Drawing inspiration from the words of Nelson Mandela, Moonstone Business School of Excellence (MBSE) top achiever Claudia Dowsett offers this advice to those debating whether to pursue further studies: “Education is the most powerful weapon that can be used to change the world.”
Dowsett, 44, has built a career as a financial adviser at Curnow Insurance Consultants, part of the Curnow KZN (Pty) Ltd group. As a top achiever in the Higher Certificate in Wealth Management (NQF5), she recognises the impact of formal education on professional growth.
While she had years of practical experience in financial planning, earning the qualification reinforced her confidence in her expertise.
“Although I knew the practical side and had been doing it for a while, having the qualification makes me feel confident in my advice – and my clients can feel confident in me,” she explains.
Lana Johnson, 45, is a top achiever in the Advanced Certificate in Financial Planning (NQF6). She shares a similar perspective, noting how further studies have bolstered her confidence.
“I feel far more equipped to have broad discussions with clients regarding all aspects of their financial needs,” she says.
After 18 years in banking – most of them in relationship banking – Johnson’s career naturally shifted towards financial planning, with a focus on investments. Now a financial adviser at Sadleir and Associates, she credits her qualification with broadening her expertise.
“This qualification provided me with a much wider knowledge of the financial planning environment,” she says.
Both Dowsett and Johnson’s experiences highlight how continued education enhances not only technical knowledge but also professional confidence and client trust.
Moonstone spoke with these top achievers to explore the qualifications’ relevance and their advice for prospective students.
Claudia Dowsett
The Higher Certificate in Wealth Management (HCWM) provides learners with a foundation for various roles in the financial services industry, or to kick-start their career in financial planning. The course is recognised by the FSCA for all product sub-categories of Category I FSPs, and it can be used to fulfil the Fit and Proper requirements for FAIS roles in Category I FSPs.
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.
Dowsett says she chose MBSE because it offers high-quality, accredited qualifications that provide in-depth knowledge and skills relevant to her field.
She opted to complete her initial qualification over two years, balancing her studies with a full-time job.
“I did my course part-time because I work during the day and wanted to gain practical experience alongside my studies,” she explains.
For Dowsett, the decision to pursue a qualification in financial planning stemmed from a desire to provide her clients with the best possible, holistic financial advice. “I wanted to give my clients the best advice regarding their financial needs,” she says.
One of the more challenging aspects of the qualification for Dowsett was the module on tax. “I’ve always feared the word ‘tax’, but knowing more about it has put me at ease,” she admits. “Now, I can help others conquer their fear of tax too.”
Dowsett found the online learning experience with MBSE to be highly effective.
“MBSE provides fantastic guidelines, a well-designed timetable, and email reminders to keep us on track. The support is always there, no matter how big or small the question,” she says.
She particularly valued the way MBSE’s instructors explain complex topics in a simple, understandable manner. She shares that the interaction and encouragement she received made her feel supported throughout the learning process.
Among the resources provided by MBSE, Dowsett found the workbook and practical videos particularly helpful.
“The workbook was fantastic, with clear explanations, and the extra videos showing calculations were the absolute best,” she says. These resources helped her better understand complex concepts and reinforced her practical skills.
To manage her time effectively while studying online, Dowsett developed a disciplined routine, dedicating early mornings and an hour after work each day to her studies.
Her dedication to excellence is evident in her approach to the course.
“Just passing was not an option,” Dowsett notes. “My goal was to achieve 80% or higher, because that’s the kind of adviser I want to be – someone who goes the extra mile to get the best, correct advice for my clients.”
Having completed the HCWM, she is now advancing her expertise by enrolling in the Advanced Certificate in Financial Planning (ACFP).
Lana Johnson
The ACFP qualification equips students with the essential skills and knowledge to offer comprehensive financial planning services to everyday individuals. Beyond that, it lays the groundwork for further specialised studies in the field. This qualification meets the educational requirements for obtaining the FINANCIAL SERVICES ADVISOR™ (FSA™) designation awarded by the Financial Planning Institute of Southern Africa (FPI).
The qualification consists of five compulsory modules: financial planning environment, business management, corporate financial planning, personal financial planning, and a financial planning case study.
Johnson’s decision to pursue further education in financial planning was shaped by both her career evolution and her previous positive experiences with MBSE.
“I have done many of the short courses available from Moonstone and have enjoyed the online experience and service received,” Johnson explains.
Given her professional and family commitments, Johnson opted to complete the ACFP over two years. She admits managing her time effectively while studying online was one of the most challenging aspects of the qualification.
“This was quite challenging at times due to demands from work and client needs,” she admits.
To stay organised, she dedicated specific time each day and on weekends to complete her coursework. “If I fell behind, which did happen quite often, I used to make up that time on the weekend.”
She shares that the qualification provided her with a comprehensive understanding of the financial planning field, but it also came with challenges.
“The financial planning environment, whilst vital to the industry, was my least favourite module,” she admits. However, she found the remaining modules much more engaging, as they were directly relevant to her role as a financial adviser.
Johnson recalls one particular challenge in the personal financial planning module: “I found the manual calculations particularly challenging. Our brains are so used to working with calculation tools; we have become so out of practice with doing the calculations manually. I had to dig deep into the brain archives even to learn to use the calculator again,” she adds with a smile.
She says she appreciated the flexibility that online learning offered. Additionally, the self-assessments and mock exams were particularly beneficial. While she made use of the online materials, she found that printing the study guide helped her stay on track when not in front of her laptop.
MBSE offers additional support through weekly online meetings, where students can submit questions in advance and have them addressed during the session. While Johnson appreciated this option, she found the wait for answers a bit frustrating.
“I suppose I am just a bit impatient, but it is frustrating when you need something explained and can’t get it resolved to move on to the next section.”
Despite this minor niggle, she wholeheartedly recommends both the course and MBSE: “For anyone wanting to gain a wider knowledge of the financial planning environment and a depth in the various aspects, this would be a great option.”
MBSE offers the following accredited qualifications:
- Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning (NQF 8)
- Advanced Certificate in Financial Planning (NQF 6)
- Occupational Certificate: Compliance Officer (NQF 6)
- Higher Certificate in Wealth Management (NQF 5)
- Higher Certificate in Short-term Insurance (NQF 5)
For more information, contact us at help@mbse.ac.za.
