CII AF5 Exam: Financial Planning Process
The CII’s AF5 exam is the compulsory exam in the CII Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning. Candidates are sent a ‘fact-find’ two weeks prior to their exam date. The 3-hour exam has 8 compulsory questions on key aspects of the financial planning process, based on the ‘fact-find’. The nominal pass mark is 55%.
The exam syllabus includes the relationship between adviser and client; need for a planning brief; remuneration strategies; evaluation of objectives; understanding of assumptions, client’s financial status and risk; evaluation of options; forming a financial plan; explaining technical terms, product features and benefits; documenting changes; client reviews.
Our learning resources
Receive a PDF download link to our FREE AF5 How to Pass Guide via email when you make a purchase or request a free taster for any of our AF5 resources. It’s our gift to you!
This is for you if…
You require multiple resources and wish to save money. Make use of our AF5 study kit, reducing the cost of your CII exam study with an automatic discount of 10%.
This is for you if…
You need expert help as you prepare for the forthcoming AF5 exam. The AF5 analysis package provides a full detailed analysis of the fact-find and includes client’s objectives; questions our experts think could be asked in the exam and model answers; generic questions and answers; self-test questions; past paper analysis; exam technique; email support day (with Q&A document of useful questions posed on the day); and access to our free exam preparation video.
*The 2026 dates have not yet been advised by the CII.
This is for you if…
You want to practise using our analyses from earlier exams. The AF5 past analyses provide full detailed analysis of the fact-finds issued by the CII for earlier exams; types of questions and examiner’s comments; exam technique; past paper analysis; generic areas; potential immediate and longer-term objectives; and likely questions based on assumed objectives.
This is for you if…
You are further along with your CII AF5 exam studies and are now ready to focus on the essential fact-find and recommendation processes for AF5 so that you can be sure of what is needed, and when – includes self-test questions.
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- "Brand Financial Training's great material was easy to use and really helped me get through some areas to get the Diploma. I'll use them next time for future exams."Giovanni ManigliaWealth Management Adviser, Lloyds TSB, Bristol
- "I've used your resources for 3 exams so far and have always passed first time. I find these questions help to highlight those areas in which I am weak and which may need further study. I also find that questions in the exam are phrased in a way that I would not normally use, and that reading mock questions helps me to be aware of and alert to these. Your mock papers were invaluable in helping me to prepare for my exams."John BisattAdviser, Palmer Lane, Cardiff
Philip Dodd
Josh Butten
