FPSB’s Educational Programs

FPSB has developed global content for education and pathway credentialing programs to support the introduction of the body of knowledge for financial planning in existing and new territories, and to build interest in financial planning among educators, financial services firms, and individuals seeking a dynamic career in financial planning.

FPSB has developed global content for various financial advice and financial planning education courses (outlined below) and works with partner organizations to localize and deliver the programs as part of the curriculum leading to pathway credentials and to CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER certification.

FPSB has mapped the content of its education courses to its Financial Planning Education Framework, which is updated on a regular basis. To learn more about partnering with FPSB to customize an education course for delivery in your territory, or to propose the development of a new course, contact info@fpsb.org.

Level I Course – Client-Centric Financial Solutions

  • Learning focus: Collection, Analysis
  • Classroom-time suggestion: 80 hours
  • Learning level equivalent: European Qualifications Framework Level 5
  • Curriculum components: Financial Management, Insurance: Introduction and Risk Management; Life and Health, Pension and Retirement, Investments and Investment Risk: Time Value of Money; Collective Investments (Funds and Unit Trusts); Stocks, Bonds and Real Estate, Income Taxes and Estate Distribution, Financial Advice: Principles and Practices; Ethics, Standards and Compliance.

This course covers the financial planner abilities (described in FPSB’s Financial Planner Competency Profile) and learning outcomes (described in FPSB’s Financial Planning Education Framework) at the Collection and Analysis levels. The program content consists of 80 hours of self-study or classroom-based study (or a combination of both), with an end-of-course comprehensive exam of 100 multiple-choice questions.

Level II Course – Financial Planning Strategies

  • Learning focus: Analysis, Synthesis
  • Classroom-time suggestion: 80 hours
  • Learning level equivalent: European Qualifications Framework Level 6
  • Curriculum components: Principles and Practices of Financial Planning; Financial Management; Asset Management; Risk Management and Insurance; Retirement Planning; Tax and Estate Planning; Integrated Financial Planning.

This course continues the concepts introduced in the Client-Centric Financial Solutions course. Students should complete the Solutions course prior to studying the content of the Strategies course. The Strategies course continues with Analysis-level coverage, and focuses on the Synthesis level. The objective of the Financial Planning Strategies course is to provide technical and conceptual financial planning education to individuals interested in becoming certified as financial planners. The course describes the abilities, skills, attitudes, judgments and knowledge that a financial planning professional draws on when working with clients in financial planning engagements.

Level III Course – Capstone-1: Developing Effective Financial Plans

  • Learning focus: Synthesis
  • Classroom-time suggestion: 40 hours
  • Learning level equivalent: European Qualifications Framework Level 6
  • Prerequisites: Level I Client-Centric Financial Solutions; Level II Financial Planning Strategies; relevant work experience; Level III Engaging Clients for Life (optional)
  • Curriculum components: Based on the collection, analysis and synthesis of client data and information, this course guides individuals on how to: meaningfully engage clients; identify client needs, objectives and goals; identify key areas to be addressed (as well as information that may be missing); and develop effective financial plans.

This course:

  • Prepares students to successfully complete the financial plan component of FPSB’s CFP Certification Requirements;
  • Provides training to identify and apply appropriate skills, knowledge and abilities needed to develop effective financial plans;
  • Prepares students to integrate financial planning body of knowledge, theory and practice to real-world client situations;
  • Highlights the inter-relationships among the various Financial Planning Components described in FPSB’s Financial Planner Competency Profile.

Level III Course – Capstone-2: Engaging Clients for Life

  • Learning focus: Synthesis
  • Classroom-time suggestion: 40 hours
  • Learning level equivalent: European Qualifications Framework Level 6
  • Prerequisites: Level I Client-Centric Financial Solutions; Level II Financial Planning Strategies; relevant work experience; Level III Developing Effective Financial Plans (optional)
  • Curriculum components: This course models client engagement situations, using a multiple case study format, to develop student proficiency in establishing trusted relationships with clients through: applying improved communication skills; putting clients’ interests first; and demonstrating professional capability, credibility, and reliability.

This course:

  • Prepares students to focus on the human qualities of the financial planning process that often create the unknowns and the difficulties contained within planning.
  • Guides students beyond the science and the numbers of financial planning, to the art and the being, helping students feel the relationship between the planner and the client come to life.
  • Assumes that students have already completed significant training on how to: evaluate estate distribution plans; do a personal net worth statement; do a retirement analysis; determine a client’s investment risk profile and appropriately develop a portfolio; and appraise risk management exposures and construct an effective insurance portfolio.

FPSB’s Pathway Credentials

FPSB supports its affiliate organizations in establishing territory-specific career path qualifications (aligned to FPSB’s global standards) to recognize those working towards CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER certification. FPSB has developed a framework of standards, education content and certification requirements that FPSB affiliate organizations can adapt to recognize people at the financial adviser/associate financial planner stage.

FPSB partners with its affiliate organizations on pathway programs to attract candidates to CFP certification, and to broaden the number of financial services practitioners who commit to client-centric standards and conduct when providing financial advice and financial planning. To learn more about partnering with FPSB to create a pathway program or qualification in a territory leading to CFP certification, contact info@fpsb.org.

FPSB affiliate organizations that partner with FPSB on career path certifications aligned to FPSB’s global standards are: