The IARFC extends its invitation to professors and their undergraduate students enrolled in Financial Services curriculum to participate in the production of a comprehensive personal financial plan based on uniform sample data provided.
“Education is the underlying factor in our competition,” advises IARFC Chairman H. Stephen Bailey, RFC®. “Students need to understand how to present to a real client, in the real world with a real case scenario. Developing a financial plan is the core of what we do.”
The competition allows for extensive learning opportunities. Individual students or teams of two are sent a fictional case study to do the following:
(1) initially develop a personal financial plan following submission guidelines,
(2) as a semi-finalist present the plan via webinar to a panel of financial professionals and finally
(3) as a finalist explain their conclusions live in front of experienced consultants.
The National Financial Plan Competition relies on Corporate Sponsorship and individual sponsorship from its members. These members are very interested in helping students in financial programs have a problem solving real world experience – the financial plan being a basic product for a client. The competition also provides opportunities for students to network and gain insight from successful financial services professionals.
2016 Winner Molly Funk presenting the Jackson Family Financial Plan at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in Charlotte, NC during the finals of the competition.
“It was a really great learning experience for me. I found out things I never knew were possible that were applicable to everyday life. I was able to discuss with my parents and converse with them in an educated way.”
The IARFC is now accepting participation agreements from educators who feel this is a challenge and a worthwhile project for their students. In 2018 the finalist, accompanied by their professor, will be presenting their plans in person to a panel of judges in Asheville, NC at the IARFC Spring Conference, April 17-19.
Deadline for Participation Agreements and Registration Fees is September 1, 2017.
Deadline for Plan Submission by students is November 20, 2017.
To find out more information or register for the 2018 Competition, contact us at plancomp@iarfc.org.
