MBSE’s top achievers balance work and study in financial planning

Balancing the demands of work and study is no small feat, requiring both discipline and careful planning. As Emily Broodryk notes, “Studying is no easy task, especially if you are working as well, and it requires some discipline and planning. But once you get the hang of it and you see the results starting to come through, there is no better feeling.”

Broodryk, who recently earned the title of valedictorian in Moonstone Business School of Excellence’s Higher Certificate in Wealth Management (NQF 5), shares this insight based on her own experience. She was not alone in her success; Rion Malan and Francois Mostert also emerged as top achievers in this qualification.

The Higher Certificate in Wealth Management (HCWM) provides a solid foundation for those looking to enter the financial services industry or advance their careers in financial planning. The programme includes four compulsory modules – financial planning environment fundamentals, risk planning fundamentals, investment and retirement planning fundamentals, and an introduction to tax in financial planning. Students can then choose one of three elective modules: business assurance fundamentals, retirement funds fundamentals, or healthcare benefits fundamentals.

This qualification is recognised by the Financial Services Conduct Authority for all product sub-categories of Category I Financial Service Providers, fulfilling the Fit and Proper requirements under the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act.

The qualification also provides the education requirement for the designation of REGISTERED FINANCIAL PRACTITIONER™ (RFP™) professional, awarded by the Financial Planning Institute of Southern Africa (FPI).”

Students can choose to complete the qualification either full-time in one year or part-time over two years.

Emily Broodryk

At 30 years old, Broodryk is carving out a promising path in the financial services industry. A para-planner at KM Wealth Management, Broodryk recently earned her licence to provide financial advice – a milestone she attributes in part to her decision to complete the HCWM through MBSE.

Broodryk chose to tackle the HCWM full-time.

“I knew that I wanted to study further and do the Advanced Certificate in Financial Planning (NQF 6) as well, and so I decided to push myself to complete HCWM in a year to allow me to progress a little quicker,” she explains.

“The completion of HCWM also allowed my supervision to be signed-off, which was another motivating factor.”

Her journey with MBSE began with the completion of her Class of Business exams, and she found the experience so positive that she enrolled in the ACFP immediately after finishing the HCWM.

When asked why she chose MBSE, Broodryk highlights her familiarity with the platform, noting that “the admin assistance throughout queries and applications was also really great and so supportive, which was a big driver for me in choosing MBSE”.

Broodryk’s interest in financial planning stems from her decade-long career in the industry. She wanted to deepen her understanding of the financial planning process and meet the minimum education requirements to become licensed.

One of the more challenging aspects of her studies was the tax module, which required “a fair few nights of redoing revision and practice on some concepts until I grasped them”. Despite the difficulty, she found the effort worthwhile, because the knowledge gained has significantly enhanced her ability to assist with tax queries and planning.

Reflecting on the impact of the HCWM on her professional development, Broodryk emphasises the dual benefits of personal growth and enhanced competency.

“Completing the qualification and choosing to study full-time has given me more confidence in my ability in my role at work, as well as confidence in knowing that I can achieve what I set my mind to, even if it can be difficult at times.”

She adds that the skills gained across all modules have allowed her to analyse and interpret information at a much deeper level, which has been a “game-changer professionally”.

Broodryk found the online learning experience with MBSE to be both flexible and supportive. She appreciated the ability to tailor her schedule to her needs, with the self-assessments, mock tests, and exams playing a crucial role in reinforcing her understanding of the content. To stay motivated, she committed her Sundays to catching up on any missed work and reviewing material.

“Following through with this and following the study guide was a winning combination for me to stay on top of everything,” she says.

Time management was another key to her success. Broodryk relied heavily on the study guide provided by MBSE, ensuring she stayed on track with the weekly content to be well prepared for the assessments.

“Remaining diligent and keeping up with the content as per the study guide is what I believe set me on a course to being successful in the qualification.”

Rion Malan

Rion Malan, 32, is a financial adviser who runs his own brokerage under the Masthead Financial Planning umbrella. His passion for the industry and commitment to his clients have driven him continuously to seek ways to enhance his expertise.

Malan is already considering furthering his education by enrolling in the NQF6 course in the near future.

