Personal Financial Planning

Video of Craft your career at WMU Haworth: Personal financial planning major

CRAFT YOUR CAREER AT WMU HAWORTH

At the Haworth College of Business, students craft their careers with experiences that take them outside the classroom and their comfort zones, leading to increased confidence and job opportunities. Hear from Makenna—in her own words—about how WMU Haworth has supported her.

Personal financial planning

Interested in helping people plan for their financial futures? In Western Michigan University’s personal financial planning program, led by some of the best faculty, you’ll gain knowledge of securities valuation, insurance, estate and retirement planning, and employee benefits.

Nationally recognized by Financial Planning Magazine and certified by the Certified Financial Planner Board, this top undergraduate program will help you gain a strong foundation in financial planning. Learn about investments while managing $2.6 million of real money, with additional opportunities to prepare for the Series 7 exam and earn a Bloomberg Certification. In addition, the major prepares students for the CFP exam, where they pass at a rate 27.5% higher than the national average.

With a bachelor’s degree in personal financial planning, you could be the CFP others rely on to help make their financial futures secure and successful.

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student organizations

Our personal financial planning majors learn, grow and contribute to the success of our student organizations.

The Financial Services Club offers college students a variety of activities, such as finance speakers, resume workshops, travel and volunteer opportunities, and membership in the Society of Financial Service Professionals.
The Financial Planning Association brings together students, professors and professionals with the goal of heightening awareness of financial planning among the WMU community.

Personal financial planning major coursework

Required courses

ECON 2010—Principles of Microeconomics
ECON 2020—Principles of Macroeconomics
FIN 3100—Introduction to Financial Markets
FIN 3510—Investment Analysis

Electives (five courses; 15 credit hours required)

ACTY 3240—Introductory Tax Accounting
Required course for students planning to sit for the CFP® Certification examination.

FIN 3010—Financial Coaching
FIN 3300—Real Estate Fundamentals
FIN 3310—Real Estate Finance
FIN 3450—Computer Applications in Finance
FIN 3600—Risk and Insurance
Required course for students planning to sit for the CFP® Certification examination.

FIN 3720—Estate Planning
Required course for students planning to sit for the CFP® Certification examination.

FIN 3730—Retirement Planning and Employee Benefits
Required course for students planning to sit for the CFP® Certification examination.

FIN 4320—Real Estate Investments
FIN 4330—Real Estate Appraisal
FIN 4370—Real Estate Management
FIN 4480—Internships in Finance
FIN 4530—Securities Analysis
FIN 4710—Applications in Personal Financial Planning
Required course for students planning to sit for the CFP® Certification examination.

FIN 5530—Student Managed Investment Fund

career placement

Students have been placed in a variety of professional positions in financial institutions and brokerage, insurance, personal financial planning and accounting firms, including: