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Hello @Nasircooper, thank you for taking the time to comment and share your journey!

Great question! Here are some helpful book and course recommendations to give you a head start on the CFP®, especially if you're interested in estate planning:

📚 Books to Get a Head Start

🔹 General CFP® Prep / Overview

1. "Personal Financial Planning" by Gitman, Joehnk, and Billingsley
   • A commonly used textbook in CFP® programs—covers all major topics (retirement, tax, estate, insurance, etc.).
2. "CFP Board Financial Planning Competency Handbook"
   • Created by the CFP Board; a comprehensive guide to what’s expected from a CFP® professional.

🔹 Estate Planning Focus

1. "Estate Planning Essentials" by Enodare
   • A beginner-friendly breakdown of wills, trusts, probate, powers of attorney, and more.
2. "Estate Planning for Financial Planners" by Michael A. Dalton & Thomas P. Langdon
   • This is more technical and ideal for those looking to dig into estate strategies used by professionals.

If you're planning to pursue the CFP® certification, one of the best ways to get a strong foundation is through the College for Financial Planning® (CFFP), a Kaplan Company.

📝 Other Ways to Get Ahead

• Subscribe to industry newsletters and podcasts on financial and estate planning (e.g., Kitces.com, The Trusts & Estates Podcast).
• Read IRS and CFP Board estate planning updates to become familiar with tax implications and legal basics.

✅ Bonus Tip

If you’re not ready to enroll just yet, you can:

• Visit cffp.edu to explore the structure and outcomes of the CFP® coursework.
• Reach out to an enrollment advisor to ask about the estate planning module or any self-paced prep you can do in advance. Enrollment can be reached at enroll@cffp.edu.

In today's fast-moving financial world, staying competitive means staying connected — and that includes knowing which tech tools can make your work smarter, faster, and more client-centered.

Here are a few top tools and platforms every financial planner should be familiar with (some of which you may have encountered during your studies at the College for Financial Planning):

📊 Portfolio Management & Financial Planning Tools

• eMoney Advisor – Used in several of our advanced coursework, this platform helps advisors build holistic plans, model scenarios, and collaborate with clients.
• MoneyGuidePro – Focuses on goal-based planning and is popular for its easy-to-understand visuals for client conversations.
• Morningstar Advisor Workstation – Great for investment research, risk assessment, and performance analytics.

💬 Client Communication & Relationship Management

• Redtail CRM – A widely-used CRM tool designed specifically for financial professionals. Helps track client interactions, compliance records, and more.
• Zoom / Calendly / Loom – Virtual meetings and video updates are here to stay. These platforms help maintain personal connections no matter where you or your clients are located.

📚 Continuing Education & Certification Support

• Kaplan Financial Education – Many of our students use Kaplan’s CE platform to complete Insurance CE or CFP® certification prep.
• College for Financial Planning Learning Hub – Our own online platform offers access to your course materials, CE tracking, and learning tools in one place.

🔍 Want to level up your tech game?
Try exploring a new tool each month, or ask your mentor or peers which tech they swear by. The right software can save time, improve client relationships, and keep you focused on what matters most.

💬 What tools do YOU use and love? Share your favorites below and let’s build a Tech Toolbox together!

As part of the College for Financial Planning’s Master of Science in Personal Financial Planning (MS-PFP) program, the PFPL510 course, Financial Planning Process & Insurance, offers graduate-level students a comprehensive introduction to the foundations of financial planning, insurance, and risk management. Designed for those entering or advancing in the financial planning profession, this course guides you through the essential steps of advising clients effectively and ethically. It blends theory with real-world application through extensive case study work and emphasizes the importance of critical thinking in evaluating personal financial decisions such as education funding, life insurance coverage, annuity suitability, and risk mitigation.

In this course, you’ll engage with weekly assignments, quizzes, discussions, and collaborative topics that will deepen your understanding of financial statements, time value of money, behavioral finance, education planning, professional conduct, and insurance planning. Key concepts include the personal financial planning process, client psychology, fiduciary standards, property and casualty insurance, life and annuity products, health and disability insurance, and long-term care planning. Through this structured curriculum, you’ll develop practical skills in client evaluation, insurance needs analysis, and regulatory compliance, all skills vital for competent, ethical, and effective financial planning professionals.

The course is part of a CFP board-registered graduate program that, when completed, satisfies the education requirement for the CFP Board exam. As such, it aligns closely with several of the the CFP® Board’s Principal Knowledge Topics, ensuring relevance to certification and practice standards. It also empowers you to build client-centered financial plans in which you can contribute meaningfully to the financial well-being of your clients. You’ll find more information about how PFPL510 can help you thrive in your financial planning career here.