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Rutgers School of Business – Camden

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MSF_Student

Tailored Skills for the Stewards of Tomorrow

Rutgers’s CFP Board Registered Online MS in Finance–Financial Planning (MSF) program prepares students to succeed in the field of financial planning.

By helping others achieve their goals, you can lead a fulfilling career that offers substantial growth opportunities, flexibility, and financial rewards.

The financial planning industry is undergoing a significant transformation due to an aging workforce, ongoing technological innovations, and shifting demographics.

These forces are fostering demand for fresh talent in financial advice and financial planning leadership.

The MSF program at Rutgers School of Business–Camden prepares you to embrace the opportunities these transformational forces have created.

Grounded in academic excellence, experiential learning, and community engagement, the program helps you hone the holistic set of skills critical for success in financial planning. 

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CFP Board

CFP Board Registered Program

EXCELLENCE REQUIRED

90% of investors value certification. For 50 years, the CFP certification has been the standard of excellence for financial planners.

RU READY TO EXCEL?

RU READY TO EXCEL?

RU READY TO EXCEL?

RU READY TO EXCEL?

RU READY TO EXCEL?
RU READY TO EXCEL?

Leadership Specialization

LEADERS WANTED

Over the next decade, demand for financial planners is expected to grow 17%. At the same time, 1/3 of advisors are expected to retire.

RU READY TO LEAD?

RU READY TO LEAD?

RU READY TO LEAD?

RU READY TO LEAD?

RU READY TO LEAD?
RU READY TO LEAD?

Fintech Specialization

TECHNOLOGY ENABLED

Data, analytics, and AI are disrupting financial planning. Yet, many advisors have not invested in the necessary skills.

RU READY UNLEASH TECH?

RU READY UNLEASH TECH?

RU READY UNLEASH TECH?

RU READY UNLEASH TECH?

RU READY UNLEASH TECH?
RU READY TO UNLEASH TECH?
Online Degree

Strengthen Your Assets, Minimize Your Liabilities

  • 100% Online Degree
  • 30-credit degree program
  • Complete in as few as 12 months
  • Take classes on a full- or part-time basis
  • Three annual admission cycles – Fall, Spring, and Summer
  • NOTE: Full-time students should plan to start either in the fall or summer semesters.
  • GMAT/GRE Scores are not required
  • Same tuition for in and out-of-state
  • AACSB Accredited

Student profile  

Average Age:
31 years old

Females:
40%

Military Background:
24%

Out of State:
40%

Career Switchers:
83%

UPCOMING EVENTS AND INFO SESSIONS

GET THE INFORMATION YOU NEED TO START ADVANCING YOUR FUTURE

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For more information or guidance through the application process, contact an Graduate Team Member at rsbc.info@camden.rutgers.edu or 856-225-6452. 

MSF Curriculum

The MSF program requires 30 graduate credits. The courses are delivered through a mix of synchronous and asynchronous online modalities. Students will complete 18 credits of core courses, 9 credits of approved electives, and a 3-credit Financial Planning Capstone.

Incoming students without an undergraduate finance major or finance minor will be required to complete a Finance Fundamentals Knowledge Seminar to satisfy the Financial Management prerequisite. Those with an undergraduate finance major or finance minor will have the Financial Management prerequisite waived.

Note: The Online MSF program features classes that take place 100% virtually. While international students may enroll in this program from their own country, US visas are not offered for this program. If you are interested in an on-campus program, please review our On-Campus MSBA or On-Campus MBA programs. 

Foundation Courses (9 credits)

Valuation as the unifying principle of Finance. Topics include forms of business ownership, firm and project cash flows, time value of money, bond and stock valuation, capital budgeting, operating and financial leverage, risk and diversification, and the cost of capital.

Prerequisite: 53:390:506 Financial Management 

The investment setting, organization, and functioning of securities markets. Topics include efficient capital markets, modern portfolio management, asset pricing models, security valuation principles and practices, analysis and management of bonds and common stocks, derivative securities, and evaluation of portfolio performance.

Prerequisite: 53:390:506 Financial Management 

By unifying standard financial principles and descriptions of how people behave, behavioral finance bridges financial theory, empirical evidence, and practice and leads to an understanding of how human behavior affects financial decision making and financial markets. Studying people’s wants, cognitive biases, and emotional shortcuts and errors leads to insights on important issues in finance, such as investment, saving, and spending decisions, portfolio construction, asset pricing, and market efficiency.

