Paraplanner Apperentiship, Level 4, could be for you. Do you want to pursue a career in legal, finance and accounting? Aren’t a 100% sure what is out there? Gain first-hand experience from career specialists and within 3 years you will have a Certificate in Paraplanning.
The Financial Advice Market
The financial advice market has a business split of roughly 75% financial advice and 25% mortgage advice. Within the business there are supported umbrella organisations, which provide a range of support services to each individual business; that includes technology, compliance, technical & consultancy support.
What Is A Paraplanner
Keeping it simple, a paraplanner is someone who assists financial advisers with researching, analysing, and preparing financial reports for clients.
Role
The role of a paraplanner is to assist the Finical Adviser in researching analysing & preparing compliant financial reports for clients that verify the recommendations made in accordance with the company investment philosophy. This apprenticeship is for the first level of industry recognised paraplanning; by completing this you will demonstrate full competencies of a fully qualified paraplanner. In addition, there is potential to develop further and gain a role of a senior paraplanner, once you have completed the apprenticeship.
Do You Have The Competencies To Match?
Knowledge
To be able to confidently explain roles, product providers, services and platforms used within the Financial Service Market and how this relates to a paraplanner. Demonstrate financial planning and products; that you will be able to analyse and use the most appropriate product for the client and situation. Be able to understand the systems in place and the process that they hold, relate these back to the wider company and financial advice profession.
Skills
To always learn and deliver service to both colleagues and customers, whilst keeping to TCF (treating customers fairly) principles at all times. It is key to have an eye for attention to detail, as quality assurance is a large part of the role. You need to have key customer skills and can demonstrate clear verbal, written and IT skills – write reports with the necessary technical language and articulate in a way that the client will understand.
Understand your place within their team and how you contribute to the team, how they rely on you and how do you rely on them. You will need to prioritise work that needs to be done for both the client and company by demonstrate a clear range of research and analytic skills.
Behaviour
You will need to show honesty in your actions and always strive to do the right thing. Having the adaptability to change in different situations with enthusiasm in your work and take on new challenges when they arise. It is vital that you can be dependable in timekeeping and completing work. It is important to be productive in your own development to the job and the profession.
Qualifications
Maths & English Requirements
Be mindful that apprentices without Level 2 Maths and English will need to achieve this by the end of the course. For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement, the apprenticeship’s English and maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3. A British Sign Language (BSL) qualification is an alternative to the English qualification for those whose primary language is BSL.
Qualifications that you will need to take and pass, to complete the apprenticeship
The CII Certificate includes four exams =
Financial Service Regulation & Ethics (R01)
Investment Principles & Risk (R02)
Personal Taxation (R03)
Paraplanning (J09)
FPSB UK’s Certificate includes two exams =
Principles of Financial Planning
Personal taxation paper
Once you pass the apprenticeship you are able to register with a professional body to gain recognised status as follows :
Cert PFS (Paraplanning’ with the Chartered Insurance Institute or
Accredited Paraplanner (APP) with the Institute of Financial Planning
Conclusion
Paraplanner Apperentiship is a great opportunity to dive straight into the in legal, finance and accounting sector. By studying alongside your apperentiship, it will allow you to source more opportunities like Senior Paraplanner and gain more valuable skills, that can be transferred across different departments.
For more information about Paraplanning, check out this post from the Finical Times. You can check out our page here. If you would like to hear more from us at ApprenticeTips