The top achievers in the 2021 exams for the Advanced Certificate in Financial Planning (ACFP) say the support they received from Moonstone Business School of Excellence’s lecturers helped them complete the qualification.
Click here to find out more about the Advanced Certificate in Financial Planning or to apply.
MBSE is running a price-match and cashback offer for the first intake of 2022: If you provide us with a written quotation from another institution that beats our price, MBSE will not only match that price, but we will also give you R250 back when you pay your fees. Click here for details.
Waghieda Jamie, an investment administrator and JSE trader, says MBSE’s staff, from administration to lecturers, are very approachable and make themselves available to students.
She says that what you put into the course is what you’ll get out. However, the staff at MBSE encourage and offer assistance; “you feel as if they are on your journey with you”.
Jamie obtained her RE5 certificate through Moonstone five years ago. “That name has always stuck, so it was natural that I would look at what they offered when I decided to do a course. The website and descriptions of the various qualifications were very detailed, and that swayed me.”
She found all the material very relevant, “from sharpening my knowledge on regulations, to understanding tax issues better and being able to apply what I have learnt is very rewarding. But most importantly, is to know that when it comes to finances, there is no one solution; discipline and working toward a goal are the key drivers. Even if you start with a small amount, you can achieve big things over time.”
Two of 2021’s top three students are Moonstone employees, Deantha Pillay and Ashnee Chetty.
Pillay, an invigilator and administrator in the exams department, describes her experience of studying for the Advanced Certificate as “great”.
“The study material provided adequate information, sufficient opportunities were provided to us to access tutorials, practice questions and online lectures, and the lecturers were easily accessible for added support.”
She particularly enjoyed the “personal” financial planning aspects of the course, as “it taught me how to apply these in my personal life, which is exceedingly beneficial”.
Chetty, who also works in exams department, also found the personal financial planning module particularly valuable, saying it taught her a lot in terms of arranging her personal affairs.
Balancing studies with work and personal life
Like many MBSE students who work full time, Jamie and Pillay say their biggest challenge while studying for the Advanced Certificate was balancing their work, study and personal commitments.
Jamie says her employer gave her a bursary to study, so it was important for her to make use of the opportunity.
“I preach you can achieve anything you set your mind to, so I held myself accountable. I wanted to be a role model for my kids and others to prove it’s never too late to study and improve your knowledge base. Another motivation was the people who supported me: family, friends, colleagues, and the Moonstone community.”
Pillay says her internal drive to gain as much knowledge and experience as she can kept her motivated. “I believe that knowledge has no age barriers, and it is vital to keep on evaluating, moulding and restructuring ourselves all the time.”
Pillay’s other challenge was not being in the financial planning industry. “Some of the content was foreign to me, but access to the lecturer and Google (an effective study tool) cured the uncertainties.”
Not being active in the industry was also a challenge for Chetty, who says she “had to put in extra work to achieve the results that I did”.
“I am a very competitive person, and I motivated myself to keep going in order to eventually use this qualification to launch myself into bigger and better things ahead.”
Pillay says persistence and effective time management enabled her to reach her goal.
All three students recommend studying for the ACFP through MBSE.
“The course is very well structured, and great lecturers offer support whenever you need it,” says Chetty, while Pillay says MBSE is “a professional accredited institution with hands-on lecturers and quality service”.
First semester deadline looms
MBSE offers the following NQF 8, NQF 6 and NQF 5 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)
The deadline to apply for these qualifications in the first semester of 2022 is 31 January.
MBSE also offers two NQF 4 qualifications:
- Further Education and Training: Short-term Insurance
- Further Education and Training: Wealth Management
You can register for the two FETC qualifications at any time during the year.
Click here for more information about our qualifications.
