Newsletter for May 2018

May is here, the sun is shining and I’m hoping for a beautiful Summer this year… surely one is due!

Last month saw another round of AF, J and R06 exams. It’s always interesting to get feedback on how they went, and this time around it looks like AF5 may have been a little different to usual. The syllabus remains the same, but some candidates felt that the style of the paper was very different. We’ll be getting hold of the question paper on results day and will, as always, write a blog post reviewing the paper which will include taking a look at what may have been very different this time around. We always review the AF, J and R06 papers that have exam sittings twice or four times a year and post those reviews on our blog. So do take a look and subscribe at https://brandft.co.uk/blog to ensure you know whenever a new post is made.

This month sees the launch of The Paraplanner Standard^TM by Standards International. There’s always a great deal going on in financial services, and we always keep our ear to the ground so that news relating to learning and development is passed on to you. Do have a read and learn more in our ‘Out Now’ section below.

Best Wishes,

Catriona and the Team
Brand Financial Training

Sometimes it doesn’t matter how often a subject comes up in the exam manuals, it still doesn’t always help us to really understand a topic. It seems that derivatives are one of those subjects, so this article about options has been written to try and simplify things.

Options are generally thought of as complex and risky, and most individual investors would avoid them like the plague. The truth of it is that options can be highly speculative or actually quite conservative – it depends on what they’re being used for. Options are used to not only hedge other investments; they’re also used as insurance to offset losses.

What are options?

Options are contracts which give you the right to buy or sell shares (or something else…) by a specified date for a specified price. You don’t own the shares – just the right to buy or sell them. The point of the option is that the price is fixed so no matter how much movement in the share price occurs, you have fixed that price.

• The call option gives you the right to buy shares.
• The put option gives you the right to sell shares.

For both options, you have to pay a price (the premium), and this will depend on how attractive the offer is. If the fixed share price offer is good, then the price to enter into the contract will be higher.

Did you know that some therapists encourage their clients to forget their troublesome past by getting them to write in minute detail, over and over again all their complaints about it – until they forget what they’re supposed to be complaining about? Well, it’s true! The more you write, the less you remember.

While there are faster ways to help clients leave the past behind them and create the future they want, my point is the more you write the more you forget.

So if your revision strategy is to copy out the contents of your textbook, word for word, hoping that it will stick, my guess is that you are frequently disappointed!

Of course, the same with any revision strategy, if it’s all you’ve got, then what else can you do?

I’m about to answer that question right now!

Here’s what you need to know:

1. Only put seven or fewer bits of information on one page of revision notes. Your brain has an infinite capacity to remember an infinite number of pages PROVIDING (and yes, I’m shouting!) you put seven or fewer bits of information on any one page. Write less, remember more!
2. Use images, symbols and drawings in place of words. More than half of your brain is involved in the visual process. That’s a lot of brainpower! We’ve evolved to process what we see very quickly. And evolution has us remember what we see more efficiently, more accurately and more easily than what we read.

Here at Brand Financial Training, we’ve been watching closely the development of The Paraplanner Standard^TM, as we knew it would be of interest to many of you who are either working as paraplanners or who are working towards that role.

Last week saw the UK and international launch of the Standard which was pioneered by Standards International and supported by a sector committee with representation from financial services business owners, employers, financial professionals, practice managers, compliance managers, technical and client administrators and, of course, paraplanners themselves.

By providing a framework for excellence, The Paraplanner Standard^TM looks beyond academic knowledge and covers an evaluation of the specific set of skills, principles and behaviours needed to excel in the role.

The Standard encompasses:

• An insight into the future of the financial services sector
• Responsibilities and expectations
• Remuneration and rewards
• Essential and desirable skills and abilities
• Principles and behaviours
• A road map for learning and development
• The role specification for an international professional paraplanner
• Best practice tools, templates and guidelines

The Paraplanner Standard^TM defines the role of an International Professional Paraplanner^TM at three levels: Trainee, Certified and Advanced Certified.

