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Financial Planning and Wealth Management

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

Degree Type:
B.S.B.A.
College:
Boler College of Business
Department:
Economics and Finance

Advise individuals and families to identify and achieve their financial goals.

Help individuals, families, and organizations plan for their financial future — while building a solid future of your own.

The Financial Planning and Wealth Management major at John Carroll University prepares you for careers with private wealth management firms, registered investment advisors (RIAs), and the wealth management divisions of major banks and investment firms. Through a mix of coursework and experiential learning, you’ll develop expertise in personal financial planning, tax planning, retirement planning, estate planning, investment management and risk management— giving you the skills to make a real difference in people’s financial lives.

Grounded in JCU’s liberal arts tradition and reinforced throughout the business and financial planning curriculum, our program helps students recognize ethical decision-making as an essential element of professional success.

  • 2% JCU ranks among the top 2% of business schools worldwide (AACSB)

  • 10% expected growth in demand for personal finance advisor through 2034, which is much faster than the average occupation (3%) (BLS, 2025)

  • 45,000+ Blue Streaks in JCU’s global alumni network

  • 100% of students have access to professional development opportunities

Gain Real-World Experience

Intern with a Cleveland-area financial firm. Solve real-world challenges through projects and competitions. Help manage a student-led investment fund.

Build Industry-Standard Competencies

Prepare for the Certified Financial Planner (CFPⓇ) exam, the gold standard in the profession. Complete the Bloomberg Market Concepts (BMC) e-learning course to demonstrate your proficiency with the gold standard financial markets data platform.

  • Gain Real-World Experience

    Intern with a Cleveland-area financial firm. Solve real-world challenges through projects and competitions. Help manage a student-led investment fund.

  • Build Industry-Standard Competencies

    Prepare for the Certified Financial Planner (CFPⓇ) exam, the gold standard in the profession. Complete the Bloomberg Market Concepts (BMC) e-learning course to demonstrate your proficiency with the gold standard financial markets data platform.

  • Connect with Classmates & Professionals

    Join organizations like the Finance & Wealth Management Association and the Investment Club to network with classmates and alumni, take trips to financial centers, and gain wisdom from career-focused speakers.

Program Overview

Our program combines a strong academic foundation with practical learning experiences, preparing you to:

  • Launch a career in financial planning or wealth management, with the potential to lead.
  • Pursue graduate study in business, finance, or related fields.
  • Attain professional certifications that enhance your career prospects.

Many students choose to double major in Finance and Financial Planning & Wealth Management — a powerful combination in today’s marketplace.

  • Business Prerequisites

    Business Analysis With Excel

    1 Credits

    BI1100

    How to answer key business questions, analyze company finances, forecast sales, and prepare business cases while improving your Excel skills.

    Accounting Principles I

    3 Credits

    AC2201

    Build a solid foundation in accounting, mastering the essentials of financial statements and transaction analysis.

    Accounting Principles II

    3 Credits

    AC2202

    Enhance your accounting acumen with advanced principles, focusing on financial reporting and cost analysis.

    Principles of Economics I

    3 Credits

    EC2201

    Build a foundation in microeconomics, focusing on supply and demand, market structures, and firm behavior, essential for future business leaders to thrive.

    Principles of Economics II

    3 Credits

    EC2202

    Transform economic theories into real-world insights, covering GDP, inflation, and fiscal policy to equip you for success in the business landscape.

    Business Analytics and Statistics

    4 Credits

    EC2210

    Transform data into decisions with business analytics, mastering statistics, probability, regression, and time series analysis to drive impactful insights.

    Business Communications

    3 Credits

    EN2510

    Craft impactful business communications across various formats to enhance your professional skills in today’s fast-paced corporate world.

    Applied Calculus

    3 Credits

    MT1300

    Apply calculus to real-world business problems by calculating limits, derivatives, and integrals using cutting-edge software to streamline your computations.

    Business Ethics

    3 Credits

    PL2086

    Application of ethical concepts to significant problems of business practice. Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.

    Data-Driven Decision-Making

    3 Credits

    BI2200

    Transform raw data into impactful insights using cutting-edge tools for data management and visualization, empowering you to make informed business decisions.

    Managing Employees for Competitive Advantage

    3 Credits

    MOL3301

    Develop competitive HR strategies that enhance employee engagement, from recruitment to talent development.

    Supply Chain and Operations Management

    3 Credits

    SCM3301

    Design efficient supply chains that deliver customer value by mastering purchasing, operations, and logistics for successful product transformation.

    Business Finance

    3 Credits

    FN3312

    Develop financial decision-making prowess for modern corporations by learning key concepts like capital budgeting and ethical considerations in finance.

    Marketing Principles

    3 Credits

    MK3301

    Master essential marketing strategies to develop, promote, and price offerings that resonate in a dynamic global marketplace.

  • Financial Planning

    Introduction to Financial Planning

    3 Credits

    PFP3301

    Learn the fundamentals of financial planning, covering client interactions, cash flow management, investments, and ethical considerations for future financial advisors.

    Tax Planning

    2 Credits

    PFP3371

    Craft smart tax strategies for individuals and businesses by mastering the Internal Revenue Code, alternative minimum tax, and real property transactions.

    Retirement Planning

    3 Credits

    PFP3372

    Prepare for a secure future by mastering retirement planning! Gain expertise in retirement strategies, Social Security, and employee benefits to guide individuals and families.

    Estate Planning

    2 Credits

    PFP3373

    Navigate the intricacies of estate planning, from trusts to tax implications, to ensure your financial legacy is in good hands.

    Risk Management and Insurance

    2 Credits

    PFP3374

    Navigate the essential insurance and risk management landscape in personal finance, preparing you for informed decision-making on health, life, and property.

