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Advanced Financial Counseling and Client Communication


Course Description

Best practices in assisting individuals and families facing financial challenges and increasing levels of capability; minimizing sub-optimal financial decisions; proactive debt/credit management and credit score planning; communication skills and development of planner-client working alliance; recent advances in behavioral economics/neuroeconomics and their importance in the financial planning and counseling process.


Athena Title

Adv Fin Counsel and Clien Com


Equivalent Courses

Not open to students with credit in FHCE 7200E


Semester Course Offered

Offered fall


Grading System

A - F (Traditional)


Course Objectives

• Students will learn best practices in debt and credit management within the context of the financial planning process • Students will learn how to help others with maladaptive financial behaviors and assist those experiencing financial stress • Students will become familiar with theories from various disciplines that may assist them in their work with clients • Students will be able to describe strategies for facilitating positive financial behavior • Students will develop their own theoretical approach to helping and working with clients or advanced knowledge in providing financial counseling and planning services to a specific population • Students will be able to describe the latest findings from the new fields of behavioral economics and neuroeconomics, and how this information is valuable to the financial planning process


Topical Outline

Module (1) Introduction to financial planning and counseling process, ethical frameworks, and ASPIRE Clinic operations Module (2) Best practices and strategies - Credit and debt management Module (3) Theory - Theories in counseling, family therapy, and working alliance development Module (4) Interventions - Strategies for facilitating positive change in financial behavior Module (5) Financial psychology/behavioral economics - Psychology of financial decision-making


Syllabus