CFP® Professional Education Program

CFP® certification signals credibility, comprehensive planning expertise, and professional readiness. For many financial professionals, it can strengthen client trust, support career advancement, and create greater long-term opportunity.

Professionals who pursue CFP® certification often do so to:

• strengthen their professional positioning
• build trust with clients and employers
• increase advancement opportunities
• improve earning potential
• gain greater career stability

CFP Board research also points to strong professional satisfaction among CFP® professionals. Recent findings show that many CFP® professionals are satisfied with their career choice, satisfied with their decision to pursue certification, and would recommend the certification to a colleague.

A more personal and supported pathway for working professionals

The University of Dallas partners with Zahn Associates, Inc., to offer this CFP^® Professional Education Program. Our program consists of seven classes, is CFP Board Registered, and includes a Capstone course. The program is non-credit and exceeds CFP Board’s 270-hour coursework requirement.

We offer two formats designed to help working professionals move through the program with structure, support, and a schedule that fits their lives. Both follow the same curriculum, use the same materials, and are delivered online via Zoom with a live professor. 

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Executive Schedule

• Designed for students who prefer a faster pace and stronger momentum.
• Classes FP100–FP600 follow a 4-week format with 6 sessions over four weeks
  • Weeks 1–2: Friday evening and Saturday
  • Weeks 3–4: Saturday only
  • Friday: 5:30–9:30 p.m. CT
  • Saturday: 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. CT
• Typical program completion is approximately 12 months
• Cost per class: $800, includes materials

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Extended Program

• Designed for students who want a steadier pace and maximum work-life balance.
• Classes FP100–FP600 follow a 7-week format holding 8 classes over 7 weeks.
  • Weeks 1–6: Wednesday evening
  • Week 7: Wednesday evening and Saturday
  • Wednesday: 6:00 - 10:00 p.m. CT
  • Saturday: 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. CT
• Typical program completion is approximately 19 months
• Cost per class: $800, includes materials

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Capstone (FP700)

The Capstone course is the culminating experience of the program. The Capstone format is the same for both the Executive Schedule and Extended Program. Attendance is mandatory and no missed sessions are allowed.

• 3-week schedule
  • Weeks 1–3: Friday evening and Saturday
  • Fridays: 5:30–9:30 p.m. CT (Scheduled one on one calls with your professor)
  • Saturdays: 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. CT
• Cost: $1,045, including materials and CFP Board’s education submission fee.

Upcoming Cohort:
Executive Schedule: May 29, 2026 - March 13, 2027

• Designed for working professionals who want to complete the coursework requirement in under a year. Class sessions are held on Friday nights and Saturdays. The first class starts May 29, 2026. 
• # Classes to Attend: 42 (15 Fridays and 27 Saturdays)
• Registration Deadline: May 14, 2026 (FP100: General Principles)
• Click here to learn more about the upcoming Executive Schedule Program.

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Upcoming Cohort:
Extended Program: June 17, 2026 - October 2, 2027

• Designed for professionals seeking structured, paced progression through all of the CFP Board's coursework requirement over ~16 months. Class sessions are held on Wednesday evenings and select Saturdays.
• # Classes to Attend: 54 (42 Wednesdays, 9 Saturdays, and 3 Fridays)
• Registration Deadline: June 2, 2026 (FP100: General Principles)
• Click here to learn more about the upcoming Extended Program.

Applied, interactive coursework

Each of the FP100–FP600 courses combines lecture, guided practice, and quizzes to help students build knowledge and confidence throughout the program. Students also work through case studies in a variety of formats, including individual work, group work, and full-class discussion. In addition, students complete Build a Client assignments that support applied learning across the curriculum.

Capstone Experience (FP700)

The Capstone course builds on the material covered in the first six courses and serves as the culminating experience of the program. Emphasis is placed on applying financial planning concepts in a comprehensive way, similar to how they are used in professional practice. Through case studies, applied planning work, and one-on-one interaction with the professor, students bring together the major disciplines studied across the curriculum into a more integrated financial planning process.

