This final course in the certificate program is open only to students who have completed all other required courses. You'll apply the skills and knowledge gained in prior courses through the extensive use of case studies, then undertake the process of preparing and presenting a complete financial plan in an environment of non-liability. You'll be exposed to the practical business and professional aspects of conducting a financial counseling practice, including ethics, and CFP®; standards of practice.

It is important that you have already successfully completed the two Foundation courses and five Required courses prior to enrolling in this final Capstone course. If you have any questions or have not met the prerequisite requirement, contact the department for approval by emailing extension@ucsc.edu before enrolling in this course.

Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of the course, you should be able to

• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the content found within the Financial Planning curriculum and effectively apply and integrate this information in the formulation of a financial plan.
• Effectively communicate the financial plan, both orally and in writing, including information based on research, peer, colleague or simulated client interaction and/or results emanating from synthesis of material.
• Collect all necessary and relevant qualitative and quantitative information required to develop a financial plan.
• Analyze personal financial situations, evaluating clients’ objectives, needs, and values to develop an appropriate strategy within the financial plan.
• Demonstrate logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of various approaches to a specific problem.
• Evaluate the impact of economic, political, and regulatory issues with regard to the financial plan.
• Apply the CFP Board Financial Planning Practice Standards to the financial planning process.
• Apply active listening skills to client life changing and crisis events such as death, marriage, divorce, moving, change of employment, birth.
• Employ the findings from Behavioral Finance to client interactions.
• Understand the sources of money conflict in client’s lives.

Taking the CFP® exam? Once you’ve completed the requirements for the Personal Financial Planning certificate and enrolled in the Personal Financial Planning Certificate Completion Fee (O-CE0163), you may sit for the CFP® exam. Note: If you want to take the CFP® exam, please contact us at least 6-8 weeks before the exam date to pay the $195 verification payment. Contact tdoyle@ucsc.edu for more information.