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Any information or advice on this site does not constitute a personal recommendation. If you have any doubts as to whether a product or service is suitable for you, please seek independent advice.

Qualifications

IFA qualifications explained

Finding a local adviser is relatively easy. Finding a truly independent higher quality adviser is more difficult. IFA’s can pass examinations relating to a wide variety of topics. But you need to be able to compare & understand them.

The adviser that overseas your advice at Aisa (excluding insurance and mortgages) will have a Level B qualification for that advice and your adviser will state what his/her qualifications are.

Level A

Level A is the minimum level of qualification required to become a Financial Adviser. Level A qualifications are equivalent to A level standard.

(Note: All "Mortgage" and "Equity Release" qualifications have been assessed Level A)

Level B

Financial Advisers with Level B qualifications demonstrate a high level of expertise and have a more specialised knowledge of financial products. They are able to provide detailed analysis of financial information and can devise solutions to complex financial problems.

(Note: All "General", "Corporate" and "Tax" Qualifications have been assessed Level B)

The awarding bodies and qualifications / designations listed on the IFA Promotion website:

Chartered Insurance Institute (CII)

• ACII - Associateship Examination (CII) Level B designation
• AFPC - Advanced Financial Planning Certificate (CII) Level B qualification
• CF2 - Investment and Risk (CII) Level A qualification
• CF6 - Certificate in Mortgage Advice (CII) Level A qualification
• CF7 - Certificate in Financial Planning & Lifetime Mortgages Activities (CII) Level A qualification
• CF8 - Certificate in Financial Planning and Long-Term Care Insurance (CII) Level A qualification
• CF9 - Pensions simplification (CII) Level A qualification
• Chartered Financial Planner (CII) Level B designation
• FCII - Fellow Membership (CII) Level B designation
• G10 - Taxation and Trusts (CII) Level B qualification
• G20 - Personal Investment Planning (CII) Level B qualification
• G30 - Business Financial Planning (CII) Level B qualification
• G60 - Pensions (CII) Level B qualification
• G70 - Investment Portfolio Management (CII) Level B qualification
• G80 - Long term care, life and health protection (CII) Level B qualification
• H15 - Supervision and Sales (CII) Level B qualification
• H25 - Holistic Financial Planning (CII) Level B qualification
• J01 - Personal tax (CII) Level B qualification
• J02 - Trusts (CII) Level B qualification
• J03 - The tax and legal aspects of business (CII) Level B qualification
• J04 - Pension funding options (CII) Level B qualification
• J05 - Pension income options (CII) Level B qualification
• J06 - Investment principles, markets and environment (CII) Level B qualification
• J07 - Supervision in a regulated environment (CII) Level B qualification
• K10 - Retirement Options (CII) Level B qualification
• K20 - Pensions Investment Options (CII) Level B qualification
• MAQ - Mortgage Advice Qualification (CII) Level A qualification
• SV1 - Saving & Investment (CII) Level A qualification

IFS School of Finance (IFS)

• CeLM - Certificate in Lifetime Mortgages (IFS) Level A qualification
• CeMAP - Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice (IFS) Level A qualification

Personal Finance Society (PFS)

• APFS - Associate, Personal Finance Society (PFS) Level B designation
• Dip PFS - Personal Finance Society Diploma (PFS) Level B designation
• FPFS - Fellow, Personal Finance Society (PFS) Level B designation
United Kingdom Society of Investment Professionals (UKSIP)
• IMAAQ - Investment Management Asset Allocation Qualification (UKSIP) Level A qualification
• IMC - Investment Management Certificate (UKSIP) Level A qualification

How the qualifications were assessed (Taken from unbiased.co.uk)

All qualifications / designations were assigned a level based on an analysis which was completed by UK NARIC, a national DfES agency which provides guidance on levels of international qualifications (academic, vocational and professional). UK NARIC used a well established benchmarking process (the establishment of standards and levels) that it applies to all qualifications. This involves the analysis of a number of factors including:

• Entry requirements
• Content
• Learning outcomes (i.e. what the candidate will be expected to achieve upon completion of the course)
• Occupational outcomes
• Professional status
• Qualification progression