Prerequisite: 53:390:506 Financial Management 

Seven Core Courses (21 credits)

This advanced graduate course delves into the intricacies of financial planning, blending the fundamental principles from the CFP’s core knowledge areas with a deep focus on ethical considerations and critical thinking. Students will navigate various topics, such as professional conduct, investment strategies, tax implications, retirement and estate planning, and communication techniques. Throughout the course, emphasis will be placed on maintaining the highest ethical standards while using critical analysis to address contemporary financial challenges. By the end of this course, students will be proficient in creating comprehensive financial strategies that prioritize client goals, societal values, and regulatory standards. 

The investment setting, organization, and functioning of securities markets. Topics include efficient capital markets, modern portfolio management, asset pricing models, security valuation principles and practices, analysis and management of bonds and common stocks, derivative securities, and evaluation of portfolio performance.

Prerequisite: 53:390:506 Financial Management 

Explore the strategic world of insurance and estate planning in this comprehensive course. Master the art of risk assessment, learn strategies to minimize financial exposure, and unravel the intricacies of estate planning from trusts to tax maneuvers. Grounded in the principles of financial planning, this course prepares students to safeguard client assets and support their clients’ financial and philanthropic goals through effective insurance selection and estate preservation.

Delving into the intricacies of tax optimization and financial market regulation, this course marries academic theory with real-world practice. Viewed through the lens of financial planning, students will master strategic tax planning techniques and gain an understanding of the complexities of regulatory systems. Central to the coursework is a commitment to the ethical principles outlined in the CFP Board’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct, preparing students for responsible and ethical financial leadership.

By unifying standard financial principles and descriptions of how people behave, behavioral finance bridges financial theory, empirical evidence, and practice and leads to an understanding of how human behavior affects financial decision making and financial markets. Studying people’s wants, cognitive biases, and emotional shortcuts and errors leads to insights on important issues in finance, such as investment, saving, and spending decisions, portfolio construction, asset pricing, and market efficiency.

Within the wealth management industry, technology has the potential to add value at all phases of the client lifecycle. In this course, students will learn about the key technological solutions in wealth management and how to critically evaluate their value propositions. Through partnerships with industry leaders, students will have access to software in areas such as customer relationship management (CRM), financial planning, portfolio management, risk assessment, and data analytics. The course will also explore the field of robo-advising.

Capstone Course (3 credits)

Within the wealth management industry, technology has the potential to add value at all phases of the client lifecycle. In this course, students will learn about the key technological solutions in wealth management and how to critically evaluate their value propositions. Through partnerships with industry leaders, students will have access to software in areas such as customer relationship management (CRM), financial planning, portfolio management, risk assessment, and data analytics. The course will also explore the field of robo-advising.

Three Electives (9 credits)

MSF students with either complete a specialization in Fintech or Leadership or choose a customized set of elective courses from an approved menu.

Leadership Specialization

For those looking to lead financial planning teams or organizations, our Leadership in Financial Planning specialization prepares you to become a future leader in the industry. Students in this specialization will take the following set of elective courses: 

  • Required Course: Foundations of Leadership and Teamwork
  • Leadership Electives (Choose 2):
    • Conflict Resolution and Negotiations
    • Fundamentals of Talent Management
    • Leading Change and Organizational Development
    • Leading Innovation and Creativity
    • Emotional Intelligence at Work
    • Digital Marketing Strategy
    • Social Media Strategy
leadership
fintech

Fintech Specialization

For those looking to delve deeper into Fintech, our Fintech in Financial Planning specialization equips you to harness the technology disrupting the financial planning industry. This concentration focuses on advanced financial technology, preparing you to lead and innovate in this dynamic field. Students in this specialization will choose three of the following four elective courses: 

  • Fintech and Financial Innovation
  • Financial Data Analytics
  • Investment Management and Machine Learning 
  • Generative AI and Textual Analysis in Finance

Why Choose Rutgers Online MSF?

