What are the options to achieve a Level 4 financial services qualification?

Since the Retail Distribution Review (RDR) back in 2012 the minimum requirement for giving advice to retail clients is to have a RQF level 4 qualification. There are a variety of examining bodies offering this qualification, ranging from probably the most well-known Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) through to other bodies such as the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI) and the London Institute of Banking and Finance (LIBF).

So how does an individual know which option is the best one for their personal needs?

This week, BTS Director Luiza Todd penned an article for Professional Paraplanner Magazine, looking at the different options available, the pros and cons of each, and a look to the future of financial services qualifications.

Professional Paraplanner Magazine November 2021 – ProfessionalParaplanner.co.uk

The key take-home message is, there is quite a bit of choice out there. If you’re thinking of a career in financial planning, do your research and talk to a range of people who have experience of the different routes. 

BTS specialise in supporting the CII Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning. If you would like a chat to find out more about this route to qualification, get in touch with the BTS support team. There is also lots of useful information, including pdf downloads of the CII syllabus documents, on our R0 Toolkit pages. We can help you decide if the CII route is for you, and advise on next steps to get started.