Tuition & Fees

Our pricing is designed to be clear and transparent, with course materials included in the tuition price.

• Tuition is $800 per class for General Principles through Estate Planning (FP100–FP600), plus $850 for Capstone (FP700). Course materials are included in tuition.
• CFP Board charges a $195 completion submission fee to verify coursework completion. This fee is collected on the Capstone invoice unless a student is responsible for self-reporting to CFP Board.
  • Self-reporting is required when students have taken classes in multiple programs, or for Challenge Status students.

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Payment Options

We offer multiple payment options to support working professionals:

• Pay per class — Students may pay for one class at a time.
• Deferred payment option — Available with the pay-per-class option, this allows payment to be made after grades are issued rather than before class begins, which may better align with employer reimbursement timelines.
• Discounted full-program payment — Students who pay for the full program upfront receive a $300 discount. University of Dallas alumni and military participants who pay for the full program upfront receive a $600 discount.
  • Discounts do not stack.

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Accepted Payment Methods

The University of Dallas accepts the following forms of payment:

• Cash — Cash payments may be made through the Office of Finance during regular business hours.
• Credit/Debit Card — We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express through our online payment portal.
• Check — Make checks payable to University of Dallas. Please include the student’s name and ID number in the memo line and mail checks to: University of Dallas – Business Office, 1845 E. Northgate Drive, Irving, TX 75062
• Letter of Credit or Company Sponsorship / Educational Benefits — Please contact Jennifer Howard at jlhoward@udallas.edu for more information.

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Course Materials

• Our program uses physical course materials, including textbooks and workbooks, that are included in tuition. In some programs, these materials can add $1,500 or more to the total program cost. Materials are shipped directly to students and arrive before class begins.
• Students are required to have a financial calculator, which must be purchased separately. Calculator recommendations; click here.

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Student Expectations

Students are expected to attend class, prepare in advance, participate actively, and complete assigned work by the stated deadlines. Most of the work is completed during class, though students should expect weekly pre-reading and time outside class for assignments and applied coursework. Because of the structure of these courses, attendance is mandatory for Estate Planning (FP600) and Capstone (FP700).

Faculty

All faculty in the program hold the CFP® certification, work in the financial planning industry, and are qualified to teach across the full certificate curriculum. Students learn from professionals who bring current practice, applied insight, and broad subject-matter expertise into every course. Small class sizes also allow faculty to know students by name and provide more personalized support throughout the program.

 Ashish Bajaj, MBA, CFP®

Ashish earned his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® designation in 2016 after completing the Zahn program at the University of North Florida. He began teaching students through the Zahn program in 2017. Ashish worked directly with clients as a financial planner from 2013 -2022. In recent years, Ashish has been working as a financial educator with the Wounded Warrior Project, teaching and supporting veterans who are trying to improve their financial circumstances.

Prior to becoming a financial planner, Ashish was a manager at the American Medical Association leading two of the AMA’s largest physician groups. He also spent several years as a strategy consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton, specializing in organizational design, change management and strategic communications.

Ashish received his Bachelors from the University of Chicago and his MBA from Emory University. He has been active in several charitable and civic organizations in Jacksonville and Chicago including the League of Women Voters, the Jacksonville Dance Theatre, and the Chicago Jaycees. In his spare time, Ashish enjoys traveling and spending time with friends and family.

Stephen Stetz, MBA, MS PFP, CFP®

Steve was born in Kansas and lived in Oklahoma before moving to Texas in 1992. He has worked for a leading financial services firm since 2011 where his goal is to empower and educate his clients. His current role focuses on fee based discretionary managed accounts. He partners with clients each day to help them determine an appropriate asset allocation for their investment portfolios, as well as create and sustain successful financial plans. Throughout his career in financial services, he has been consistently recognized for his performance and leadership. He has also served as a mentor to newer representatives where he helped his peers succeed in their role and increase their knowledge of the financial markets.

