Financial Planning Body of Knowledge Topic Categories

FPSB’s 11-category, 39-topic Financial Planning Body of Knowledge identifies the knowledge a financial planning professional must be able to draw on to deliver financial planning to clients, or when interacting with colleagues or others in a professional capacity. Educators in a territory determine the territory-specific topics, and level of topic coverage, to include in each knowledge area to adequately prepare students to competently and ethically practice financial planning.

I. TAXATION

• Assessment Rules

• Personal Taxation

• Corporate Taxation

• Wealth Transfer

• International Tax Issues

II. INSURANCE

• Business Insurance

• Life Insurance

• Disability Insurance/Income Replacement

• Health Insurance

• Critical Illness Insurance (includes Dread Disease and Trauma)

• Property Insurance

• Casualty Insurance

III. INVESTMENT

• Investment Types

• Investment Structures

• Types of Investment Risk

• Measurement of Investment Risk

• Portfolio Management Techniques

• Selling and Buying Techniques

• Performance Measurement

• Modern Portfolio Theory

IV. RETIREMENT, SAVINGS AND INCOME PROGRAMS

• Government Pension

• Government Savings

• Employer / Employee Programs

• Personal Retirement

• Personal Savings

V. LAW

• Private Law

• Corporate Law

VI. FINANCIAL ANALYSIS

• Analysis of Financial Information

• Personal Financial Ratios

• Cash Management and Budgeting

• Personal Financial Statements

VII. DEBT

• Consumer Credit and Credit Management

• Mortgages

• Leases

• Insolvency and Bankruptcy

VIII. ECONOMIC AND REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT

• Economic Environment

• Regulatory Environment

IX. GOVERNMENT BENEFITS PLANS

X. BEHAVIORAL FINANCE

XI. ETHICS AND STANDARDS

• Code of Ethics

• Financial Planning Practice Standards