Following recent research stating that only 30%1 of advisers firms are QCF Level 4 qualified, AXA Wealth’s workshops and seminars, which provide advisers with support as they become QCF Level 4 qualified, have been accredited by the Chartered Insurance Institute.
Before the end of the year, AXA Wealth’s Professional Edge Technical Consultants2 will be running more than 2,500 hours of seminars and workshops, supporting advisers as they prepare for the RDR world3. For each session, advisers can claim 15 continuing professional development (CPD) credits, forming part of the 21 hours of structured CPD that advisers require for the new RDR regulations. Additionally, completion of an AXA Wealth seminar can be used, where appropriate, for gap-fill purposes.
The focus on qualifications ahead of the RDR is central to AXA Wealth’s own philosophy, with its technical consultants ensuring they are qualified to a minimum of Chartered status. This means consultants keep pace with the speed of legislative, regulatory and taxation change, meaning they are able to help advisers understand what the changes mean for their business and clients.
Andy Zanelli, head of retirement planning, AXA Wealth, said: “The accreditation of the AXA Wealth workshops will encourage advisers to consider their on-going development in the broadest sense and will offer a flexible way of recording activity undertaken as they strive to reach QCF Level 4 by 2013. This is just the start, as the adviser community moves towards Chartered status AXA Wealth believes that in order to continue offering advisers market-leading ‘value add’ services, any teams delivering support need to demonstrate at least the same level of commitment and understanding.”
AXA Wealth’s technical consultancy team of eight:
• are all Chartered Financial Planners and Fellows of the Personal Finance Society
• hold a range of qualifications including: society of trust estate practitioners (STEP), institute of financial planning (CFP) and investment management certificate (IMC)
• has over 200 combined years of experience in the financial planning market, working with both clients and advisers
• continue to expand this knowledge as the market develops.
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