Steve became a CFP® professional in July 2014. Along with his certification he also holds the FINRA 7, 63, Texas Life & Health, and Texas Property & Casualty insurance licenses. He received a B.B.A. in Management in 2005 from Texas Tech University. After working for 3 years, he went back to attend graduate school in August of 2008 where he received an MBA and a Master of Science in Personal Financial Planning graduating in December 2010. 

Steve is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Dallas and teaches Live Review classes around the US. Steve is a member of FPA Dallas/Fort Worth.

Sean Britt, CFP®, CLU®

Sean joined the financial services industry in 2012 at Fidelity Investments and then went on to work at Merrill Lynch as a Financial Advisor working with families and then spent some time at JPMorgan coaching and developing other Financial Advisors. In 2019, Sean moved to Charles Schwab as a Planning Consultant where he works with clients as a financial planner helping clients prioritize their goals, creating a plan for reaching them, and providing portfolio recommendations.

Sean holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) certification awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., and holds the Series 7 and 66 FINRA registrations as well as his Texas life, health and variable annuity insurance licenses. He is a graduate of Midwestern State University, with a BBA degree in Finance.

Sean is a native Texan, who, in his spare time, enjoys traveling with his wife, Kati. In addition to traveling, they enjoy spending time with family and their 3 pets. Sean is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Dallas and a member of FPA Dallas/Fort Worth.

Rodney Jarrell, MBA, CPA, CFP®

Rodney Jarrell is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional with Lakeview Financial Solutions and has been a Certified Public Accountant since 1981. After spending many years in the financial industry where he helped hundreds of people with their life plan, he moved into the retirement and college planning industry. Rodney became interested in retirement planning when more and more of his college planning clients started asking for help with their retirement plans. With diligent analysis and research he has helped many families navigate their way through the minefield of retirement planning.

Rodney Jarrell has both a Bachelor’s degree and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Baylor University in Waco, Texas. He has been married to his wife Janice for 46 years and has two children and one grandson. His daughter Kirsten is a Doctor of Audiology in Rowlett and his son Mark is an Integration Architect in Austin.

Rodney is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Dallas and an FPA member of Dallas/Fort Worth.

Support

Students also receive direct support from the University of Dallas and Zahn Associates, Inc. throughout the program. From registration questions to course logistics, our team is available to help students navigate the process with clarity and confidence.

• University of Dallas: Jennifer Howard (email)
• Zahn Associates, Inc: Nancy (email)

Registration & Payment

• How do I sign up?

Complete the University of Dallas CFP® program registration form. During
registration, students select their schedule format and payment preference.

• Do I have to pay for the full program at once?

No. Students may pay per class, use the deferred payment option available with
pay-per-class enrollment, or choose discounted full-program payment.

• What is the total price of the program? 

The total cost of the program includes tuition and course materials for all seven classes (FP100–FP700), plus the $195 CFP Board Completion Submission Fee. This fee is billed with the final course, Capstone (FP700). The cost of the CFP® Certification Examination is not included.

• Pay-As-You Go Total: $5,845 
• Full-program payment total: $5,545
• Full-program payment total for UD Alumni or U.S. Veteran: $4,945
  
  

• Can I register at any time?

Students may register up to 10 days before the start of a course. We strongly recommend beginning with General Principles (FP100) and taking the courses in sequence.

Students may start with FP100 or FP200. Those who begin with FP200 must complete General Principles through the self-paced option before the start of Investment Planning (FP300).

• What is the CFP Board education completion submission fee?

CFP Board charges a $195 education completion submission fee for students who complete the full registered program through the University of Dallas. This pass-through fee is added to the Capstone (FP700) invoice and must be paid before the University can submit your coursework completion to CFP Board.