Understanding, implementing and adhering to this best practice standard of excellence will enhance your professional development by recognising and celebrating the pivotal role paraplanning plays in the financial planning business of the future.

To join a new generation of paraplanners, please visit the Standards International website.

Available for AF1-4, AF7, CF1, CF6, CF8, ER1, FA1-2, IF1-5, J02, J03, J05, J07, J10-12, LP2, R01-5, and R07-8

...“I passed my exams 1st time after buying the 3 mock exam packs. They are very relevant and gave me that extra confidence in taking the exam. Thank you Brand 🙂 The service is excellent as well I might add.’...

Lianne Jackson, Investment Sales Adviser, Chelmsford

Passing your CII exam isn’t only about having the necessary knowledge and understanding, it’s about being able to apply that knowledge in an exam setting exactly as needed and in a timely manner. It is essential that you practise multiple exam papers to ensure that you know exactly how to apply your knowledge. Too many people fail due to a lack of exam practice, even if their knowledge is good.

Our mock exam question papers ensure you get the practice you need to achieve exam success. Couple them with other resources in our study kits and you’ll be well prepared for your exam.

• All answers include cross references to the relevant CII study text
• All questions and answers are kept up-to-date to reflect changes to the exam syllabus and tax year
• Written for essential exam practice, but are not duplicates of the CII’s mock papers
• Download them instantly in PDF format and print as required
• 30-day money-back guarantee

Why not try before you buy? Download one of our free tasters:

AF1

CF1

ER1

FA1

IF1

J02

R01

Are you aware that the CII update their study texts throughout the examinable year to either incorporate new legislations, correct errors or clarify information? Many candidates aren't aware of this, which can result in candidates studying out-of-date information. To make this easier for you, we have collated the most recent CII study text updates.

7 March – 6 April 2018 : CF1, IF3, R01

8 February – 6 March 2018 : AF1, AF2, AF3, AF4, AF7, CF1, ER1, FA1, FA2, J02, J03, J05, J12, LP2, R01, R02, R03, R04, R06, R08

9 January – 7 February 2018 : CF1, CF8, IF4, J10

Articles and Help for All Your Exams

You’ll find that there’s something for everyone when you check out our blog:

• specific topics and how-to articles;
• reviews of recent CII exam papers;
• our Friday Five – a weekly quiz to give you a fun break from reading the study text;
• study techniques that help you to retain your revision and keep your brain working for you, when you need it;
• information on recent updates to the CII study texts.

Here are the blog posts you might have missed since our last newsletter:

Friday Five – 4 May – Click here.

The Ins and Outs of Interest in Possession Trust Taxation – Click here.

Friday Five – 27 April – Click here.

Explaining the Starting Rate Band for Savings Income – Click here.

Friday Five – 20 April – Click here.

Discounted Gift Trust – a Useful Inheritance Tax Planning Tool – Click here.

Friday Five – 13 April – Click here.

There’s such a variety of information on offer to help you as you tackle your CII exams, that you won’t want to miss a single post. We’ve made it easy for you; just click the button below and enter your email details. Be ‘in the know’ with CII-exam-related tips and info – straight to your inbox!

..." Challenges are what make life interesting. Overcoming them is what makes life meaningful. "...

"5 Questions in 5 Minutes Every Friday"

This is a bit of Friday Fun where we provide you with 5 questions (and answers) relevant to a mix of CII exams. The challenge is for you to answer the questions in 5 minutes.

Where do I find the Friday Five?

We post each week's Friday Five to our blog first thing every Friday. You can either visit our blog every Friday at https://brandft.co.uk/blog/ or you can simply go there now, and click on the subscribe button in the top right-hand corner of the blog and sign up to receive notifications of our Friday Five posts.

Note that we don't email the Friday Five out to everybody every Friday, so we recommend you sign up to our blog at https://brandft.co.uk/blog/ so that you receive an email notification when it is posted. It will only take you a minute to sign up.

A bit of Friday Fun, but with the added benefit of testing your exam knowledge!