CII Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning
What is the purpose of the Advanced Diploma?
The CII Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning is a RQF Level 6 qualification leading to Chartered Financial Planner status. This qualification enables advisers to increase their knowledge and understanding of specialist areas of financial planning and differentiate themselves from their colleagues.
To gain Chartered Financial Planner status, advisers must also have 5 years experience as well as the CII Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning qualification.
If you are a member of the PFS, upon completion you can use the designation APFS.
What do I need to do to achieve this Diploma?
To achieve the CII Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning you must achieve 290 CII credits in total. 120 of these must be at Level 6 (AF exams), including AF5. You will also require an additional 40 credits at Level 4 or above. All other credits can be gained at any level (except LF1).
- AF1 Personal tax and trust planning
- AF4 Investment planning
- AF5 Financial planning process
- AF6 Senior management and supervision
- AF7 Pension transfers
- AF8 Retirement income planning
* Note that AF5 Financial planning process is compulsory.
CII Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning
| Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| Available units: | AF1 Personal tax and trust planning AF4 Investment planning AF5 Financial planning process (compulsory) AF6 Senior management and supervision AF7 Pension transfers AF8 Retirement income planning |
| Credits required for qualification: | 290 Minimum 120 credits at Advanced Diploma level and 40 at Diploma level or above |
| Level: | 6 |
AF4 Investment planning
You will find that the CII Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning units focus on particular areas of financial advice and builds on Diploma level exams.
Taxation
If you are particularly interested in Taxation then AF1 Personal tax and trust builds on R03 Personal taxation and J02 Trusts.
Pensions
AF8 Retirement Income Planning builds on knowledge from R04 Pensions and retirement planning and J05 Pension income options.
AF7 Pension Transfers assumes candidates have knowledge from R04 and J05 Pension income options.
Investments
This is covered by AF4 Investment planning and builds on J10 Discretionary investment management and R02 Investment principles and risk.
Supervision
AF6 Senior management and supervision builds on J07 Supervision in a regulated environment and R01 Financial services, regulation and ethics.
You will find that the CII Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning units focus on particular areas of financial advice and builds on Diploma level exams.
Taxation
If you are particularly interested in Taxation then AF1 Personal tax and trust builds on R03 Personal taxation and J02 Trusts.
Pensions
AF8 Retirement Income Planning builds on knowledge from R04 Pensions and retirement planning and J05 Pension income options.
AF7 Pension Transfers assumes candidates have knowledge from R04 and J05 Pension income options.
Investments
This is covered by AF4 Investment planning and builds on J10 Discretionary investment management and R02 Investment principles and risk.
Supervision
AF6 Senior management and supervision builds on J07 Supervision in a regulated environment and R01 Financial services, regulation and ethics.
