Hundreds of advisers have become chartered this year despite the challenges of the coronavirus crisis.
Since social distancing and lockdown measures were introduced in March, more than 600 advisers passed their Chartered Financial Planner exams.
The latest class to graduate from the Personal Finance Society, who sat exams in July after the April schedule was delayed due to pandemic restrictions, included 250 new fellowships.
Keith Richards, chief executive of the PFS, said the members had shown "impressive commitment" continuing their professional development during the lockdown period.
He said: "The 2020 graduates have combined studying with making a positive difference to people’s lives and financial wellbeing at a time of great uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 outbreak, creating greater demand for professional advice."
Benjamin Dyson, a 27-year-old financial adviser at Foresight Independent Financial Planning, is the PFS's youngest fellowship graduate in 2020.
He said: “Furthering my studies is something which I’ve always made a top priority within my career as a financial adviser.
“It is really important for clients to know that they are working with someone who they can trust, and undertaking further qualifications is a really good way to show commitment to learning and to good practice."
Technical glitches
The Chartered Insurance Institute was plagued by a string of technical glitches as it moved its exams online this summer amid the crisis.
In July and August FTAdviser reported how advisers were repeatedly falling foul of the issues, with some dubbing the process an "absolute disgrace".
In response to the backlash, the professional body confirmed it would be offering a free October re-sit to all candidates who failed the remote exams in July, regardless of whether they reported technical issues at the time.
But the technical issues continued in test centres across the country this month, with numerous candidates claiming their computer system froze or shut down hours into the exam.
rachel.mortimer@ft.com
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