Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning (2024)

Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning (1)
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Your pathway to Chartered Financial Planner status

The RQF Level 6 Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning builds on existing knowledge enabling advisers to develop specialist planning capabilities and offer a sophisticated and comprehensive approach to financial management.

Members with over five years’ sector experience can apply forChartered Financial Plannerstatus on completion of the Advanced Diploma.

Who's it for?

  • Retail investment advisers qualified at level 4
  • Paraplanners, technical consultants and staff in related support roles qualified at level 4

To complete the Advanced Diploma, you must already hold one of the following CII qualifications: Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning, Diploma in Financial Planning.

Recognition of prior learning

Before studying, check to see whether any of your previous academic qualifications or credits from other professional bodies and institutes can be carried towards completion of the Advanced Diploma.

Find out more about recognition of prior learning

Study time

Specific study time guidelines are provided for each unit on its webpage and in the CII qualifications brochure.

The notional Ofqual ‘Total Qualification Time’ for this qualification is 600 hours. This represents the time a student might typically take to upgrade their CII Level 4 Diploma in Financial Planning or Regulated Financial Planning to the CII Level 6 Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning by the shortest combination of units from the core and optional units available. The number of hours may increase dependent on the units chosen. Further study time will be needed for any units required to meet the additional completion requirements (for students who have not already completed these as part of their prior study).

Assessment method

Diploma and Advanced Diploma level units are assessed by written exam or coursework assignment.

Written exam results are normally released 6-8 weeks following exam sitting. Coursework assessment results are normally released 63 calendar days following submission.

Find out more about assessments, including policies and exam centres

Learning support

Qualification units are delivered through purchasing an Enrolment, equipping you with the essential materials to support core learning. For a single fee, an Enrolment typically includes: study text, assessment and access to RevisionMate, our online study tool.

We also offer additional revision aids through purchasing Enrolment plus for most key units. These range from Key fact booklets and Question packs, to Learn online tutorials.

Chartered status and Fellowship

As a holder of the Advanced Diploma you can apply forCharteredstatus (subject to having five years' experience within the profession - experience gained prior toqualification counts towards this requirement).

Chartered status cements your professional standing and gives you parity with other professionals such as accountants and solicitors. The CII also offers corporate Chartered status to qualifying firms, further enhancing visible professionalism.

If after completing the Advanced Diploma you wish to continue with formal professional development, you could study forFellowshipof the PFS.

Fellowship,held by more than 5,000 working practitioners is our highest level of qualification. Attainment is globally recognised as an indicator of expertise and experience.

Units treated as equivalent

Due to the extent of syllabus overlap, certain combinations of current and withdrawn units will result in only one award of credits.

If a withdrawn equivalent is held you may not need to complete a current unit in order to satisfy a qualification's completion rules. Clarification should always be sought from CII Customer Service.

Find out more about credit awards for equivalent units

Completion requirements

Core units

The Advanced Diploma comprises one core unit and a number of option units from the CII Personal Finance qualifications framework, providing a total of 290 credits on successful completion.There is no definitive order in which you should study your chosen units, however unit AF5 tests skills developed through completion of other Advanced Diploma units so must be completed last.

Unit

Credits

Level

AF5

Financial planning process

Credits : 30

Level : 6

Learn more Learn more

Option units

120 credits must be at level 6 and include the core unit AF5. A further 40 credits must be at level 4 or above, and the remaining credits may come from any unit with the exception of unit LF1.

Any credits already achieved from these units will continue to count towards the completion requirements of the Diploma in Financial Planning and the Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning after the unit’s withdrawal.

Unit

Credits

Level

AF1

Personal tax and trust planning

Credits : 30

Level : 6

Learn more Learn more

AF4

Investment Planning

Credits : 30

Level : 6

Learn more Learn more

AF6

Senior management and supervision

Credits : 30

Level : 6

Learn more Learn more

AF7

Pensions transfers

Credits : 20

Level : 6

Learn more Learn more

AF8

Retirement income planning

Credits : 30

Level : 6

Learn more Learn more

Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning (2024)

FAQs

What level is advanced diploma in financial planning? ›

The Level 6 Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning builds on existing skills and knowledge, enabling advisers to develop specialist planning capabilities and offer a sophisticated and comprehensive approach to financial management.

What is the highest qualification for financial planning? ›

Fellowship of the CII is universally regarded as the premier qualification. Achieving Fellowship of the CII gives financial services practitioners genuine differentiation.

