The Top Financial Planning MBA Online Programs

While most people understand the need to plan for their future by making sound financial and investment decisions, they do not always know where to start. Overcoming debt, navigating complex financial markets, managing financial assets and planning for retirement can be a daunting task and many people need someone with expert knowledge to assist them. Financial planners work to fill this need by providing expert advice and strategies to their clients. Pursuing an online Master of Business Administration in Financial Planning can lead to a career helping others plan for their financial futures.

The best online MBA financial planning programs offer training that covers both financial topics and communication skills. For example, students learn about financial markets, taxes, retirement planning, portfolio management, insurance and estate planning. In addition, schools with high online financial planning MBA rankings often hire experienced professionals and top academics to teach students about real world situations that textbooks cannot hope to cover. After graduating from a financial planning MBA online program, students will be ready to start building their own client base or begin working for a financial planning company.

How can I tell if an online MBA financial planning degree is right for me?

Students who are interested in budgeting, financial market behavior and interpersonal communication would find an online Master of Business Administration in Financial Planning to be a great match.

Other common characteristics amongst many online MBA financial planning students are:

• A skill for evaluating information to determine compliance with standards
• A desire for selling or influencing others
• An inclination for organizing, planning, and prioritizing work
• A propensity for getting information
• A flair for analyzing data or information

How long does it take to earn an MBA online financial planning degree?

A financial planning MBA degree online takes approximately the same time to finish as any other online MBA. Two years of full time education is generally required to complete this degree. However, students are able to earn the course under a timeframe that suits their schedule at some colleges that have part-time or accelerated programs.

What are the prerequisites and admission requirements for MBA financial planning schools online?

A bachelor’s degree is typically required before students can enroll in online MBA financial planning programs. A bachelor’s degree in subjects like finance, business administration, economics, and CPA may be preferred by some schools that have an MBA financial planning online program.

In addition to requiring students to have a bachelor’s degree, many online MBA in financial planning programs base admission on the following criteria:

• Graduate Management Admission Test scores (GMAT)
• Personal interviews
• Academic transcripts
• References or Letters of Recommendation

What courses will I take in financial planning MBA programs online?

During the first year of their online MBA in financial planning programs, students will take courses that establish a foundational knowledge in a variety of general business topics. For example, common courses at a top MBA online program include interpersonal communication, taxation, the fundamentals of financial planning, risk management and ethics.

As students develop a stronger understanding of business and financial markets, the second year of a financial planning MBA online program focused more on financial planning, emphasizing the skills and knowledge needed to successfully work with clients pursuing their own financial goals. Top online financial planning MBA schools offer advanced courses such as tax management and strategy, portfolio management, estate planning, risk management and employee benefits and retirement plans.

In addition to coursework, internships are also completed by some students in online financial planning MBA programs. Internships are beneficial. Through them, students not only make good business contacts, but they also get a chance to apply what they are learning in their classes.

What are the best online MBA in financial planning books I should consider reading?

Books that may be on point for students interested in financial planning MBA careers are:

1. A Random Walk Down Wall Street: The Best and Latest Investment Advice Money Can Buy (Burton G. Malkiel) – This book, considered by many to be the first book that an MBA online financial planning student should read, explores various financial bubbles throughout history and argues that investors should stop trying to predict short term stock price fluctuations.

2. The Intelligent Investor: The Definitive Book on Value Investing (Benjamin Graham) – Even though it was written in 1949, this book is still considered a valuable resource on the best practices for long term investing, emphasizing loss minimization over profit maximization.

3. How to Win Friends and Influence People (Dale Carnegie) – While not specifically about financial planning, the advice in this book help individuals win the trust and respect of clients and associates through honest communication and non-confrontational interactions.

4. The Black Swan (Nassim Nicholas Taleb) – Offering important insights for financial planners, this book explores the role of randomness in the world and how people’s desire to see history as a cohesive pattern makes them vulnerable to its effects.

5. Wizard of Lies (Diana B. Henriques) – Serving as a cautionary tale for financial planners everywhere, this book details the story of Bernie Madoff, an investor that defrauded thousands of individuals out of billions of dollars through false promises of high returns.

What are my future job prospects if I pursue financial planning MBA jobs?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there are currently 206,800 jobs available in the financial planning industry. The annual financial planning MBA salary a graduate can expect to receive varies depending on the position they pursue. Some common positions for MBA financial planning online graduates and their respective salaries are listed below:

• Financial Planning Manager – $81,000
• Account Executive – $77,000
• Senior Financial Analyst – $79,000
• Financial Consultant – $103,000

The BLS reports that employment growth for graduates of accredited financial planning MBA schools online is expected to be around 32% between 2010 and 2020. The high growth for this industry is primarily due to the growing population of aging individuals that will likely seek financial planning advice for retirement.

Many employers want graduates who have earned their degrees from AACSB accredited financial planning MBA programs. Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business accreditation generally indicates that a business school gives students a quality education.

What are the top online schools to pursue an online Financial Planning MBA degree?

• Ashford University
• Grand Canyon University
• Northeastern University
• Strayer University
• University of the Southwest