Reflecting on why he chose MBSE for his NQF 5 qualification, Malan says: “There were many options to acquire my NQF 5 qualification, but I just felt this course at MBSE was more comprehensive and more challenging than most other courses out there and that it would make me a better financial adviser.”

Given the demands of managing his own brokerage, Malan opted to complete the course over two years.

“It was impossible to complete this course over one year, as it would have taken too much time away from my work,” he notes. His decision highlights the balance many professionals must strike between advancing their education and maintaining their business commitments.

Malan’s passion for financial planning is evident when he discusses what initially drew him to the field.

“This industry fascinates me. I love being part of it… there are so many different sides to this industry that most people don’t realise,” he says.

For Malan, financial planning is more than just a career – it’s a calling. “It is my passion to serve my clients in an honest and educated way to the best of my abilities.”

Throughout his studies, Malan found certain modules particularly challenging but equally rewarding. He points to modules three, four, and five, which involved in-depth calculations and a focus on retirement planning – an area close to his heart.

“My mission is to help my clients to be able to retire comfortably because that, for me, is the biggest issue in our industry – the fact that only 6% of our population can retire comfortably.”

The skills Malan gained from the qualification, especially in retirement and estate planning calculations, have had a significant impact on his professional development.

“These two subjects go hand in hand, and it is such a critical part in helping your clients plan their financial future,” he explains.

As someone who experienced online learning for the first time with MBSE, Malan admits he was initially nervous. However, he found the support from MBSE’s lecturers invaluable.

“The lecturers from MBSE were really helpful and always willing to assist,” he says.

On tough days, it was his family – his “amazing wife and kids” – who kept him motivated, but he adds that the engaging coursework made it easier to stay focused.

To manage his time effectively while studying, Malan incorporated the study plan provided at the beginning of each module into his schedule.

“Yes, I tweaked it here and there, but sticking to the study plan really helped me stay on track,” he shares.

Malan advises those considering enrolling in the HCWM to stick to the study plan and give their full attention to each chapter and module.

“There are no less important modules,” he warns.

For Malan, the comprehensive nature of the course was one of its greatest strengths. “If you have a passion for our industry, you will also love and benefit from this course as much as I did.”

Francois Mostert

Francois Mostert, 34, a financial adviser at Liberty Life, has a deep commitment to professional development and a passion for helping clients secure their financial futures. With a solid educational foundation, Mostert is on a continuous journey to enhance his expertise in wealth management.

Mostert has already completed his NQF 4 and NQF 5 qualifications in wealth management through MBSE and is set to begin the NQF 6 course in January.

His choice to study with MBSE was influenced by his belief in the institution’s quality.

“In my opinion, it is the best,” he says, adding that his brother, Charl Groenewald, also studies through Moonstone.

Determined to become a holistic and better financial planner, Mostert completed his studies in a year and a half. His dedication to the profession was sparked by his brother, who has been a financial adviser for many years.

“He got me interested in financial planning, and I enjoy helping clients plan for their future,” Mostert explains.

The journey through his qualifications was not without challenges. Mostert found the business assurance and tax fundamentals modules particularly demanding but also rewarding.

“To be honest, the whole qualification is rewarding because it helped me a lot to be a better financial planner,” he reflects.

One of the most critical skills Mostert gained from the qualification is the ability to explain complex financial products in a way that clients can easily understand.

“It has had a positive impact on my development,” he says, noting that the qualification has made him more competent in his role. “I can now understand and explain things much easier and better to the client, especially in understanding the more complex financial planning.”

Mostert had a great experience with online learning through MBSE. The structured study plan was particularly effective in helping him manage his time and stay on track with his studies.

“I stayed motivated knowing that this course will only better myself in becoming the best adviser that I can be,” he says.

To stay organised, Mostert relied heavily on the study plan provided by MBSE, which he integrated into his work schedule. This strategy ensured that he was well prepared for each exam. He also found specific resources, such as the calculation videos and past papers, to be invaluable in his preparation.

When offering advice to those considering enrolling in the HCWM, Mostert emphasises the importance of following the study plan and preparing thoroughly for each exam.

“Studying hard for the formative exams and getting good marks helps a lot to prepare yourself for the final exam,” he advises.

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