June 11, 2025
Jun 11, 2025: Faculty in the News – Saundra Davis
Loud budgeting is a personal finance trend that encourages people to be vocal about their budget and speak up when they can’t afford to spend more.
Financial Planning, MS
Program at a Glance
Program
Financial Planning, MS
Format
Online, Hybrid
Total Units
30
Requirements
No GMAT or
GRE Required
Fall ’25 Final Application Deadline
August 17
Program Overview
The Master of Science in Financial Planning is designed for individuals aspiring to careers as financial planners, investment advisors, or money managers, as well as those interested in specialized areas like estate planning, insurance, taxes, or real estate. Offered online or hybrid, our comprehensive graduate program delves into financial planning principles, income tax planning, risk management, estate planning, investments, employee benefits, retirement planning, and the psychology of money.
Established in 1980, GGU’s program is the oldest accredited Master of Science in Financial Planning degree in the country. For more than 40 years, we’ve been preparing professionals, both new to the field and experienced, to expertly navigate both the technical complexities and the human-centered emotional aspects of financial decision-making. Our curriculum exceeds CFP® standards by emphasizing the interconnectedness of financial planning topics and the unique needs of each client, ensuring graduates possess the knowledge to apply concepts across diverse situations and understand how various financial areas are interdependent.
Our distinguished faculty are active practitioners and award-winning thought leaders who bring real-world cases into the classroom, creating a dynamic and hands-on learning environment. The faculty represent a wide spectrum of the financial services industry, including Registered Investment Advisors, Investment Managers, educators, and wealth managers at large institutions. This practical expertise, combined with a commitment to mentorship, ensures students gain a competitive edge by developing a unique blend of technical knowledge and essential interpersonal skills. Our graduates are equipped to build deeper client relationships and deliver truly comprehensive financial guidance, which is why employers actively seek out GGU alumni.
We teach our students to view the work of a financial planner through a “quality of life” lens, focusing on how to assist clients in achieving their life goals and dreams. This involves mastering critical technical issues, such as optimal tax structures and asset allocation strategies, while also addressing the emotional and psychological predispositions that can impact financial plans. Our overarching objective is to ensure graduates possess both the technical and relationship skills necessary to create and deliver financial strategies that genuinely support their clients’ progress towards their most important life goals.
Watch the Info Session
In this 30-minute info session, we explored Golden Gate University’s Financial Planning programs, including the MS in Financial Planning, MS in Advanced Financial Planning, and Financial Planning Undergraduate and Graduate Certificates.
What is Financial Planning?
Dave Yeske, Founding Program Director of GGU’s Financial Planning programs offers an overview of financial planning.
Message from the Program Director
If you are looking to start or build a rewarding career in personal financial planning, Golden Gate University’s MS in Financial Planning program delivers what others don’t – a comprehensive education that satisfies CFP® certification requirements while providing specialized expertise that sets you apart. Choose from our industry-leading concentrations in Taxation, Estate Planning, or our unique Financial Life Planning track to customize your professional path.
What makes GGU different? Our program bridges the technical-emotional divide that exists in financial planning today. While other programs focus solely on spreadsheets and regulations, we understand that success requires both numerical proficiency and human connection. Our faculty members aren’t just professors – they’re practicing professionals who bring real-world cases directly into your learning experience, ensuring you graduate practice-ready.
Our signature Financial Life Planning concentration remains unmatched in the industry, integrating psychological principles, coaching techniques, and behavioral finance into a cohesive approach to client relationships. This innovative curriculum teaches you to address not just financial transactions but the human emotions and behaviors that drive financial decisions – creating deeper client relationships and better outcomes.
Whether you’re launching your financial planning career or enhancing your existing practice, GGU’s MS in Financial Planning provides the competitive advantage employers and clients notice. Join a program with proven success placing graduates in leading financial firms across the country. Don’t just learn financial planning – master the art and science of helping real people achieve their financial goals. Your future clients deserve nothing less.
