Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning

ConMan

Hi Folks,

Wanted to know from people who have completed the diploma their thoughts.

I don't work in the Financial Advice business but I'm looking to enter into it and I've found from a few different job advertisements that this is an expected qualification to have.

Is this qualification obtainable without having worked in this area of business before. I know that technically it is, but I realistically, even with all the revision, is it possible to pass this without having worked in the business, at any level before?

I was on CII and looking at I've decided that this is definitely the career path that I want to go down. I don't have a degree as I went straight into work and it seems possible to get a job with this qualification, albeit experience may hinder my application.

Finally, the last point - Should I bypass the certificate altogether and go for the diploma, or work my way up? I don't see any job advertisements that will take on with just the certificate.

TIA

The_Doc

I obtained this qualification two years ago and I have never worked in the Financial Advice business. I work in IT for a financial services firm and have an interest in the subject.

I decided to do this for a few reasons. Firstly because it was very useful to me and of interest. The savings on IFA fees more than makes up for the cost of the course. Secondly, I was considering becoming an IFA after being made redundant. In the end I decided to go back to IT part time rather than start as an IFA full time at the bottom of the ladder.

I did the whole course in just over a year, part of which I was not working and part of which I was back working. So it is eminently achievable if you have the interest and motivation without having worked for a Financial Advice company.

ColdIron

ConMan wrote: »

I don't work in the Financial Advice business but I'm looking to enter into it

Some would say you have the perfect name for it

Herbalus

Motivation is the key to learning and doing well.

I have gone into certain fields where I had great personal interest and been surprised at how little some people within those fields knew about them. Some people just fall into certain jobs without it being a vocation for them. If you have the interest and do your homework, I would not be surprised that you start from a better position than some in the industry.