After having looked at several dozen MBA and MSFS programs throughout the country, the Institute of Business & Finance (IBF) developed its own graduate-degree curriculum. The shortcoming of other Master's programs is that they provide a great deal of theory, but often with little relevance or applicability to the advisor's practice. Graduate-degree business courses often include real world case studies, but their fact patterns have little to do with estate, financial, investment, or tax planning in the real world.

The IBF MSFS program focuses on the practical. Students gain knowledge that can be used in their daily practice immediately. The core of the MSFS curriculum is its certification programs. Students can personalize their studies by selecting course electives that reflect their advisory and brokerage practice. The IBF MSFS is the first, and remains the only, graduate program that was designed by practitioners for practitioners.

IBF believes it offers the best certification marks in the financial services industry. A small number of designations offered by other institutions are also held in high regard by IBF. However, the reality is that few people know the meaning of any certification mark or what it takes to obtain a legitimate designation. Whereas, everyone recognizes a Master's degree as well as the time commitment and effort involved in a graduate-level program. Obtaining an MSFS degree means that you are in a class above any designation or undergraduate degree.