— Saundra Davis, Director, Financial Planning Programs
Degree Highlights
Online or Hybrid Courses
30 Credits
No GRE/GMAT Required
Taught by Industry Leaders
Financial Life Planning Concentration
Graduate in as Few as 12 Months*
*Estimated completion time for full-time students.
Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the Master’s in Financial Planning degree program will possess:
- The skills and knowledge of financial planning that are represented in the full range of topics covered by the CFP™ examination.
- Interpersonal skills necessary to maintain successful client relationships and to work effectively with colleagues, individually or in teams.
- The quantitative, analytical, and technical skills needed to address complex financial situations.
- The ability to apply their knowledge to real-world problems in financial planning.
- Knowledge of the legal and regulatory environment in which financial planning occurs and familiarity with relevant licensing, reporting, and compliance requirements.
- The ability to recognize the ethical dilemmas that may arise in financial planning practice and familiarity with appropriate responses to those dilemmas, as reflected in the CFP™ Board’s Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility.
Explore Financial Planning Career Paths
Based on recent McKinsey data, the financial planning industry is facing a significant talent shortage at a critical time. Their research estimates a shortage of approximately 200,000 financial advisors in the US over the next decade. This shortage comes at a particularly challenging time, as McKinsey estimates that approximately $84 trillion in wealth will be transferred from Baby Boomers to younger generations by 2045. Further exacerbating this shortage, nearly 40% of advisors are expected to retire within the next decade.
Client expectations are simultaneously evolving, with increasing demand for advisors who can provide comprehensive financial planning that addresses behavioral and emotional aspects of financial decision-making, not just technical skills. A Master’s in Financial Planning is particularly timely and valuable in today’s market, and our graduates are well-prepared to excel in roles requiring both technical expertise and client relationship skills.
Recent GGU graduates have secured impressive positions in the financial services industry, including:
- Tax Manager at Deloitte
- Estate Planning Associate at Morgan Stanley
- Financial Life Planning Specialist at Charles Schwab
- Trust and Estate Attorney at Baker McKenzie
- Senior Tax Consultant at KPMG
- Wealth Management Advisor at Northwestern Mutual
Admission Requirements
- Applicants should hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or the equivalent from a recognized foreign institution (outside the United State), and provide official transcripts.
- Master’s degree holders only need to submit transcripts from previous graduate programs. However, applicants are encouraged to submit all transcripts to maximize transfer credit.
- All applicants will need to submit a Statement of Purpose (SOP) and a resume.
- For applicants with a GPA under 3.0, the Statement of Purpose should address the circumstances that led to the applicant’s academic performance, what has changed, and why they think they’ll be more successful now.
- Applicants whose native language is not English must meet the English Language Proficiency Admission Requirements.
Proficiency Requirements
- Math Proficiency: Intermediate Algebra (Math 20); See Graduate Mathematics Proficiency Requirement for more information.
- Writing Proficiency: Students are expected to possess proficiency in writing to ensure they can be successful in their course of study. Students may meet this requirement by satisfying one of the screening criteria listed under Graduate Writing Proficiency Requirement.
The standard proficiency requirements above for the MS in Financial Planning will be waived for students who have completed the GGU Financial Planning Graduate Certificate within the last two years. In their place, the student is required to submit an official transcript of a completed undergraduate or graduate degree from a regionally accredited university of an English speaking country, and to have earned a minimum GPA of 3.0. The student’s transcript from the certificate program will also be considered in the admissions decision.
Curriculum
OR
Take three 300- or 400-level graduate courses with FI or FP prefixes.
Students who satisfy their electives by taking FP 447, FP 440, and FP 449, will also satisfy the course requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Financial Life Planning.
For the most up-to-date program information and course listings, visit GGU’s catalog.
Graduate Tuition
The tuition for most graduate degree programs at Golden Gate University is $1,090 per unit, covering the cost of high-quality, career-focused education led by experienced faculty. This investment supports essential resources, including personalized academic advising, state-of-the-art technology, and student services designed to help adult learners succeed.
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