Advanced Diploma In Financial Planning
This qualification enables professional advisers to develop specialist planning capabilities, covers topics like: personal tax and trust, business financial, pension and investment planning.
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
Award in Pensions Update
This single unit qualification develops and tests knowledge of pension reforms and how they impact at-retirement advice.
AF3 (Pension Planning)
This examination assesses the candidate to develop in-depth financial planning skills related to personal and corporate pensions.
AF4 (Investment Planning)
This examination assesses the candidate to develop in depth financial planning skills related to investments and the management of investment portfolios.
AF5 (Financial Planning Process)
This examination assesses the candidate to develop an understanding of the financial planning process when giving advice to clients.
AF8 (Retirement Income Planning)
This unit develops and demonstrates the advanced skills needed for advising on income planning to those in and approaching retirement.
J01 (Personal Tax)
At the end of this unit, candidates should be able to demonstrate an understanding of: the basic structure of the tax system and self-assessment; the main taxes on income and capital that may be charged on individuals, the self-assessment system and how tax liabilities are computed; impact of residence and domicile on an individual’s liability to UK tax.
J02 (Trusts)
At the end of this unit, candidates should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the: legal principles associated with the creation and management of a trust; main types of trusts that are common in the UK; taxation considerations relevant to trusts.
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.
R04 (Pensions and Retirement Planning)
This qualification assesses a knowledge and understanding of an ability to analyse pension and retirement planning issues.
R08 (Pension Update)
This qualification focuses on pension reforms and how they affect advice, including the new legislative, compliance and reporting requirements.
CF2 (Investment and Risk)
This examination assesses a knowledge and understanding of investment products and the risks involved.
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.
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.
R05 (Financial Protection)
This qualification assesses a knowledge and understanding of an ability to analyse financial protection planning issues.
