Graduate Program

Master of Science in Financial Services

IBF’s most advanced program. Eleven graduate-level courses and a capstone financial plan covering the full scope of financial advisory practice. 36 semester credit hours.

IBF
1988
ESTABLISHED

Comprehensive Financial Planning

The MSFS is a graduate-level program for financial professionals who want to go beyond a single specialty. You choose five core courses from IBF’s eight designation programs, then advance to six specialized topic areas, and finish with a capstone financial plan that brings it all together.

The program is self-paced. Candidates work through eleven courses, each worth three semester credit hours, then complete a capstone course worth three additional credit hours for a total of 36 semester credit hours and a Master of Science in Financial Services (MSFS) degree.

11
Graduate Courses
36
Semester Credit Hours
Self-Paced
Work at Your Own Speed
Capstone
Comprehensive Financial Plan

Prerequisites: A Bachelor’s Degree is required. Candidates should also hold one or more IBF designations or have equivalent professional experience in financial services. Contact us to discuss your background and eligibility.

Eleven Courses, One Capstone

You earn three semester credit hours for each course you complete. The capstone financial plan is the final requirement.

Core Courses

As an MSFS degree candidate, you choose any five of IBF’s eight designation programs as your core courses. Three semester credit hours each.

Additional Topics

Building on the core, you advance to six additional topic areas. Three semester credit hours each.

MS600
Financial Planning
The financial planning process, data gathering, analysis, and plan development
MS610
Investments
Securities analysis, valuation, fixed income, and equity markets
MS620
Real Estate
Real estate valuation, financing, investment analysis, and portfolio considerations
MS630
Portfolio Management
Modern portfolio theory, asset allocation, risk management, and performance evaluation
MS640
Insurance
Life, health, disability, and property insurance planning and risk management
MS650
Retirement Plans & Employee Benefits
Qualified plans, Social Security, Medicare, and retirement income strategies

MS700: The Financial Plan

After completing all eleven courses, candidates prepare a comprehensive financial plan based on a detailed client scenario. The plan must integrate recommendations across all planning disciplines into a single, cohesive, client-ready document. Three semester credit hours. This is where everything comes together.

Interested in the MSFS?

The MSFS is not a self-serve enrollment. If you’re interested in the program, reach out and we’ll walk you through the details.