Estate Planning and Taxation Certificate

Professionals seeking an understanding of estate tax law and planning.

Your tuition includes all required self-study materials, access to convenient online learning tools, and your examination.

Have Questions? We Can Help!

Provide us with a few details and an Admissions Advisor will get back to you as soon as possible.

Certificate Program at a Glance

There are no prerequisite courses required to begin the Estate Planning and Taxation Certificate.

To earn the Estate Planning and Taxation Certificate, you must:

1. Successfully complete three courses and achieve a final score of 80%
2. Agree to comply with The American College Code of Ethics and Procedures

Program tuition is paid on a per-course basis. Tuition covers your course fees, all required study materials, access to convenient online learning tools, and your final examination.

Individual course: $1,995

What You'll Learn

As tax laws become more complex, estate planning requires specialized education and knowledge. Ensure your clients’ estate planning needs are met using tax efficient strategies.

Your learning outcomes include the following:

• Understanding gift, estate and generation-skipping transfer tax law and tax computation processes
• Discuss income tax concepts and calculations and income tax research methods
• Maximize charitable transfers to facilitate business succession planning objectives
• Understand family limited partnerships and limited-liability companies
• Apply discounting techniques to the sales and gifts of business interests
• And more!

Complete the three-course curriculum at your own pace with state-of-the art online learning experience.

Our program features:

• Elite faculty of nationally-recognized academics, researchers, and practitioners
• Up-to-date curriculum covering current regulations, trends, and realities
• Modern e-learning with easy anytime, anywhere access to your courses

This Certificate Program is Right For You If:

You Want to Meet Client Expectations

Retirees Expect More

Recent research identified a large gap between the services clients expect and what they receive from financial professionals. Advice on estate planning and tax planning, and more all fall grossly below clients' expectations. 1

You Want to Manage Intergenerational Wealth

Expand Estate Planning Knowledge

The transfer of over $84 trillion is currently underway. 2 As wealth passes from generation to generation, ensure clients remain by guiding them with uncommon expertise.

You Want to Increase Your Alpha

Deliver Value by Helping to Preserve More

8% of an estate’s value can be eroded due to legal fees and probate costs without an estate plan. 3 Increase your value by learning tax-efficient estate planning strategies to help your clients keep more.

Inside the Estate Planning and Taxation Certificate

Courses to Complete

Typical Completion Time

MSFP 615 Advanced Estate Mgmt. and Planned Giving (REQUIRED)

This course is an advanced gift and estate planning course which presents an overview of the basics.

Upon completion of this course, you’ll be able to:

• Understand gift, estate and generation-skipping transfer tax law and tax computation processes
• Identify key considerations related to the ownership and taxation of transfers of property during lifetime and at death.
• Provide charitable giving planning advice
• Evaluate the role of life insurance planning in estate planning

MSFP 554 Income Taxation Planning (REQUIRED)

Explores the strategies used by financial planners to help clients achieve greater tax efficiency.

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Discuss income tax concepts and calculations and income tax research methods
• Understand gross income realization, exclusions and deductions, passive activities, and alternative minimum tax
• Evaluate tax considerations of business forms, taxable and non-taxable property transactions, compensation planning, family tax planning, audit risk, and dealing with the IRS

MSFP 543 Business Succession Strategies (REQUIRED)

This course covers advanced topics in business succession planning and includes a comprehensive case study.

Upon completion of this course, you’ll be able to:

• Understand gift and trust taxation
• Maximize charitable transfers to facilitate business succession planning objectives
• Understand family limited partnerships and limited-liability companies
• Apply discounting techniques to the sales and gifts of business interests
• Utilize retirement planning strategies to facilitate succession planning

Earn Credit Toward the MSFP

Start Here Toward Obtaining an Advanced Degree

Completion of the Estate Planning and Taxation Certificate Program may qualify you for up to nine credits toward the Master of Science in Financial Planning (MSFP) degree if you are subsequently admitted to the degree program.

Learn from the Leaders in Estate and Tax Planning

PhD, JD, MSM, MSFS, MBA, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, CASL®, RICP®, AEP®

Adjunct Professor of Estate Planning

Adjunct Professor of Estate Planning
Charles E. Drimal Estate Planning Professorship

PhD, CFP®, PMP®, CPBC

Associate Provost, Undergraduate & Graduate Programs
Associate Professor, Succession Planning

Dr. Veronica Paz

CPA, CITP, CFF, CGMA

PhD, JD, MSM, MSFS, MBA, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, CASL®, RICP®, AEP®

Adjunct Professor of Estate Planning

Adjunct Professor of Estate Planning
Charles E. Drimal Estate Planning Professorship

PhD, CFP®, PMP®, CPBC

Associate Provost, Undergraduate & Graduate Programs
Associate Professor, Succession Planning

Dr. Veronica Paz

CPA, CITP, CFF, CGMA

Take the Next Step and Enroll

Earn your Estate Planning and Taxation Certificate and advance your expertise to become an expert in managing intergenerational wealth transfer.

1 Spectrem Group. Expectations Not Always Predictable. 2021.

2 TheStreet.What Is the Great Wealth Transfer? When Does It Happen? 2023.

3 Policygenius. How much does probate cost? 2021.

• Professional Designations & Certifications
• Master's Degrees & Programs
• Certificate Programs
• Continuing Education

• Browse All Resources
• Insights
• Research
• Podcasts
• Upcoming Events
• On-Demand Webcasts

• Who We Are
• Office of the President
• Our People
• The College at a Glance
• Careers

• Student Experience
• Scholarships
• Tuition and Fees
• Admissions Requirements
• Professional Recertification
• FAQs
• Contact Us
• Learning Hub

• Center for Economic Empowerment & Equality
• Center for Ethics in Financial Services
• Center for Women in Financial Services
• Center for Philanthropy & Social Impact
• Center for Retirement Income
• Center for Special Needs
• Center for Military and Veterans Affairs
• Center for Financial Security

Your Life's Work

Powered by the leading academic institution for applied financial knowledge and education.

The American College of Financial Services provides equal opportunity to students and employees, regardless of race, color, and national or ethnic origin. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP ® , CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER TM , CFP ® (with plaque design) and CFP ® (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements.

• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Use
• Refund Policy
• Cookie Declaration
• © 2024 The American College of Financial Services
• Design By Push10