Steven Walker

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.

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.

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.

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

This examination assesses the candidate to develop in depth financial planning skills related to personal and corporate pensions.

This examination assesses the candidate to develop an understanding of the financial planning process when giving advice to clients.

At the end of this unit, candidates should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the: process of decumulating pension funds and the main issues for clients and advisers; main choices facing members of pensions schemes during decumulation; features, risks and tax treatment of the secured pension option; features, risks and tax treatment of the unsecured pension option; features, risks and tax treatment of phased retirement; features, risks and tax treatment of the alternatively secured pension option.

This qualification assesses a knowledge and understanding of investment products and the application of the investment advice process.

This qualification assesses a knowledge and understanding of the UK taxation system, and the ability to analyse the taxation treatment of individuals and trusts during the investment advice process.

This qualification develops an understanding of the financial services industry, including regulation and legislation.

This examination assesses a knowledge and understanding of financial protection plans.

This examination assesses a knowledge and understanding of the various pension products, the pension tax regime and retirement needs.

This examination demonstrates a solid grounding in the financial services industry and its regulation.

This examination assesses a knowledge and understanding of the Government’s simplified pension taxation regime which came into full effect on 6 April 2006 (A-Day). Eight tax regimes for pensions were reduced to one, radically affecting planning and transactions.

Assesses an understanding of the financial services industry, including regulation and legislation.

Assesses an understanding of protection, savings and investment products.

Assesses an understanding of conducting a fact-find, assessing the client’s needs, and recommending specific (appropriate) financial products to meet those needs.