• Are there any exceptions to the $195 CFP Board submission fee?

Yes. Students are not charged this fee if they complete only Capstone (FP700) and must self-report to CFP Board, or complete coursework through multiple registered programs and must self-report their course completion certificates or transcripts to CFP Board.

• When is payment due?

Payment due dates vary based on the payment option selected during registration. Students may choose to pay by class throughout the program or pay upfront for the full program at a discounted rate.

• Pay-as-you-go: Students may pay before class begins or use the deferred payment option, which allows payment after grades are issued for the course.
  • Students who do not use the deferred payment option must submit payment before class begins. These payments are due 10 days before the class start date.
• Discounted full-program payment: Payment is due in full 10 days before the cohort start date.
  
  

• Are materials included?

Yes. Textbooks and workbooks are included in tuition and shipped before class
begins.

• Do I need to purchase a calculator?

Yes. Students are required to have a financial calculator, which must be purchased
separately. Recommended Calculators: (Click here for downloadable PDF)

• HP 10II Financial Calculator
• HP 12C RPM Financial Calculator
• TI BA II PLUS Financial Calculator

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Program Format & Eligibility

• What is the difference between Executive Schedule and Extended Program?

Both formats follow the same curriculum, use the same materials, and are delivered
live online. The Executive Schedule offers a faster pace, while the Extended Program
offers a steadier pace for students balancing work and life commitments.

• How many live class days are included in each format?

For FP100–FP600, the Executive Schedule includes approximately 15 Fridays and 27 Saturdays. The Extended Program includes approximately 48 Wednesdays and 6 Saturdays. Capstone is the same for both formats and includes three Fridays and three Saturdays.

• Are classes held with a live professor? 

Yes. Classes are held live online via Zoom with one of our professors. Students are expected to be on camera and use a microphone so attendance can be verified for CFP Board’s instructional-hour requirement.

• What if I already completed coursework through another CFP Board Registered program?

Please contact Jennifer Howard for transcript review and guidance on how prior
coursework may apply.

• What if I qualify for the CFP Board accelerated path?

Students who qualify for the CFP Board accelerated path may complete the
program differently. Please contact us to discuss eligibility and the Capstone
process.

• Are these classes offered for college credit?

No. This is a non-credit professional education program.

• Will I receive a certificate or digital badge when I complete the program?

Students who successfully complete the program may earn the University of Dallas
Personal Financial Planning digital badge. This recognition highlights successful
completion of the program and can be shared professionally online. University of
Dallas does not issue CFP® certification.

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CFP® Certification

• Where can I find official CFP® certification requirements and exam information?

Visit CFP Board's website for the most current information on certification requirements, exam details, fees, and deadlines.

• Can I sit for the CFP Exam if I don’t have the 3-years work experience or Bachelor’s degree yet?

Yes. You may take the CFP® examination before completing the experience requirement or earning your bachelor’s degree. However, CFP Board requires you to complete the bachelor’s degree requirement within five years of passing the exam, and you must also complete the required professional experience before you can become certified and use the CFP® marks.

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Resource Links

• Registration Form
• CFP Board
• Zahn Associates, Inc.
• Prometric - Schedule your exam.

• Scholarship Opportunities: The New Kitces CFP Certification Scholarship List was created to help individuals pursuing their CFP certification. UD has no affiliation with any of these scholarship opportunities, the information is provided as a resource to our students. Link to scholarship webpage: https://www.kitces.com/cfp-scholarships-list/

• View Program Schedules
  • Executive Schedule
  • Extended Program
• Download the Program Guide

The program curriculum consists of six required courses and one Capstone course covering key areas of financial planning for both beginning and established practitioners. Required courses in the University of Dallas certificate program include:

FP100: General Principles
This course introduces students to the financial planning process. It focuses on the general principles required to become a successful financial planner, including the ethics of the profession and the knowledge and skills needed to prepare a financial plan.

