AICPA Certificate Programs

A cornerstone of personal financial planning services

The Investment Planning Learning program is an informative and engaging learning experience that will enhance your knowledge of investment planning.

Updated for recent legislation affecting many areas of investments, including the SECURE Act and SECURE 2.0, Investment Planning Learning includes eight courses covering steps in the investment planning life cycle, along with a discussion of planning for and funding higher education. If you are seeking a thorough understanding of investment planning as outlined in the AICPA Personal Financial Planning (PFP) Body of Knowledge, this program is for you.

This program includes the following courses:

• The Investment Planning Process
• Investment Data Gathering and Analysis
• Creating the Investment Policy Statement
• Portfolio Management
• Investment Vehicles and Strategies
• Investment Monitoring and Updating
• Integrating Investments with the Financial Plan
• Education Planning

About the Personal Financial Planning Certificate Program

Investment Planning Learning has been developed as part of the Personal Financial Planning Certificate Program, which is a series of certificates covering the core areas of personal financial planning, including retirement, estate, risk management and insurance, and investment planning, and how tax planning relates to each area.

You can earn the Investment Planning Certificate digital badge by passing the Investment Planning Certificate Exam. The Investment Planning Certificate provides an opportunity to enhance your knowledge and demonstrate competence in that specific discipline. You can save when you purchase the Investment Planning Learning and Exam as a bundle.

Who Will Benefit

CPAs, financial planners, and qualified professionals with basic knowledge of, and interest in, personal financial planning.

Key Topics

• The risk management planning process
• Needs analysis and insurance contracts
• Life insurance
• Annuities
• Personal risk insurance
• Group insurance and other employee benefits
• Education planning

Learning Outcomes

• Identify the different phases of the investment planning process.
• Identify the types of client data necessary to develop an effective investment plan.
• Recognize the essential elements that form an effective investment policy statement.
• Determine the responsibilities of the personal financial planner in selecting an investment adviser.
• Identify different investment vehicles and their associated risk levels.
• Analyze a client’s investment performance and goal achievement as part of an updating and monitoring engagement.
• Determine how to integrate investment planning with other areas of personal financial planning.
• Determine the information that must be gathered to develop an education plan.