Matt Stanton

This RQF level 3 award provides the essential knowledge and skills needed by those working in administrative and operational life or pensions roles. The Award offers the choice between life or pensions administration, each satisfying the FCA qualification requirements for overseers of certain administrative life and pensions functions.

The life and pensions route builds knowledge and understanding of the sector’s role and its activities. It considers important customer needs, solutions and products, and how individuals and organisations work within the regulatory and legislative environment.

This examination assesses a knowledge and understanding of investment products and the risks involved.

This examination assesses a knowledge and understanding of financial protection plans.

This examination assesses a knowledge and understanding of the various pension products, the pension tax regime and retirement needs.

This examination demonstrates a solid grounding in the financial services industry and its regulation.

This level 4 diploma meets the FCA’s qualification requirements for retail investment advisers, demonstrating core technical knowledge and financial planning capabilities across six core areas.

This unit provides the essential knowledge and skills needed by those working in, or starting a career in, administrative and pensions roles or staff working in the life and pensions sector.

Assesses an understanding of the financial services industry, including regulation and legislation.

At the end of this unit, candidates demonstrate an understanding of the: process of decumulating pension funds and the main issues for clients and advisers; main choices facing members of pensions schemes during decumulation; features, risks and tax treatment of the secured pension option; features, risks and tax treatment of the unsecured pension option; features, risks and tax treatment of phased retirement; features, risks and tax treatment of the alternatively secured pension option.

At the end of this unit, candidates demonstrate an understanding of: how the economic environment and individual company performance affects investment performance and investment decision-making; how risk is measured and managed; the main principles governing how to construct an investment portfolio; the range of investment management services, how their performance is evaluated and their regulatory environment.

This qualification assesses a knowledge and understanding of the financial services industry, including regulation, legislation and the Code of Ethics.