Financial qualification - Brand Financial Training

RDR and 2012, words to strike fear into the heart of any qualification shy IFA or financial adviser.  Those financial advisers and IFA's without their advanced or diploma qualifications need to ensure that those exams are secured by then, its either that or the loss of status as a whole of market, fully qualified IFA, so what choice is there?  For those financial advisers out there worried about taking their advanced financial qualifications pre RDR, there are a number of organizations offering to provide financial training, hopefully ensuring a first time pass. CII qualifications are not the cheapest exams to sit and being run in only April and October makes it difficult to fit them in timing wise, especially as like most financial advisers and IFA's you should be trying to make money!  There simply isn't the time, nor usually the cash spare, to fail them.

One such organization is Brand Financial Training.  Run by Catriona Brand, this organization comes highly recommended by those financial advisers and IFA's in the know.  Many of the financial professionals we come across at XL-Recruitment in our role as financial services recruiters, have used Brand Financial Training to assist with their training and mock papers prior to taking the advanced financial qualifications, particularly the J0 papers.  The overriding feature of all of their comments is that Brand Financial is helpful, always there to assist and help with any queries and is also great value for money.  What more can the discerning IFA want when choosing which training provider to use?

The company themselves provide training and mock exam papers on almost the full gamut of financial qualifications from CF1 to CF6 and from J01 to J07 and also include the FA1 and FA2 papers.  And thats not all they provide, as well as the above you also have workbooks, personal coaching and tuition, online training programs and audio master class's, a great way to vary your study methods. Brand Financial Training also offer training for both individuals and business's as a whole, something that differs from a lot of companies offering similar training courses.  Another good part to the Brand Financial experience is the RISK FREE, 14 day money back guarantee.  They are that confident that you will be satisfied with your purchase that they offer you the money back if you are not.  All in all Brand Financial Training and Catriona Brand have provided the financial services industry with a great product.  Financial training and exam study assistance that come with a high level of customer service and that personal touch that is often missing from many organizations in the FS industry.  Check them out by clicking on their logo on the right side of the page - you'll be pleasantly surprised!

Self employed financial adviser - Is now a good time?

Its a given that the economy although experiencing some green shoots of recovery, hasn't reached the levels of stability that we achieved 2 years ago. So, taking into consideration, the instability and the uncertainty with regards when exactly full recovery will ensue, is taking the leap of faith and becoming a self employed financial adviser a viable option?

What we at XL Recruitment are seeing in the UK financial services market is that financial advisers who have historically maintained quite good income levels are now leaning towards employed opportunities and positions that offer the stability of a monthly basic salary. Bancassurance financial advisers are one such role that is becoming a more sought after position. Never the less, the self employed IFA position is one that offers a fantastic longer term opportunity.

For many of the AR's(appointed reps) who have established client banks and a good business model from which to work, the economic situation hasn't drastically altered their position. The Independent financial adviser in some respects is in a unique position in that their business is not perhaps as reliant on consistently generating new business as in other industries. Recurring or trail income and a client bank built up over the long term offers a financially stable footing for the IFA from which to operate, lessening the need for continual new business.

As an Independent financial adviser working on a self employed basis, as long as there is a consistent structure in place and a support framework leading into RDR that affords a certain level of assistance with qualification, compliance, TCF, etc there should be no reason why, even throughout the current economic conditions, a stable business cannot be built. There are varying degrees of self employment and we at XL Recruitment would certainly suggest that as an adviser considering this option, at least initially, the options looked at should be ones that offer a good level of support in terms of lead generation and back office support. There are many self employed financial adviser roles out there that offer the earth and supply very little so it does pay to research thoroughly but some can pretty much do what they say on the tin. These are the self employed IFA roles to look at.

So, is self employment a good option for an IFA at the moment? As long as the company can offer a sound framework to work within leading into 2012 and the implementation of RDR review and provide a good level of support whilst getting the business off the ground, yes, it is a good option. Many now pay a draw or salary guaranteed against further commissions so financially there isn't an issue and once the business is up and running as long as the IFA is proactive in terms of generating new business and establishing a presence in their locale amongst potential clients, there shouldn't be any problems. in fact, the business should be well placed to do thrive once the economy picks up.