Monthly Roundup for July 2023

This article is correct as at 31 July 2023.

We know your time is valuable, so here’s a quick summary of the CII-related articles we’ve posted this month.

This Monthly Roundup allows you to see, at a glance, what articles have been posted and you can simply click on any that are of interest to you.

Here, we delve into the intricacies of the investment pathways introduced by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) within recent years. We provide clear explanations of the four different options available and how they match specific retirement goals. Whether you’re preparing for a CII pensions-related exam, such as AF7, AF8, R04, or J05, or seeking a better understanding of these pathways, read on as we explore their significance, requirements, and implications on pension investments.

In this article, we are taking a look at the questions asked in four recent exam papers of the CII’s Diploma in Financial Planning J05 exam paper – this is the exam on Pension Income Options. This will be useful reading for you if you are preparing to sit this exam in the near future; it will help you to focus your revision on the areas that are likely to be examined.

Ensuring ethical conduct is crucial within the financial services industry, where the reputation of financial advisers and firms hinges on their integrity and client treatment. This blog post delves into the significance of ethical behaviour, focusing on codes of ethics, particularly the Chartered Insurance Institute’s (CII) code, and the role it plays in maintaining high professional and ethical standards. Discover why ethics matter in financial services and how unethical behaviour can impact trust, reputation, legal compliance, and professionalism. This article is particularly relevant to the CII’s R01 and CF1 exams.

Practice is an essential ingredient in the recipe for achieving excellence. From the widely discussed 10,000-hour rule to the importance of purposeful and sustained practice, mastering any skill requires dedication, focus, and a commitment to continuous improvement. In this article, we delve into the significance of practice, debunking myths, exploring different perspectives, and highlighting the key elements that make practice effective and valuable in various domains, including the realm of financial services exams.

This is a bit of Friday Fun where each week, we ask questions relating to one of these topics: Investments, Taxation, Pensions, Protection, or Regulation. The challenge is for you to answer them in 5 minutes. We post them on the blog every Friday.

To try your hand at answering the questions, visit our blog at one (or all) of the links below:

Friday 28 July

Friday 21 July

Friday 14 July

Friday 7 July