Self-Paced CFP: Insurance Planning Highlights and Self-Paced Study Experiences

Finally… I passed the “Insurance Planning” course for my University of Georgia Self-Paced CFP class. That’s only #2 out of the 7 topics, but here are a few quick observations so far:

After trying a couple of times… 😅 I was not able to pass the course exams without studying the course materials first. You need 80% correct to pass, and I’d be in the 60% to 80% range without any studying. I’ve been able to pass the exams after only reading the online course slides and review questions. I haven’t opened the textbooks once (as shown in pristine condition above!), even though I spent extra for the physical textbooks (as opposed to electronic-only). As a personal finance geek, I did know a lot of the material beforehand, but there are definitely new bits that I’m learning here and there. The material is dry, but it covers a lot of topics. Like many other professional certification exams, much of passing means studying specifically for the test. The questions aren’t necessarily weighted by what’s commonly used in financial planning practice, but by what is easiest to test in a multiple-choice format. That means memorizing formulas that require a financial calculator, “none of the above”, “all of the above”-type questions, and minor differences in definitions. I now understand why even after completing this educational course requirement, most CFP applicants sign up for another ~$1,000 “cram course” that just drills you on sample test questions.

Back to Insurance Planning. I got stuck on this course for while as it is a very wide topic with some rather dull topics, so here is a high-level overview of what was covered.

Three main categories of “Pure Risk” for individuals and families:

Personal Property Liability

Principles and Purpose of Insurance

Types of risk (pure vs. speculative) Methods of managing risk (avoidance, reduction, retention, transfer)

Property and Casualty Insurance

Homeowners and renters insurance Auto insurance Liability and umbrella policies Business-related coverage

Life Insurance

Types (term, whole, universal, variable) Suitability and needs analysis Policy selection, riders, beneficiary designations

Health Insurance and Disability Insurance

Health plans (PPO, HMO, HDHP, etc.) Medicare and Medicaid Social Security Disability coverage (short-term, long-term, own vs. any occupation) Long-Term Care Insurance

Employee and Group Benefits

Group life, health, and disability plans COBRA and continuation coverage Cafeteria and flexible spending accounts

Annuities

Types (fixed, variable, immediate, deferred) Payout options and guarantees Tax treatment and suitability

Role of a financial planner.

Coverage level determination Help clients identify coverage gaps or excesses. Refer clients to qualified Property & Casualty (P&C) agents. Evaluate insurance as part of a broader financial plan. Review and update over time

For example, for personal liability insurance you would ask about:

Personal Auto Policy (PAP): For motor vehicle-related liabilities. Homeowners Policy: Covers bodily injury/property damage to others. Comprehensive Personal Liability (CPL) Policy: Standalone liability coverage. Umbrella Policy: Broad, high-limit policy supplementing existing coverages.

You may not need all of them individually, but some combination of these should work together to make sure there no holes. It’s also possible that you may have duplicate coverage or otherwise too much insurance.

A lot of financial advice focuses on “offense”: maximizing income, minimizing expenses, and optimizing investments. But “defense” is just as important, as it includes protecting from loss of future income and loss of existing assets.

Photo by Matt Hudson on Unsplash