MBA

MBA Financial Planning

The Master of Business Administration in Financial Planning is designed specifically for the student interested in earning an MBA in addition to acquiring the Graduate Certificate in Financial Planning. Our Graduate Certificate in Financial Planning is a curriculum approved by the Certified Financial Planners Board. Earning an MBA in Financial Planning from Cleary University, along with a graduate certificate in financial planning, also fulfills the Certified Financial Planners Board’s requirements with the additional benefits commensurate with a graduate degree.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to: 

  • Evaluate the risk and insurance needs of a client.
  • Develop an investment portfolio for a client based on risk return preferences.
  • Compare and contrast different employee benefits options.
  • Forecast the retirement needs of a client.
  • Incorporate effective tax strategies for clients.
  • Prescribe estate planning strategies for clients.
  • Construct a financial plan based on the client’s needs.
  • Write and present effectively a financial plan to clients.
  • Practice financial planning with integrity.

Career Opportunities

The MBA in Financial Planning consists of thirteen courses designed to provide students with the analytical abilities, communication skills, and technical competence that will enable them to serve the public in a complex and changing business environment. Overall, the degree prepares candidates for Certified Financial Planners certification with a balance of personal finance and management skills that will help them find jobs in roles such as:

  • Personal Financial Advisors
  • Financial Analysts
  • Sales Managers

Occupational Outlook*

  • Average starting salary $73,000 in 2012
  • A 2.0% increase in starting salaries from 2011
*National Association of Colleges and Employers: September 2012 Salary Survey.

Required Courses

  • STR 606 - Strategic Management

    This course synthesizes and integrates the concepts and techniques developed in prior courses for developing business objectives and strategic plans. This course incorporates the external and internal events that influence strategic direction of the firm through the use of cases and computer simulation. An important element of this course is a course-long project in which students examine a specific industry from a strategic success perspective.

  • MBA 500 - Foundations in Graduate Studies

    The Cleary University MBA program places unique demands and expectations on the student. Computer and Internet technologies to help students learn more efficiently and effectively are emphasized. In addition to the content presented in this online course, students are also invited to an on-campus component of this course. Software and Internet techniques to maximize information technology in learning, which have counterparts in business practice, will be explored. Overall strategies for academic success, such as graduate-level approaches to secondary research, and writing at the graduate level are reviewed. This class familiarizes students with the University’s graduate academic policies and resources. Successful completion of this course is required for continuation in the MBA program.

  • MKT 605 - Strategic Marketing Management

    This course prepares managers to deal with core domestic marketing issues in the consumer/industrial, and private/public/nonprofit sectors, by providing a strategic way to think about the firm’s products, services, and markets, including marketing strategy and implementation. Central to managing a business, marketing provides intelligence about customers, competitors, and the general business environment to ensure long-term viability of the enterprise.

  • MGT 636 - Organizational Behavior and Theory

    This course focuses on the skills and techniques necessary to help organizations operate more effectively in today’s fast-changing, competitive environment. An effective organization is one that fosters teamwork and partnerships, both internally and externally, with the goal of improving quality and productivity. From this perspective, organizational success requires attention to behavioral, structural, planning and human resource components. In addition to behavioral topics such as leadership and motivation, this course will also focus on key issues associated with organizational structure and planning, including systems thinking, change management, planning, control and service management. Human resource management topics such as recruitment, selection, employee training and development are also included.

  • MGT 625 - Quantitative Managerial Analysis

    This course uses case studies as a method to analyze data using descriptive statistics and basic inferential techniques such as hypothesis testing using t-tests. Students will also learn to analyze relationships between variables through predictive modeling and time series analysis, design of experiments, and methods for quality improvement.

  • MAC 605 - Financial Accounting

    This course introduces the fundamental concepts in financial accounting that are used to create corporate financial statements for external users. Major topics include accrual accounting, transaction analysis, construction of the balance sheet and income statement, and statement of cash flows. Students will then apply their knowledge of financial accounting to analyze and interpret financial statements.

  • ECO 645 - Managerial Economics

    Micro- and macroeconomic theories are taught to help students understand the effect of these theories on the firm’s goals. The student’s ability to analyze the economic constraints within which the firm operates and the implication of government monetary and fiscal policies is discussed in this course. Practical application of economic theory to business cases is integrated into the course.

  • LAW 605 - Law and Ethics

    Law, ethics, and social responsibility often have important influences on business operations, and managers have the ability to influence them. Through this course students will gain an understanding of basic business legal and regulatory principles; how federal, state, and local regulatory agencies work; how societal forces affect businesses; and how managers can take a proactive lead in the process.

  • FNP 660 - Master's Capstone Project-Examination Preparation

    This is a six-week comprehensive review of the body of knowledge covered on the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ examination offered by the Certificated Financial Planner Board of Standards. It is assumed that participants in this course will have an in-depth understanding of the body of knowledge in the areas of general principles, insurance, income tax, investments, retirement planning, employee benefits, and estate planning. The CFP exam includes case studies and multiple choice questions. This course addresses the methods to answer these case study questions and will focus on application, analysis, and case evaluation.

  • FNP 650 - Estate Planning

    This course covers the topics in the estate planning section of the educational requirement for the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ examination. Topics include wills, trusts, gifting strategies, tax implications in estate planning, business and inter-family transfers, incapacity planning, postmortem techniques, charitable giving, use of life insurance in estate planning, and the role of fiduciaries. Case studies will be used to illustrate estate planning principles.

  • FNP 640 - Income Tax Planning

    This course covers the topics in the income tax planning section of the educational requirement for the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ examination. Topics include income tax law fundamentals, income taxes of business entities, income taxation of trusts and estates, alternative minimum tax, and tax implications of charitable contributions and deductions. Case studies will be used extensively in this course.

  • FNP 620 - Insurance and Risk Management

    This course covers the topics in the insurance planning and risk management section of the educational requirement for the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ examination. Topics include: principles of risk and insurance; analysis and evaluation of risk exposure property, casualty and liability insurance; health, disability, long-term care insurance; and life insurance. Case studies will be used extensively in this course.

  • FNP 610 - Investment Planning

    This course covers the topics in the investment planning section of the educational requirement for the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ examination. Topics include investment theory, risk, return, quantitative analysis, portfolio management, asset pricing models, stock valuation, bond valuation, and trading strategies. Case studies will be used extensively in this course.

  • FNP 600 - General Principles of Financial Planning

    This course covers the topics in the general principles of financial planning section of the educational requirement for the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ examination. Topics include credit and debt management, education funding, savings options, time value of money, risk and return, business law, consumer protection law, economic, communication, and ethical responsibility. Case studies will be used extensively in this course.