What is advanced diploma in financial management? ›

Designed to further develop students' financial and leadership capabilities to gain better, higher-paying, and more purposeful employment that will make a difference in the work environment. SAQA - 109030. NQF Level 7.

What is the best degree for a financial planner? ›

Becoming a financial advisor requires at least a bachelor's degree. Some employers seek a bachelor's in accounting, business, law, or economics. Financial planner education includes coursework in taxes, investments, and risk management.

What is the difference between advanced diploma and a degree? ›

Is advanced diploma equivalent to bachelor degree? That is a common question. Despite some similarities, the two are distinct qualifications. An advanced diploma can typically be finished faster than a bachelor's degree and focuses on practical skills relevant to a particular job.

What is higher than advanced diploma? ›

Level 6 qualification – Advanced diploma or associate degree. Level 7 qualification – Bachelor degree, for example a bachelor of arts. Level 8 qualification – Bachelor honours degree, graduate certificate or graduate diploma. Level 9 qualification – Masters degree, for example a master of business administration.

How much money can you make in financial planning? ›

Financial Planner Salary and Career Growth

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), personal financial advisors earn a median annual salary of $95,390, more than double the national median salary of $46,310 for all occupations.

What is the difference between AIF and CFP? ›

A CFP will have mastered more than 100 investment and money management topics. An AIF, on the other hand, will possess a virtually exhaustive knowledge of what it means to be held to a fiduciary standard of care for the financial well-being of clients, employees and beneficiaries.

Is becoming a certified financial planner hard? ›

CFPs help individuals in a variety of areas in managing their finances, such as retirement, investing, education, insurance, and taxes. Becoming a CFP® is a difficult and stringent process. It requires years of experience, successful completion of standardized exams, a demonstration of ethics, and a formal education.

How long does it take to finish advanced diploma? ›

After obtaining a Diploma, graduates may apply to pursue an Advanced Diploma in a similar or related field as stipulated by the University. Duration of study: Full-time 3 years / part-time 4 years.

What is a Level 4 diploma for financial advisor? ›

The Level 4 Diploma for Financial Advisers (DipFA) is aimed at professionals who are looking to start a career as a financial adviser. Exploring the key information you'll need to qualify as a financial adviser, you'll examine: The purpose and structure of the UK financial services industry.

How to study advanced financial management? ›

Top tips:
  1. View the specimen exam early in your studies.
  2. Supplement your studies with wider reading.
  3. Be aware that more than one topic area of the syllabus will be examined in a question.
  4. Support any discussion or evaluation you make to the scenario in the question – context is very important.

Can you become a CFP without a degree? ›

The essential four-year degree is key to unlocking doors at almost every planning firm, and it's also a required item for achieving the most important certification in the field, the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) credential.

Is it worth it to become a financial planner? ›

The Bottom Line

A financial planner can be a rewarding job that helps others financially plan for their life goals. It can also be a demanding job with such responsibilities and the necessary knowledge and skills required to do it well.

How do I start a career in financial planning? ›

How to become a financial adviser
  1. Pursue an education. ...
  2. Join a networking organization. ...
  3. Create a resume. ...
  4. Get an entry-level position. ...
  5. Register as a financial adviser. ...
  6. Pursue professional certification. ...
  7. Cultivate key skills. ...
  8. Stay up-to-date with your continuing education.
Apr 28, 2023

What is a Level 7 Diploma in Advanced financial planning? ›

Level 7 Diploma in Advanced Financial Planning

It will give you the necessary skills to build trust and help consumers in an increasingly complex advice world. The CFP process equips individuals with the following: A financial planning framework that is robust and repeatable.

Is Advanced Diploma Level 7? ›

Further specialisation in a teaching subject, offered through an Advanced Diploma at Level 7, requires cognate studies in that subject at Level 6 in the entry qualification.

What is a Level 5 Advanced Diploma? ›

A Level 5 qualification is usually studied after competition of a Level 4 qualification, meaning that students are normally, but not always, around 19 years old. This qualification helps students progress to higher education, though they can also lead to a profession in various areas such as nursing or sports science.

What is a Level 6 Advanced Diploma? ›

3) A Level 6 Diploma (120 credits) student will study a course equivalent to year 3 of an Undergraduate Degree, as well as a qualification that can be used to gain entry into a Postgraduate Diploma or Master's Degree programme.

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