CPD

All CPD content

Why annuities are an essential tool for clients' financial future

Describe why clients' retirement income needs are changing and how the annuity market has developed.
List the different types of annuities including lifetime, enhanced and fixed term.
Identify the importance of advice in the annuity market and why annuities can be an essential tool for clients.

Guide to suitability and duty of care

Describe what the regulator expects from advisers around duty of care and suitability.
List what has happened in global markets and why clients might be concerned.
Identify how to deliver financial solutions that meet client needs against this backdrop.

How to use ETFs to get exposure to thematic investing

Identify what thematic investing is and why it has been associated with active management.
Describe why it is important to understand the aim of the index methodology and how they are constructed.
List why it is important to ensure investors have a meaningful exposure to a trend.

Understanding voluntary and compulsory scheme pays

Describe the background to changes to the annual allowance.
Identify the requirements of voluntary scheme pays and compulsory scheme pays.
List what there is to know about DB and DC scheme pays.

EIS or VCT? The differences and similarities

Describe why VCTs and EIS investments are so popular
Describe some of the tax advantages of VCTs and EIS investments
List some of the differences between EIS and VCTs

Guide to the Isa market

Describe the history of Isas and why they have become a building block in client portfolios.
Identify how to protect investments held in stocks and shares Isas from volatility and whether there is value in having a cash Isa.
List the different types of Isa available now and consider whether there are too many in the market.

Beware the powers of Unexplained Wealth Orders

Describe the importance of Unexplained Wealth Orders
Describe how UWOs work
Describe the powers that enforcement authorities have with UWOs

Income Protection

Why conversations about protection are difficult but essential

Identify why protection can be a difficult subject to broach with clients.
List some of the common misconceptions about protection and its coverage.
Describe how advisers can make the case for protection, and why mortgage clients might have more of a need.

Guide to preparing for SMCR

Identify what advice companies can expect from the new regulatory regime and how it has played out in the banking sector.
Describe what there is to know about complying and the potential challenges advisers might come across.
List some practical steps advice companies can take now to prepare for SMCR.

How to prepare your clients for Brexit volatility

Identify how Brexit might trigger volatility in markets and currencies and the impact on client portfolios.
Describe how advisers can help clients with short-term drawdown needs to navigate volatility.
List what advisers can do to help clients meet their income needs.

Have property funds learned lessons from 2016 gatings?

Learn about the recent troubles for open-ended property funds
Gain an insight into property fund performance
Be able to the describe the FCA's solutions to the sector's woes

Why advisers should embrace AI’s potential

Understand how AI is affecting the advice process
Gain an insight into the FCA's concerns about AI
Be able to describe the types of AI being deployed

What you need to know about later life protection

Identify why the cost of care in the UK is rising and what that means for protection needs.
List how advisers can help clients plan early and identify the right protection cover.
Describe which products have entered the market to meet later life protection needs.

Understanding the role of independent financial advice in divorce

Describe how financial planning at the outset of divorce proceedings can help fund it.
List what factors are relevant to financial arrangements in divorce proceedings and the need for financial disclosure.
Identify what need there is for clients to get financial advice when going through a divorce.

Discretionary Management

Taking care of outsourced clients

Describe what advisers' duty of care is when outsourcing investments.
Identify how to use DFMs without ruining client-adviser relationships and what the FCA expects.
List key questions to ask those running client investments.

Defined Contribution

Testing DC pension benefits against the lifetime allowance

List the calculations involved in testing against the lifetime allowance.
Describe how the tax charge is calculated and whether there is any way of mitigating it.
Identify how pre-2006 pensions can still reduce the available lifetime allowance at age 75.

Prospects are glowing for collective defined contribution schemes

Describe how Collective Defined Contribution schemes might work
List how CDC schemes might be useful for the Royal Mail
Describe why it might raise retirement income over the longer term

Personal Pension

Guide to helping mid-lifers plan for retirement

Describe what mid-lifers need to consider when saving for retirement.
List how advisers can help mid-lifers prioritise their pension and what tools providers can offer to help.
Identify how women can ensure they are financially prepared for retirement given the pensions gap.

Defined Benefit

Partial DB transfers offer a good third way option

Describe the reason why people should do a partial transfer
List the important things to communicate to clients
Describe how the partial transfer mitigates risk for members

Inheritance Tax

How to engage with clients’ beneficiaries

List the benefits of engaging with clients’ beneficiaries as part of intergenerational planning.
Identify ways to help a client’s executors and beneficiaries during the probate process.
Describe the opportunity for taking on beneficiaries as clients.