Clemson financial planning program cited by industry publication
October 5, 2016
Clemson University has been recognized by Financial Planning magazine as having one of the top 75 programs in the nation for students pursuing financial planning careers.
Clemson has been on Financial Planning’s list of top programs previously, but this year the publication eliminated certificate-granting programs and instead focused solely on degree-granting programs. Clemson students on a financial planning track receive a Bachelor of Science degree in financial management with a concentration in financial planning.
Of the four academic emphasis areas in finance, financial planning is the second largest, with corporate finance accounting for the largest number of students.
“There’s a huge movement in the financial planning world to work with millennials and across other generational groups,” said Josh Harris, department of finance lecturer. “Students have recognized the career and income-earning opportunities that exist in this rapidly growing field.”
In May 2016, Clemson’s department of finance had 22 students graduate from its financial planning program with a degree in financial management. That number is expected to grow to 30 in May 2017 and upwards of 40 the following year.
Lily Eyraud, a 2012 Clemson graduate, recently received her Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation. She said the finance department’s program prepared her well for a career in financial planning and achieving the industry designation.
“The majority of the educational requirements for the CFP exam were covered in my classes at Clemson,” she said. “Being familiar with some of the topics like retirement funding, bond calculations, financial ratios and types of savings vehicles were a real advantage as I prepared for the exam.”
According to the CFP Board, there are more than 370 registered financial planning programs at 230 institutions in the U.S. Clemson is among the schools which the CFP Board has designated as having a certified program. The CFP Board estimates there are approximately 75,000 certified financial planners nationwide, including nearly 900 in South Carolina.
“Being on this list shows the commitment and priority Clemson University and the department of finance put on preparing students for meaningful and successful careers,” Harris said. “It is also an acknowledgment that we have a quality program committed to meeting the requirements set forth by the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) Board.”
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CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ are certification marks owned by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. These marks are awarded to individuals who successfully complete the CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.