FP200: Insurance Planning
This course acquaints students with the principles of risk management and various types of insurance, including casualty, fire, health, life, auto, home, and disability insurance. The principles taught prepare students to identify a client’s risk exposure and select appropriate risk management techniques.

FP300: Investment Planning
This course introduces the wide variety of investment vehicles that may be included in a client’s portfolio. Topics include client assessment, tax considerations, economic factors, valuation methods, asset allocation techniques, portfolio performance evaluation, and more.

FP400: Psychology & Tax
This course emphasizes the fundamentals of individual income taxation, the tax implications of various types of businesses, tax-advantaged investments, employee compensation issues and planning, alternative minimum tax, tax traps, and more.

FP500: Retirement Planning
This course provides a comprehensive overview of retirement planning, including retirement savings needs analysis, qualified retirement plan design, Social Security, Medicare, and more. In addition, group life, health, and disability insurance, non-qualified deferred compensation, and other commonly provided employee benefits are examined.

FP600: Estate Planning
This course covers federal estate and gift tax planning, along with related planning opportunities. The perspectives of a variety of parties are considered, including heirs, fiduciaries, estates, trusts, beneficiaries, donors, and donees. Topics include asset valuation, estate tax deductions, exemptions, credits, and dispositive tools available to clients.

FP700: CFP Case Study/Capstone
This course builds on the material covered in the previous courses. Emphasis is placed on applying financial planning concepts in an integrated planning environment. The course uses case studies and mini-cases to connect the various disciplines studied in earlier courses into a more comprehensive financial planning process.

Students who successfully complete the full program (classes FP100 – FP700) may earn the Personal Financial Planning Certificate digital badge issued by the University of Dallas.

This badge recognizes successful completion of a CFP Board Registered education program and reflects a comprehensive understanding of personal financial planning, including ethical and professional conduct, risk management and insurance planning, retirement planning, investments, taxation, and estate planning. Badge earners know how to bring these elements together into a comprehensive and actionable  roadmap for their clients. 

What is a digital badge?

A digital badge is a shareable micro-credential that highlights the learning experience and knowledge gained through the program. It can be displayed on platforms such as LinkedIn, resumes, and CVs, and includes verifiable information tied to the earner and the credential.

How to Earn the Digital Badge:

Students who complete the full program and meet the program requirements may earn the digital badge. Completion of the program also allows the University of Dallas to verify a student’s education component with CFP Board, satisfying one of the requirements needed to pursue CFP® certification.

Students with prior coursework from other registered programs may still be eligible to earn the badge if they complete more than half of the University of Dallas program, including FP700: CFP Case Study / Capstone. Students combining coursework from multiple programs must submit their own education completion documentation to CFP Board.

The CFP® Certification Examination is a comprehensive, computer-based exam offered in March, July, and November through Prometric testing centers. It is designed to assess your ability to apply financial planning knowledge in real-world scenarios.

For the most current information on exam structure, registration, fees, deadlines, and testing policies, please visit the CFP Board website (click here).

Ready to get started?

Complete the online CFP^® program registration form to apply for one class or the full program. After submission, the University of Dallas will review your registration and send you a payment link with an invoice.

 

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Learn more at an upcoming information session.

Information sessions are held via Zoom from 12:00–1:00 p.m. CT on the following dates:

• April 22
• May 6
• May 19

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When should I register?

Students may register up to 10 days before the start of a course. However, because space may be limited and course preparation begins before the first class meeting, early registration is encouraged.

Course sequencing note: Students are strongly encouraged to begin with General Principles (FP100) and follow the program in sequence. Students may enter in General Principles (FP100) or Insurance Planning (FP200). Those who begin with FP200 are expected to complete General Principles through the self-paced option before the start of Investment Planning (FP300).

Previous coursework: Students with prior coursework from another CFP Board Registered program should contact Jennifer Howard for transcript review and guidance before registering.

 

Register for an Information Session