It’s not possible to provide clients with proper, holistic financial advice unless you’ve obtained the Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning, says Hester van der Merwe, the Financial Planning Institute’s Financial Planner of the Year for 2020/21.
The FSCA’s regulatory exams ensure you will be at least adequately equipped to function as an intermediary. “But who wants to deal with a planner who is just adequate?” asks Van der Merwe.
Moonstone Business School of Excellence (MBSE) has received approval from the SA Qualifications Authority to offer the Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning from 2022. You can do the qualification full-time in one year or part-time over two years.
Click here to download a qualification brochure and to apply.
The addition of the Postgraduate Diploma brings to seven MBSE’s accredited-qualification programmes. Click here to see all the qualifications MBSE offers.
In today’s online world, clients have access to a vast amount of basic knowledge about financial products, so you need to be on top of your game, says Van der Merwe. Obtaining the Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning is essential for you to demonstrate competency as a planner.
With financial planning increasingly becoming a profession, it has now become the norm for planners to study for the Postgraduate Diploma early on in their careers. They know they need to have a firm foundation of technical knowledge – not just product knowledge – right from the outset, says Van der Merwe, who has been a financial planner for 18 years.
“It’s almost impossible to draw up a proper financial plan without this qualification,” she says.
The Postgraduate Diploma is one of the four requirements for receiving the coveted Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation from the FPI. “CFP” is the most respected global certification for those seeking to demonstrate their commitment to competent and ethical financial planning.
“Obtaining the Postgraduate Diploma is the first step in becoming a CFP professional. It shows commitment and the willingness to walk the extra mile. It means that we did not accidentally drift into the business of selling policies, but that we are serious about lifestyle financial planning and delivering a higher standard of service. Furthermore, as a CFP professional, you no longer stand alone; you are part of a community, providing support and sharing expertise,” says Van der Merwe.
She points out that high-net-worth individuals and professionals who have postgraduate degrees expect to be advised by a financial planner who has a top-level qualification.
The Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning will give you advanced skills and knowledge in the areas of financial management, asset management and investment planning, risk management, tax planning, retirement planning, estate planning, ethics, and financial sector law and regulation.
There are many good reasons for choosing to study for the Postgraduate Diploma through MBSE. Four of them are:
- Solid track record. Moonstone has been providing workplace-integrated learning for the financial sector more than 10 years.
- Approved study guides. MBSE’s study guides are developed and quality-assured by industry specialists.
- Distinguished faculty. MBSE’s teaching staff provide students with an unsurpassed depth of expertise and technical know-how.
- Excellent pass rates. MBSE has highly qualified subject-matter experts with ample experience to ensure excellent pass rates for our students.
Applications for MBSE’s first-semester intake for the Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning close on 31 January 2022. Download a brochure to find out what the qualification covers and how to apply.
So unless I misunderstand it, according to van der Merwe, unless a financial planner has the PG Diploma, he/she cannot draw up a financial plan for a client. So someone with 37 years in the industry, the FPI designation and CPD compliance cannot draw up financial plans for clients. I wonder what the FPI thinks about this.
Well said Gavin.
Appears to be manipulative and is untrue.
I do not agree with the manner that this recommendation to get a higher qualification, has be couched.
Well said Gavin.
Appears to be manipulative and is untrue.
I do not agree with the manner that this recommendation to get a higher qualification, has be couched.
At last you have brought home to us the first prize which doesn’t need any motivation ,especially being made guilty by brow beating or repetitive condemnation or any other types of motivation.
It should be self inspiring thus naturally self aspiring !
Like your opposition at UFS & Milpark ,you should also include the bridging course for level 7 before applying to master level 8 .And fees must fall according to Zuma. They fell at Unisa ,sadly at the expense of students that were rejected on the basis of lack of finance & resources ,thus the numbers were cut by half. And after studying at Unisa since school days i was part of the 50% and given my marching orders. Despite them retaining my R1000.00 deposit.
Studying in SA has become dubious with so many fake and false institutions taking the monies and issuing fake certificates. One of the more approved institutions recently refunded the student who graduated because of false promises of further studies once he graduated .This was reported recently.
Yes we must study until death do us part, but that doesn’t leave much time for much else… fortunately or unfortunately studying all hours kept me single .Nut alas i still i haven’t passed all the available degrees.
So students beware and think before you buy into a lifelong of studies which CPD hours in its integrity but also blindness has made studying for qualifications almost impossible, especially with COVID , a weak economy and the overburdened solo IFA !
At last you have brought home to us the first prize which doesn’t need any motivation ,especially being made guilty by brow beating or repetitive condemnation or any other types of motivation.
It should be self inspiring thus naturally self aspiring !
Like your opposition at UFS & Milpark ,you should also include the bridging course for level 7 before applying to master level 8 .And fees must fall according to Zuma. They fell at Unisa ,sadly at the expense of students that were rejected on the basis of lack of finance & resources ,thus the numbers were cut by half. And after studying at Unisa since school days i was part of the 50% and given my marching orders. Despite them retaining my R1000.00 deposit.
Studying in SA has become dubious with so many fake and false institutions taking the monies and issuing fake certificates. One of the more approved institutions recently refunded the student who graduated because of false promises of further studies once he graduated .This was reported recently.
Yes we must study until death do us part, but that doesn’t leave much time for much else… fortunately or unfortunately studying all hours kept me single .Nut alas i still i haven’t passed all the available degrees.
So students beware and think before you buy into a lifelong of studies which CPD hours in its integrity but also blindness has made studying for qualifications almost impossible, especially with COVID , a weak economy and the overburdened solo IFA !