For immediate release:
August 30, 2010 - The RSP Board announces that it has approved the Settlement Planning Education Center ("SPEC") to administer and deliver the settlement planning curriculum set up and supervised by the faculty of the Division of Personal Financial Planning at Texas Tech University. The program was previously administered by Texas Tech University's Department of Outreach and Distance Education (ODE). Following this change, the curriculum will remain unchanged and will continue to be supervised by the faculty of the Division of Financial Planning at Texas Tech University, primarily by adjunct faculty member, Joseph Tombs. Tombs explains, "Since our program is unique and serves a highly specialized market, the enrollment will always be relatively low. The low enrollment made it difficult for the staff at ODE to remain well-versed and for its administrative systems to service our student's needs. The new structure allows SPEC to handle the administrative burden." In 2007, The RSP Board approved the curriculum of Texas Tech University's Division of Personal Financial Planning, admitting it as an approved educational provider to meet the education requirement of the RSP designation. Today's decision extends this approval to the new partnership between the Division of Financial Planning at Texas Tech and SPEC. For now, SPEC has outsourced the payment administration, instructional delivery system, and servicing through an outsourcing relationship with Tombs Maxwell, LLP.
Program Overview
The Settlement Planning
curriculum is the product of collaboration between the RSP Board and
the Personal Financial Planning Division at Texas Tech University. Although
these classes do not carry degree credit, the rigor and quality of the
coursework is intended to be at the master level and meant to challenge
professionals with settlement planning experience. The program consists
of two courses. Each course is offered on a continuous basis and may
be completed at the pace of the student. Successful completion of these
two courses will meet the education requirement of the RSP designation.
Financial Planning and Law for Settlement Planners
This course explores the theoretical and practical environmental framework
of settlement planning. The most relevant parts of the legal and financial
planning environment to settlement planning are discussed. Topics
include: principles of financial planning, financial institutions,
time value of money, trial procedure, property law, alternative dispute
resolution, torts, wills & trusts, planning for incapacity, income
and estate tax systems, investment principles, life insurance, annuities,
and estate planning. Read
More
Settlement Planning Seminar
This course explores the emerging profession of settlement planning.
Settlement planning is personal financial planning for a recipient of a legal
settlement. Topics include: forecasting needs, liquidity analysis, structured
settlement annuities, rated-ages, controlling dissipation risk, taxation of settlement
issues, planning for government entitlements, medical cost inflation, asset management
issues, settlement preservation trusts, basics of litigation, estate planning, Monte
Carlo analysis and qualified settlement funds. Read More
Prerequisite
Current employment as a settlement planner or closely associated field
with settlement planning.
Fees
The cost of each course is $1,250. Payment is made during the registration process with Texas Tech University. Payment may be made by check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express. There is an additional cost to buy the required textbooks.
Cancellation/Refunds
Refunds, less a $50 processing fee, will be granted for refund requests received
within a month of registration. Thereafter, only partial refunds will
be granted.
To Register
