Ben Preston

Chartered status is awarded by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) and is considered the ‘gold standard’ financial planning accreditation. Chartered status is a symbol of technical competence and signifies a public commitment to upholding professional standards and adhering to a professional Code of Ethics.

APFS is a designation awarded by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) to those who have completed the Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning. It reflects a high level of technical expertise and a commitment to professional standards, ethics, and ongoing development.

To achieve Top Rated status, advisers must have 10 or more recent reviews, an overall rating of 4.5 or higher, and have passed all VouchedFor's verification checks.

This level 4 diploma meets the FCA’s qualification requirements for retail investment advisers, demonstrating core technical knowledge and financial planning capabilities across six core areas.

This qualification enables professional advisers to develop specialist planning capabilities, covering topics such as personal tax and trust, business financial, pension and investment planning.

The life and pensions route builds knowledge and understanding of the sector’s role and its activities. It considers important customer needs, solutions and products, and how individuals and organisations work within the regulatory and legislative environment.

The Level 3 Certificate in Mortgage Advice meets the FCA’s qualification requirements for mortgage advisers. It develops an understanding of the sector and the mortgage process, enabling advisers to meet individual client needs.

The RQF Level 4 Certificate in Discretionary Investment Management develops the wealth strategy and portfolio management skills required for effective discretionary investment management. The qualification satisfies the FCA appropriate qualification requirements for this class of business.

A recognition offered by the Chartered Insurance Institute in the United Kingdom. Individuals who hold this qualification have satisfied coursework and testing requirements set by the organisation.