Financial Planning

NZ National Certificate in Financial Services (Financial Advice) Level 5 (Investment)

The Institute's New Zealand Level 5 certificate in Financial Planning, meets the requirements of the following NZQA-issued qualification: National Certificate in Financial Services (Financial Advice) Level 5 (Investment). This means that the financial planning modules in the course include coverage of the competency standards required for issuance of this national qualification.

Three steps to obtain your Level 5 qualification

Students who successfully complete this three step process will satisfy NZQA’s requirements and be awarded the National Certificate in Financial Services (Financial Advice) Level 5 Investment.

Course content

• Students enrolled into the Pre-2011 Financial Planning course
• Students enrolling into the 2011 Financial Planning course

Students enrolled into the Pre-2011 Financial Planning course

To be awarded the NZ National Certificate in Financial Services (Financial Advice) Level 5 (Investment) students must complete the following four modules and the ANZIIF nominated bridging course.

• FSP501 Financial Planning Practice
• FPS502 Planning for Risk and Retirement
• FSP503 Investment Planning
• FSP504 Providing Financial Planning Advice
• NZFSL5 Level 5 Bridging course.

FSP501 Financial Planning Practice

Covers many of the skills and knowledge required to gain ASIC RG 146 Financial Planning compliance, including analysing the legal, regulatory and ethical responsibilities within the financial planning industry. This module also covers the steps in the financial planning process, how to comply with a financial planning organisation’s operational and practice guidelines, and how to develop and maintain ongoing professional development.

FPS502 Planning for Risk and Retirement

Analyses general insurance, life insurance and superannuation needs as well as the information required to recommend appropriate products and maximise government entitlements. Also covered are the issues of estate planning and business succession planning.

FSP503 Investment Planning

Covers the drivers that influence the economy, taxation issues, different types of investment and examines the risk vs. return trade-off.

FSP504 Providing Financial Planning Advice

Covers every aspect of the financial planning process from the first client interview, gathering information, carrying out the tasks and implementing the financial strategy recommendations, to the production of a Statement of Advice and the review process that is needed to maximise ongoing service.

To be awarded the NZ National Certificate in Financial Services (Financial Advice) Level 5 (Investment) students must complete the following four modules and the ANZIIF nominated bridging course.

• FSP511 Financial Planning
• FSP512 Managed Investments
• FSP513 Securities
• FSP514 Derivatives
• NZFSL5 Level 5 Bridging course.

FSP511 Financial Planning

FSP511 is a prerequisite to all the other modules in the Diploma. This module provides industry compliance with the ASIC RG 146 requirements of generic knowledge, the specialist knowledge requirement of financial planning and the planner skills requirement. The course also covers estate planning and business succession planning and the underpinning competencies required for the various product modules.

For more information, click here.

FSP512 Managed Investments

Managed investments are a common form of investment recommended by financial planners. This module describes the various types of funds and the ways in which they are commonly classified, operation of financial markets as well as outlines the process used to analyse and select managed investments. A key topic covered is the analysis of risk in managed investments.

For more information, click here.

FSP513 Securities

In this module, students will discover the different types of securities including equities and fixed interest. The course outlines advice consideration including the operation of the market, factors influencing returns, trading strategies and research. A balanced portfolio usually entails some level of shareholding and this module will assist students in answering client queries about how their existing shareholdings fit into their overall financial strategy.

For more information, click here.

FSP514 Derivatives

In this module, students will learn about derivatives, a distinct type of financial product derived from, and bound to, basic underlying financial products. The main focus in relation to derivatives is recognising how they work and under what circumstances they could benefit a client’s investment position. Students will be able to explain how derivatives operate within certain managed funds that may be recommended to clients. The derivatives accreditation also provides ASX Accredited Derivatives Advisor Level 1 recognition which is currently an ASX requirement.

For more information, click here.

For information about this bridging course, click here.

When students feel that they are competent in the skills outlined in the unit standards, they can be assessed for competency and credits towards completion of the Level 5 qualification can be awarded.

Assessment involves an exam administered by the ETITO and the collection and recording of evidence that demonstrates an individual's competence in each unit standard for which they are seeking credit. This evidence can be gathered by observing normal day-to-day work, from the organisations records, team leader's/manager's verification, questionnaires completed, and verbal discussions. For more information, click here.

Further education

If you want to build a career in the financial planning industry or if you are already working in the industry but need to achieve a professional qualification to progress in your career, the Institute’s internationally-recognised Diploma of Financial Planning is for you.

Once you complete the Institute’s modules nominated for the Level 5 qualification in financial planning, you only need to successfully complete one more module (BFU001 Business Fundamentals) to obtain the Institute’s Diploma of Financial Planning. On successful completion of the Diploma students will be able to demonstrate the fundamental knowledge required for working in the financial services industry, understand how to research and evaluate investment products within Australia, understand the function and purpose of superannuation and retirement products, and insurance (both general and life) products.

Upon completion of the Diploma, graduates will become a Senior Associate Certified Insurance Professional of the Institute.