  • CFP Registered: Sit for the CFP examination following graduation
  • Innovative Courses: Immerse yourself in a cutting-edge curriculum that prepares you for a successful career built on the knowledge of financial planning, investments, behavioral finance, financial technology, leadership, and more.
  • Expert Faculty: Learn from experts in the fields of finance and financial planning, including several CFP professionals.
  • Experiential Learning: Bridge the gap between the classroom and client meetings through our partnerships with eMoney, MoneyGuide Pro, Morningstar, and RedTail and competitive scholarships to participate in experiential learning programs, such as Amplified Planning’s Externship Program. To graduate, all MSF students are required to complete at least one approved experiential learning activity.
  • Mentorship Guaranteed: Meet regularly with an industry professional to learn what it takes to become a successful financial planner. Through a partnership with the FPA of New Jersey, every MSF student is guaranteed a professional mentor.
  • Expansive Community: Join a university with over 585,000 alumni, a campus with nearly 6,000 students, a business school with world-class faculty, and a program that prepares you for the future of financial planning.
  • Flexibility and Accessibility: Enjoy the convenience of online learning while benefiting from Rutgers’ renowned faculty and robust academic resources. Our flexible online format allows you to balance your studies with professional and personal commitments.
  • Transfer Credits: Transfer up to six credits of graduate coursework completed at another AACSB accredited university. Transfer credits are subject to approval by the program director. 

Rutgers tuition rates 2024-2025

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Thirty (30) credit hours

The MSF curriculum is designed to hone the holistic set of skills successful financial planning professionals possess. The curriculum has seven core courses (21 credits) and 3 elective courses (9 credits). Moreover, our specialization options in Fintech in financial planning and Leadership in financial planning provide students with the opportunity to craft a set of electives to help students advance in their financial planning careers.

 

Upon acceptance of your admission, you will be assigned an Academic Advisor. Your Advisor will set-up a course plan for you prior to registration.

The curriculum will be delivered online through asynchronous coursework.

Yes. Some MSF courses are offered in the Rutgers–Camden Online MBA and MSBA, as well as the Modern Financial Technologies (FinTech) and Investment & Private Wealth Management Graduate Certificates.

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Contact Us

227 Penn St.
Camden, NJ 08102

Dr. David Pedersen

Program Director

david.pedersen@rutgers.edu

david-pedersen

Lucy Horton, MSM

Admissions Coach

lucy.horton@rutgers.edu

(856)-225-2739

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BLDP Executive Shadowing Application v2

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Signatures

If I am chosen and matched with an executive, I will follow through and prepare a one-page report giving honest feedback about the experience. The written summary is due by the start of the next semester. By typing my name in the box to the right I am offering my digital signature in lieu of my handwritten signature.

After the shadowing event, I will write a personal thank you letter to the executive and copy Dr. Kaufman-Scarborough and Ms. Bridget Britton for their records. By typing my name in the box to the right I am offering my digital signature in lieu of my handwritten signature.

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After notified of a match, students are responsible for providing personal information to the matched executive (e.g., current resume and cover letter with information on career ambitions). The information on this application is for internal use only, for us to match you as well as possible with and executive from among our alumni database.

BLDP Application

The Spring 2023 Application is now open! 

Priority will be given to applications received by November 18. Applications are accepted until all seats are filled. Space is limited, so apply early!

The seminar application process is our gateway for entry into the program. Upon acceptance into BLDP, students will be emailed their acceptance letter plus a special permission number allowing registration for the BLDP seminar.

Requirements

Seminar applications are solicited each semester and require the following:

  1. Completed application form (at the bottom of this page),
  2. For students with GPA 3.0 – 3.49, two (2) letters of recommendation (one academic; one other)

Rutgers-Camden students are invited to apply to apply for enrollment in the BLDP seminar. All applicants are expected to meet both of the following selection criteria:  (1) have sophomore standing or above and (2) have an overall GPA of 3.0 or above. First-semester transfer students will be evaluated based on their GPA earned at Rutgers. Students who fail to meet these admission criteria may still be allowed to apply for (and possibly enroll in) the BLDP seminar, but they will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

The director balances evaluations to make final decisions on people accepted for the seminar (up to a maximum of 15-20 each semester).

Students who are admitted to the BDLP are required to adopt the BLDP Code of Conduct. A signed contract is required from each student.

Students may count activities toward “leadership units” that were initiated prior to taking a seminar, as long as those activities occured primarily during their enrollment in their academic program.

Application for Admission to BLDP Seminar

Applications for the BLDP Seminar will be ongoing until class is filled.

BLDP Program Application

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  • In your own words (100-350), discuss the reasons why your application should be considered for the Business Leader Development Program, including what you hope to gain from the program and what you can contribute.

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  • If you need to submit two reference letters, please email them to ldrshp@camden.rutgers.edu. Ideally, you should receive one letter from an academic source (e.g., a former or current instructor), and one from a business source (e.g., a former employer - even if for a part-time or volunteer position).

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