Manage money, wealth and legacies: Be a financial planner
Financial planning covers more than numbers. It’s about helping people create a strong
financial outlook for the present and future. Financial planners help people feel
confident, informed and secure on where their money goes.
The financial planning track will prepare you for a rewarding career centered around
finance, relationships, ethics and impact.
As a CFP Board Registered Program, Missouri State gives you the academic foundation,
professional skills, and real world knowledge you need to pursue the Certified Financial
Planner™ (CFP®) designation and enter a growing, meaningful profession.
Work with real clients and preview the role of a financial planner at BEAR Essentials.
Learn from professors who are CFP® professionals, the pinnacle of the financial planning profession.
Build relevant, career-ready skills that will give you an edge in the job market.
Financial planning at Missouri State
What is financial planning?
Financial planning is the process of determining whether individuals and families
can meet their financial goals and how they can implement and monitor plans to meet
those goals.
As a financial planner, you will help people align their financial resources with
their life goals. This may encompass buying a first home and building a nest egg for
retirement, to managing risk and creating a legacy.
In the financial planning track, you will take courses on topics like:
Personal financial planning.
Investments.
Insurance and risk management.
Tax planning.
Retirement and estate planning.
Professional ethics and fiduciary responsibility.
When you graduate, you will have a broad skill set that applies across financial services,
planning firms, nonprofit organizations and beyond.
CFP Board Registered Program
Missouri State’s financial planning track is a CFP Board Registered Program, meaning
the curriculum meets the educational requirements established by the CFP Board of
Standards.
For students, this means:
Coursework covers the CFP Board’s required Principal Knowledge Topics.
Completion of the program satisfies the education requirement to sit for the CFP®
Certification Examination.
Your completion is directly verified with the CFP Board.
Ethical, fiduciary focused decision making is emphasized throughout the program.
Completion of a CFP Board Registered Program is only one step toward CFP® certification. Students must also meet examination, experience, and ethics
requirements established by the CFP Board.
Missouri State’s financial planning track satisfies the CFP Board’s education requirement
and prepares students for the next steps toward CFP® certification. Learn more about
the CFP® pathway.
Career pathways in financial planning
Graduates of the financial planning track pursue careers in a variety of settings,
including:
Ideal for students who:
Enjoy working one-on-one with people.
Can explain complex ideas clearly.
Want to build long-term relationships with clients.
Key skills:
Strong communication.
Ethical judgment.
Empathy.
A desire to help others reach life and financial goals.
Ideal for students who:
Enjoy analytics.
Are detail-oriented.
Have an interest in financial markets and long-term planning.
Key skills:
Data-driven decision making.
Strategic thinking.
Patience and collaboration.
Ideal for students who:
Love to solve problems.
Enjoy assessing and managing risk.
Want to protect others from uncertainty.
Key skills:
Strong interpersonal skills and communication.
Critical thinking.
An ability to explain complex protection strategies in a clear and reassuring way.
Ideal for students who:
Are organized.
Are detail-focused.
Have an interest in the legal and financial aspects of long-term planning.
Key skills:
Must value accuracy.
Discretion.
Be motivated to help individuals and families plan for the future.
Ideal for students who:
Enjoy client interaction.
Value teamwork.
Are willing to learning about a wide range of financial products.
Key skills:
Strong communicator.
Adaptability.
Customer-service oriented.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
If you’re interested in helping people achieve financial security and want a career
that combines technical knowledge with meaningful relationships, this program is a
great fit.
The CFP® (Certified Financial Planner®) certification is a nationally recognized credential for professionals who provide comprehensive
financial planning and advice. Granted by the Certified Financial Planner Board of
Standards (CFP Board), the CFP® designation demonstrates that an individual has met
rigorous requirements in education, examination, experience, and ethics.
Earning and maintaining the CFP® certification reflects a commitment to professional
excellence, ongoing education, and ethical responsibility—giving consumers confidence
that they are working with a qualified and trusted financial planning professional.
Yes. Missouri State’s financial planning track is a CFP Board Registered Program and
meets the education requirement to sit for the CFP® exam.
No. While many students pursue the CFP® certification, the degree also prepares students
for a wide range of finance and planning careers.
Yes. Through BEAR Essentials, students observe and participate in real financial planning sessions with volunteer
CFP® professionals.
Internships are strongly encouraged, and faculty actively support students in identifying
and preparing for internship opportunities by building connections with professionals
and firms.
Many students successfully combine financial planning with other business disciplines.
Academic advising is available to help plan your path.
If you’re interested in helping people achieve financial security and want a career
that combines technical knowledge with meaningful relationships, this program is a
great fit.
Alumni testimonial
From classroom to career
“The Financial Planning Program gave me a great foundation for my career. Being part
of a CFP Board Registered Program was a huge advantage. It allowed me to take the
CFP® exam sooner and prepared me to work confidently with clients.
“The opportunities and support from the faculty made a lasting impact, and I’m proud
to be a graduate of the program. I would recommend it to anyone building a career
in financial planning."
Blake Arnold, Advisor Support Specialist FAS Wealth Partners Graduate 2023
Meet the program director
Dr. Jana Ault Phillips brings decades of real world experience into the classroom.
She is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, an attorney with a background
in estate planning and real estate law, and former in house counsel for O’Reilly Automotive,
Inc.
Loading Profile. . .
Take the next steps
Your future as a financial planner can start at Missouri State.
Missouri State University’s Financial Planning Track is a CFP Board Registered Program.
The CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification, CFP® certification mark, CFP® mark,
and CFP Board Registered Program mark are owned by Certified Financial Planner Board
of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board).
Missouri State University is authorized by CFP Board to use these marks in connection
with its CFP Board Registered Program.
