The complete program can be completed in only nine months. WCU has had a successful financial planning degree program for five years. The certificate program will provides classroom instruction in financial planning for professionals in western North Carolina. Upon successfully completing all five courses, students will have fulfilled all education requirements necessary to take the CFP® Certification Exam.
Where
Owens Conference Center, UNCA Campus, Asheville
When
TBA
Each course is six consecutive weeks. There will be a 1 or 2 week break between each course. (This varies slightly with a few courses.)
Cost
TBA
Courses
1. Investment Planning
2. Intro to Financial Planning & Risk Management
3. Retirement Planning
4. Income Tax Planning
5. Estate Planning
Courses may be taken independently. Dates may vary slightly with proper notification.
Primary Instructors
Grace C. Allen, Ph.D is an associate professor of Finance at Western Carolina University. She is the director of the financial planning degree and certificate programs at Western. In addition to being the director of the program, she teaches extensively in the financial planning program. At Western Carolina she has received the Board of Governors Excellence in Teaching Award, Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award, twice received the Jay I. Kneedler Teaching Award and three times received an Innovative and Creative Teaching Award. She is currently involved in research in the areas of financial planning and international business.
Scott Gardner, MBA, CFP®: Scott is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certificant and worked as a financial planner in Asheville for five years before joining the defined benefit pension department of NTCA. Scott holds the NASD series 7, 63 and 65 as well as the NC Life and Health agent license. He has a BSBA in Financial Planning as well as an MBA from Western Carolina University where he is an instructor in the financial planning degree program. He currently serves on the board of directors of the Financial Planning Association of Western North Carolina.
Contact
To inquire about the program please contact Grace C. Allen, Associate Professor of Finance, at 828-227-3189 or email at alleng@wcu.edu.
Western Carolina University does not certify individuals to use the CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and 
marks. CFP certification is granted solely by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. to individuals who, in addition to completing an educational requirement such as this CFP Board-Registered Program, have met ethics, experience and examination requirements.