.

The goal of financial planning is to help an individual or a family plan for life events through income and investment planning, tax planning, risk management, retirement planning, and estate planning.

This highly professional field is among the highest paid professions in the U.S. In 2019, the median annual wage for personal financial advisors was $87,850, according to the BLS.

The Bachelor of Science in Financial Planning is a registered program with the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards (CFP® Board), an educational partner of The College of Saint Rose.

Saint Rose is one of the few colleges in Upstate New York registered with the CFP® Board. Students who successfully complete the degree requirement of the Financial Planning major or minor at Saint Rose are qualified to sit for the CFP® Certification Examination.

Financial Planning BS/MBA Dual Degree

The Dual Degree BS/MBA provides students of superior academic ability and maturity the chance to earn both degrees, which together would normally require 158 credits, with as few as 140 credits.

Students typically accelerate their progress by identifying graduate courses that can fulfill both graduate and undergraduate requirements.

However, the plan of study may also include independent study, proficiency exams, special seminars, and advanced courses.

Program Highlights

  • Curriculum: In addition to 36 credits of business and accounting courses, the core of the Financial Planning curriculum covers the range of topics required by the CFP® Board mainly through the following courses: tax planning, risk and insurance planning, benefits and retirement planning, investment planning, estate planning, and financial plan development.
  • Through the requirement of elective courses in a minor, students are encouraged to develop a focus in Accounting/Taxation, Finance, or Marketing.
  • Although this major does not require an internship, students are encouraged to utilize the internship program and obtain practical experience in the financial services industry.
  • Interns have been placed at companies such as Ayco, A Goldman Sachs Company, Capital Financial Planning LLC, Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance and Financial Services, MetLife Inc., and AXA Advisors.

Course Requirements, Faculty, and Learning Objectives

Financial Planning Learning Objectives

  • Develop and present a comprehensive personal financial plan.

Undergraduate Core Learning Objectives

  • Demonstrate the knowledge necessary to fulfill professional goals.
  • Make business decisions based on analysis and evaluation of the data and ethical considerations.
  • Identify global issues and their business implication.
  • Produce and deliver effective oral communications.
  • Produce and deliver effective written communications.

Frequently Asked Questions

Most graduates with a Bachelor of Science in financial planning work for banks, securities and commodity brokers, insurance companies, and financial investment firms.

Careers for graduates with a financial planning degree typically become financial analysts, counselors, planners, and risk analysts.

Students can also continue their education and receive their master’s degree in financial planning or related program.

Choosing a degree in finance or a degree in financial planning should be based on your current career goals.

Students in the finance program study a variety of different fields including corporate finance, macroeconomics, financial accounting, and asset management while financial planning is a much more specific program.

If you aren’t sure if financial planning is right for you, a degree in finance can expose you to more aspects of the field.