The field of financial planning is growing exponentially, and as a result, the demand for financial planners who assist individuals in planning for their financial future, has greatly increased. This NEW 30-credit financial planning degree, offered by the NYU SPS Division of Programs in Business, prepares students for financial planning jobs in private practice, as well as in settings such as banks, investment firms, and wealth management firms. As large numbers of financial planners retire, a financial advisor career will become a path that can provide a competitive salary as well as great satisfaction in helping others. In fact, US News and World Report ranks financial planning among the best business jobs and best-paying jobs (12/2020). The MS in Financial Planning offers all of the benefits, resources, and prestige of earning your degree at NYU, while building financial planning and analysis skills that prepare you for a lucrative career.
Master’s (MS) in Financial Planning
Degree Advantage
- Can be completed in as little as one year of full-time study
- Flexible full- or part-time study options
- Degree core curriculum that prepares you for financial planning jobs in a variety of settings
- Degree concentrations in Behavioral Finance and in Financial Analytics
- Exposes you to financial planning and analysis, as well
as real-world case studies - Capstone course that integrates each of the major aspects of financial planning
Who Should Consider Earning the Master’s in Financial Planning?
Earning the MS in Financial Planning is beneficial for both early career professionals and mid-career professionals, who will be prepared with strong analytical skills to enter the industry. Those who have studied finance, economics, accounting, law, and business, and who enjoy working with people would do well in a career that involves personal financial planning. While some financial planners are able to learn skills on the job, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that a master’s degree can improve a personal financial advisor’s chances of moving into a management position and attracting new clients.
Message from the Faculty Lead
The MS in Financial Planning program meets the requirements to sit for the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) Exam and provides an opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to become a financial professional. The program consists of the core CFP® curriculum and offers two concentrations, one in Financial Analytics and the other in Behavioral Finance.
Gain Skills to Work in Corporate Settings and Private Practice
Not sure whether you would like to work for a company/ organization or start your own financial planning practice? This degree prepares you for both options. Gain the skills to work as part of a larger team as well as the knowledge and business acumen to pursue a career that provides you with the opportunity to make your own hours and choose the clients whom you would like to serve.
Explore Degree Concentrations That Provide the Professional Advantage
Meticulously researched to ensure relevancy in the evolving, data-driven financial landscape, the MS in Financial Planning provides concentrations in the areas of Behavioral Finance and Financial Analytics that will set you apart by building skills and knowledge in emerging areas of the field. You’ll be prepared to understand the psychological and emotional factors that drive financial decision-making and have the option to delve deep into the financial analysis that affords a look at key trends.
Learn From Financial Planning Experts
Those teaching in the MS in Financial Planning are industry experts, with years of experience in the field. They impart the knowledge you need now in the form of immediately applicable skills, which you can use on the job. In addition, they provide the underlying guidelines for becoming a well-rounded, effective, and ethical financial planner—information and advice that will serve you during the entire span of your career.
Career and Job Opportunities
As a student enrolled in the MS in Financial Planning, you will receive expert career advice from faculty members in the program, and the award-winning NYU Wasserman Center for Career Development at NYU SPS. You’ll also have the opportunity to join a cohort of students from a wide variety of cultural and professional backgrounds, which allows for enriched classroom discussion and networking opportunities.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is financial planning?
Financial planning is the comprehensive process of helping individuals and families meet their lifetime financial goals through the proper management of their financial resources. Currently financial planning is growing at a rate faster than many other industries. An increased number of financial planners will be necessary to meet the growing demand for future jobs in the industry, which is ranked 23rd by market size and is the 179th largest in the United States.
What does a financial planner actually do?
Financial planning professionals are trained and hired by clients to gather the necessary information to assess the clients’ financial situation, identify their financial goals and objectives, develop recommendations, communicate and implement those recommendations, and provide a written plan for continuous monitoring. Studies show that individuals who use the services of a comprehensive financial planner tend to do better financially.
Why pursue a career in financial planning?
The industry is faced with an aging workforce since 56% of financial planners are over the age of 50. Opportunities for individuals who want to build a lucrative and promising career in the industry have never been greater. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for a financial advisor in 2018 was $88,980 nationally, and in New York the average annual salary was $164,260.
Why earn an MS in Financial Planning at NYU SPS?
The Master of Science in Financial Planning is housed within the School of Professional Studies (SPS) at NYU. SPS has a long history of training students in applied disciplines where the emphasis is on providing them with the knowledge, hands-on experience, and the development of job skills pertinent to the industry, thus graduating the kind of students that employers seek to recruit.
What financial planning courses are available through this degree?
Financial planning students can be expected to take courses in financial planning and risk management, investments and wealth management, income tax strategies, retirement planning strategies, estate planning, research applications, and a comprehensive capstone course, which combine all the areas of financial planning. In addition, students will be able to choose an area of concentration. Students that want to work directly with clients can take courses in behavioral finance while those who wish to work in a more data-driven financial planning role can take courses in financial analytics. Students may be able to secure internship opportunities for practical experience.
What types of financial planning jobs are available?
One of the best things about a career in financial planning is the flexibility it offers. Many financial planners become entrepreneurs and establish their own practices; this affords the planners the most flexibility and control over their careers. Many others decide to work for a financial planning firm with direct interaction with clients or in a research or analytics capacity. Yet some others may wish to work for large financial service organizations or banks.
Is a career in financial planning rewarding?
Financial planning has a direct impact on people’s lives by transforming their financial health. It is about helping individuals and families achieve financial well-being and helping people to get out of debt, send their children to college, or retire comfortably. A career as a financial advisor was rated number nine by US News and World Report in their Best Business Jobs survey. The survey also ranked the career as a financial advisor 44th on their list of the top 100 best jobs.