NAPFA University

NAPFA University: Mission Statement and Value Proposition

The mission of NAPFA University is to provide a continuum of practical learning for
financial planning professionals that is comprehensive and case study-based.

Through converting knowledge into practical application, students will:
• increase competence and confidence;
• better serve the comprehensive needs of clients; and
• build a stronger business.

NAPFA University “Chancellor” and driving force: Robert Maloney

Deans
School of Risk Management: Roseann Bove
School of Taxation: Bernie Kiely
School of Investments: Scott Leonard
School of Estate Planning: David Foster & Jeff Daniher
School of Communications & Counseling: Peg Downey
School of Retirement Planning: Lesley Brey

NAPFA University Now Offers Full Range of 100-Level Courses

NAPFA’s 2007 National Conference marks the unveiling of the counseling and communications, estate planning, and retirement planning curricula developed by NAPFA University. The presentation of these three courses is a significant milestone for NAPFA University, our unique educational program designed specifically for the needs of new and veteran financial advisors. With these courses, we complete our initial offerings at the basic, 100-level in each of the six core disciplines envisioned for NAPFA University.

Our “School of Core Competency” consists of six sub-schools: tax planning, estate planning, risk management, retirement planning, investments, and the school of communications and counseling. Each school is headed by a Dean, who has created a committee and outlined the basic courses. 

This is only part of an ambitious agenda. Those working on NAPFA University envision courses covering more advanced material, as well as an expansion into practice management matters. NAPFA University, if it fulfills its initial promise, can break the mold for educational programming in our industry. By focusing on how financial planning principles are applied in the real world with real clients, NAPFA University goes beyond the more abstract education that most advisors receive.

NAPFA University is designed to pick up where the CFP/CHFC designations leave off. In other words, the schools will provide practical knowledge, with an emphasis on real-life case studies necessary to convert textbook knowledge into the early stages of expertise. The courses also will serve as refreshers for subjects that advisors have perhaps not encountered in their practices for a while, or as a way to get up-to-date on planning areas towards which a practice is evolving.

For each of the six core competencies, the initial task has been to develop two 50-minute presentations of classroom education, to be followed by a comprehensive case study that will be carried through all six schools of learning.

The Future
The expectations of the University as we move forward involve rotating the six schools of core competencies throughout NAPFA’s fall conferences. Each year, the University will present three courses; with the expectation that the following year, the remaining three courses will be presented. In this manner, all six schools will be presented every two years.

In addition, any other conference chair may request that we provide selected presentations from the University’s curriculum as it is developed.

• Development of intermediate courses is on our priority list. Work on these 200-level and higher courses has already begun.
• School of Practice Management. Eventually, NAPFA University will provide courses about how to run a planning business, building on and advancing beyond our Basic Training and the FOSTER seminars.
• We have on the drawing board a one-week long retreat, possibly during the summer months in a university setting.
• We want to develop a school or course material devoted to and built around the concept of the Larger Firm Initiative.
• NAPFA’s Website will have a separate section devoted to NAPFA University for both access to information and for comments.