DipPFS (Diploma in Financial Planning)
This Level 4 Diploma meets the FCA’s qualification requirements for retail investment advisers, demonstrating core technical knowledge and financial planning capabilities across six core areas.
Certificate in Financial Planning
CertCII Certificate in Financial Planning (Life & Pensions route)
The life and pensions route builds knowledge and understanding of the sector’s role and its activities. It considers important customer needs, solutions and products, and how individuals and organisations work within the regulatory and legislative environment.
Cert CII (MP) Certificate in Mortgage Advice
The Level 3 Certificate in Mortgage Advice meets the FCA’s qualification requirements for mortgage advisers. It develops an understanding of the sector and the mortgage process, enabling advisers to meet individual client needs.
Cert CII (ER) Certificate in Equity Release
The Level 3 Certificate in Equity Release meets the FCA’s requirement for mortgage advisers and those advising on equity release schemes. In addition to developing advisory skills, the Certificate offers an understanding of equity release regulation, products, market practice, and customer needs.
Award in Long Term Care Insurance
This Level 3 Award develops the knowledge and understanding of long-term care cover, including legal, taxation and regulatory issues and the responsibilities of local authorities.
AF3 (Pension Planning)
This examination assesses the candidate to develop in-depth financial planning skills related to personal and corporate pensions.
G10 (Taxation and Trusts)
This examination assesses a knowledge and understanding of the UK tax system, the law and practice of trusts, but also an ability to advise individual clients on the tax treatment of their investments and the use of trusts to meet their current and foreseeable future needs.
G60 (Pensions)
This examination enhances general pension knowledge, particularly in pension transfers and opt-out business.
K10 (Retirement Options)
This examination assesses knowledge and understanding of income generating options and applying the knowledge to retirement planning situations.
K20 (Pensions Investment Options)
This examination assesses knowledge and understanding of the range of investments available for planning of pensions and to be able to apply the construction of a pension portfolio management for a client.
J04 (Pension Funding Options)
At the end of this unit, candidates should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the: main tax and legal frameworks that govern the accumulation phase of building up retirement benefits under registered pension schemes; features of defined contribution and defined benefit pensions; choices faced by early leavers and use of transfer value analysis; State retirement benefits available, including the risks and suitability of contracting out of the State Second Pension.
J05 (Pension Income Options)
At the end of this unit, candidates should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the: process of decumulating pension funds and the main issues for clients and advisers; main choices facing members of pensions schemes during decumulation; features, risks and tax treatment of the secured pension option; features, risks and tax treatment of the unsecured pension option; features, risks and tax treatment of phased retirement; features, risks and tax treatment of the alternatively secured pension option.
R01 (Financial Services, Regulation and Ethics)
This qualification assesses a knowledge and understanding of the financial services industry, including regulation, legislation and the Code of Ethics.
R02 (Investment Principles)
This qualification assesses a knowledge and understanding of investment products and the application of the investment advice process.
R03 (Personal Taxation)
This qualification assesses a knowledge and understanding of the UK taxation system, and the ability to analyse the taxation treatment of individuals and trusts during the investment advice process.
R08 (Pension Update)
This qualification focuses on pension reforms and how they affect advice, including the new legislative, compliance and reporting requirements.
R05 (Financial Protection)
This qualification assesses a knowledge and understanding of an ability to analyse financial protection planning issues.
SV1 (Saving and Investments)
This examination assesses the knowledge and understanding of economic factors that affect risk from different investments, product features and regulatory framework of retail investments, taxation liabilities and portfolio planning.
CF6 (Certificate in Mortgage Advice)
This qualification assesses a knowledge and understanding of the UK regulation environment in the financial services industry, mortgage products, repayment options and the giving of mortgage advice.
CF8 (Certificate in Financial Planning and Long-Term Care Insurance)
This qualification assesses a knowledge and understanding of the UK regulation environment in the financial services industry, long-term care insurance products and the giving of long-term care insurance advice.
CF9 (Pensions Simplification)
This examination assesses a knowledge and understanding of the Government’s simplified pension taxation regime, which came into full effect on 6 April 2006 (A-Day). Eight tax regimes for pensions were reduced to one, radically affecting planning and transactions.
ER1 (Equity Release)
This examination assesses a knowledge and understanding of the different types of equity release products, risks to the consumer associated with equity release and application of suitable equity release solutions according to the circumstances of different customers.
FP1 (Financial Services and their Regulation)
Assesses an understanding of the financial services industry including regulation and legislation.
FP2 (Protection, Savings and Investment)
Assesses an understanding of protection, savings and investment products.
FP3 (Identifying and Satisfying Client Needs)
Assesses an understanding of conducting a fact-find, assessing the client’s needs, and recommending specific (appropriate) financial products to meet those needs.
