Financial planning undergraduate degree program new at SU

SALISBURY, MD ---Salisbury University's Franklin P. Perdue School of Business now offers a financial planning undergraduate degree program, and it is registered with Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc.

An independent certifying organization, CFP Board awards the CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ marks. The Perdue School is one of about 70 undergraduate programs nationwide to be registered with CFP Board. Students receiving a business degree while completing the financial planning track at Salisbury University will be eligible to sit for the national CFP® Certification Examination.

According to Dr. E. Tylor Claggett, the financial planning track director at the Perdue School, "CFP Board certification greatly enhances the career opportunities of financial planning degree recipients. Graduates can begin their own financial planning business or work for a larger firm. Financial planners also join banks as trust officers or law firms and design retirement plans."

Claggett characterized the current job market as excellent for financial planning graduates. "With Baby Boomers entering retirement, many with considerable accumulated wealth, competent and qualified financial planners will be much in demand," said Claggett. "Wealthy seniors will need seasoned professional advice on how to protect and invest their lifetime assets."

CFP Board has four requirements for certification: education, examination, experience and ethics.

Elaine Bedel, chair of CFP Board's board of governors, said, "CFP Board is pleased that Salisbury University is now offering its approved financial planning curriculum. We believe the Perdue School's program will help many dedicated students pursue a rewarding career at financial planning's highest standards by preparing them to sit for our CFP® Certification Examination."

Dr. William Moore, dean of the Perdue School, explained, "We are truly honored to have our curriculum recognized by CFP Board as one that meets its rigorous standards. Providing challenging educational opportunities that enable our students to distinguish themselves is a tradition at Salisbury University. This new program is an example of the growing list of such opportunities and indicates our commitment to prepare students for success in today's competitive business environment."

SU's Perdue School of Business was endowed in 1986 by a multimillion dollar gift from agri-businessman and philanthropist Frank Perdue. The Perdue School's baccalaureate and master's programs are accredited by AACSB International; only 25 percent of the nation's business schools enjoy that distinction.

Those interested in the new financial planning degree program should send inquiries to Dr. Claggett at 410-677-5021 or etclaggett@salisbury.edu.

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ which it awards to individuals who successfully complete initial and ongoing certification requirements. Salisbury University does not certify individuals to use the CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification marks. CFP certification is granted only by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. to those persons who, in addition to completing an educational requirement such as this CFP Board-Registered program, have met its ethics, experience and examination requirements.