    Communication Techniques for Financial Planning

    2 Credits

    PFP3375

    Identifying and responding to attitudes, behaviors, and situations that impact decision-making, the client-planner relationship, and the client's financial well-being.

  • Supporting Courses

    Macroeconomics

    3 Credits

    EC3302

    Analyze the economy by dissecting output, employment, and inflation, while understanding the impact of fiscal and monetary policies on long-term growth.

    Investments

    3 Credits

    FN3342

    Principles in the selection and management of investments, from the viewpoints of large and small investors. Prerequisites: FN 3312 (FN 312) with minimum grade of C; MT 1300 (MT 130) or MT 1350 (MT135).

    Legal Environment of Business

    3 Credits

    MOL4461

    Navigate the intricate legal landscape of business, covering everything from corporate ethics to international law, and its impact on the marketplace.

    Business Law

    3 Credits

    MOL4463

    Navigate the legal landscape of business with insights into contracts, structures, and regulations that shape corporate success.

  • Sample Electives

    Introduction to Fintech

    3 Credits

    FN3370

    Transform finance with cutting-edge fintech skills, tackling cryptocurrencies, AI, and blockchain through real-world case studies and applied exercises.

    Artificial Intelligence in Business

    3 Credits

    FN3380

    Learn how businesses use AI and machine learning for strategy and decision-making through Python, real-world datasets, and applications in finance and economics.

    Investment Banking, Hedge Funds, and Private Equity

    3 Credits

    FN3470

    Gain insight into investment banking, hedge funds, and private equity. Learn their roles in wealth creation and risk management, while analyzing the dynamic landscape of global finance.

    Seminar in Finance

    1-3 Credits

    FN4050

    Prerequisites: minimum grade of C in FN 312 and/or as announced. Contemporary issues in finance not covered in depth in other departmental courses. Topics, method of presentation, and requirements designated by the seminar leader.

    Seminar in Finance

    3 Credits

    FN4051

    Contemporary issues in finance not covered in depth in other departmental courses. Topics, method of presentation, and requirements designated by the seminar leader. Prerequisite: Minimum grade of C in FN 3312 or FN 312 and/or as announced.

    Seminar in Finance

    3 Credits

    FN4052

    Contemporary issues in finance not covered in depth in other departmental courses. Topics, method of presentation, and requirements designated by the seminar leader. Prerequisite: Minimum grade of C in FN 3312 or FN 312 and/or as announced.

    Real Estate Finance

    3 Credits

    FN4418

    Introduction to real estate with a focus on financial aspects; theory and measurement of returns and risks on real estate and real estate-related assets; valuation theory for owner-occupied and income-producing properties. Prerequisite: FN 3312 or FN 312 (minimum grade of C).

    International Business Finance

    3 Credits

    FN4439

    Navigate the international finance landscape, mastering tools for currency risk management and multinational firm challenges.

    Risk Management and Insurance Fundamentals

    3 Credits

    FN4442

    Focuses on the management of business risks whose outcomes are subject to some degree of direct control (e.g., fire damage that may be preventable), as compared to risks whose outcomes are a result of changing market forces. Prerequisite: FN 3312 or FN 312 (minimum grade of C).

    Managing Financial Risk With Derivatives

    3 Credits

    FN4444

    Introduction to analytical and decision-making processes used to transfer risk with futures and options. Theory and application of pricing, speculating, and hedging techniques in financial markets. Prerequisite: FN 3312 or FN 312 (minimum grade of C).

    Portfolio Management

    3 Credits

    FN4452

    Manage the Dornam Fund and gain hands-on experience in investment strategies, performance evaluation, and professional money management.

    Portfolio Management

    FN4498

  • Capstone

    Cases in Financial Planning

    3 Credits

    PFP4490

    This course serves as a capstone experience for students of financial planning. Emphasis is on the application of financial planning knowledge and development of a complete financial plan. Prerequisites: (PFP 3301 or PFP 301) and (PFP 3371 or PFP 371). Prerequisites or corequisites: (PFP 3372 or PFP 372), (PFP 3373 or PFP 373), and (PFP 3374 or PFP 374).

    Strategic Management

    3 Credits

    MOL4499

    Develop strategic management skills to tackle real business challenges, equipping yourself with decision-making tools for every level of management.

    Professional Experience - Internship

    0 Credits

    BPD4490

    Gain hands-on experience in your field with a minimum 135-hour internship, working under a supervisor to learn the ropes of the business world.

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Your Path Forward Starts Here

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Financial Planning and Wealth Management

2 years

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

Enhance your financial expertise with John Carroll University's Financial Planning and Wealth Management program, blending theory, practical experience, and ethical practice.

+

MBA

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Combine your JCU bachelor's degree with a master's in business administration in just one additional year.

=

Your MBA, Accelerated

Future in Focus

Nine graduate credits count toward both degrees—building executive-level skills while completing your bachelor's. You pay your undergraduate tuition rate with financial aid applied. An MBA for the cost of a few extra courses.

 
JCU's Distinct Promise

Pathways are just the beginning.
Onward makes them happen.

From your first semester forward, Onward connects your goals with the people, experiences, and support that help you build momentum with purpose.

Watch the Story

Quincy's Story

Starting in his first semester at John Carroll, Quincy Unger '26 found a team who helped him shape his ideas, find the right opportunities, and launch his own business.

Discover Onward

Complementary Minors

  • “Between fulfilling the CFP® education requirement, attending FPA events, and collaborating with my classmates, I feel fully prepared to succeed in the field.”

    Devin Burgess '26

Where Our Alumni Go

Our graduates are prepared for roles such as financial planner, financial advisor, wealth manager, investment adviser, portfolio manager, and financial client services representative.

Keybank
Pnc
Sequoia Financial
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