South Wales

The ‘Shaping the future together’ consultation gave members and other key stakeholders the opportunity to feedback on the Chartered Insurance Institute’s (CII) proposed plans, as well as the services it delivers and how the professional body can best meet their needs and expectations in the future. The CII is conducting this pilot as the majority of financial planners who took part in the ‘Shaping the future together’ consultation told us they want us to bring in more flexibility and realistic assessed tasks to some of our assessments.

In place of the scheduled written exams, the CII will be piloting coursework assessments for the R06 Financial Planning Practice unit of the Chartered Insurance Institute Level 4 Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning. The format of the coursework assessments for R06 will be assignments based on client case studies.

Gill White, Chief Customer Officer of the Chartered Insurance Institute, said: “Our R06 unit currently uses on-screen written exams available four times per year. We are piloting a flexible, client-focused coursework assignment assessment, designed to fit in with contemporary working practice. This means learners with commitments that prevent attendance of exams on the fixed dates will not face a barrier to completion of the Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning.

“The assessment is designed to meet the same syllabus learning outcomes and assessment criteria as the current R06 exam and meets the Level 4 qualification descriptors set out by education regulators.

The assessment criteria include a requirement for analysis and justified recommendations, which are appropriate to assess in longer responses such as case-study-based assignments.

“We worked with practitioners within the profession, advisory groups and the PFS Board to discuss how these skills are demonstrated in a professional context to design the coursework assessment approach and tasks.”

A review will be undertaken later this year once the pilot is completed and feedback from candidates has been received. The Chartered Insurance Institute will then decide during 2023 whether assessment for the R06 Financial Planning Practice unit will switch from written examinations to coursework and the timetable for any changes.

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Wednesday 25th January 2023

The PFS South Wales regional committee invite you to this 2-part breakfast event:

1. Seminar on ‘The Fight Against Greenwashing’
2. Adviser Round Table Discussions

Book your place here!

Investors’ desire to make a positive difference has driven huge inflows into strategies that make sustainability claims. However, mounting evidence that a number of ‘sustainable’ strategies were not as green as they seemed has galvanised regulators to act. The European Union acted first and will shortly be followed in the UK by the Sustainability Disclosure Requirements. Rather than trusting high-level descriptions of investment approaches by Asset Managers, advisers should be prepared to dig deeper. With this in mind, join Henry Boucher, Head of Investment Strategy where we will help investors sort the green from the greenwashed, providing how you can identify greenwashing in our profession. Sarasin are a market leader in Sustainable and ESG Investing and are one of the top 3 largest charity investment managers in the UK and have been supporting UK IFA’s for over 30 years in this area.

Venue: Miskin Manor, Pendoylan Road, Pontyclun, CF72 8ND

8:30am – Registration and refreshments (Teas, coffees and bacon/sausage/egg rolls served)
9:00am – Start
11:00am – Close

Speaker: Henry Boucher – Partner and Head of Investment Strategy, Sarasin & Partners

Henry started his career in fund management in 1983. Specialising in multi-asset and global equity fund management, he has managed a wide variety of funds, including unit trusts, pension funds, life funds and charity endowments. He is Chairman of the Sarasin & Partners Investment Strategy Group, responsible for defining the long-term thematic and sustainable investment landscape.

Part 2: Adviser Round Table Discussions

Being a financial adviser can sometimes be a lonely place, particularly if you work on your own or in a small company. Following our CPD seminar, we are trialling an adviser round table discussion. The floor is open for any attendees to discuss the trials and tribulations they are facing and to share best practice ideas.

Book your place here!

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After a very successful return to face-to-face conference in 2022, we are excited to be back on the road in 2023 with our Spring, Summer and Autumn regional conference as well as a range of Specialist events and regional events organised by your local committee.

Click on the link below to register your place or save the date in your diary if a link isn’t available.

• Thursday 4 May – Spring Conference (The Vale) – book now!!
• Wednesday 19 July – Summer Conference (venue tbc) – Save the date
• Wednesday 22 November – Autumn Conference (venue tbc) – Save the date

More events organised by your regional committee will be advertised in due course. If you have any suggestions for local events you would like to see, please contact your committee.

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Don MacIntyre appointed to full-time executive role.

In August the PFS appointed Don MacIntyre as PFS Interim CEO.  Not only will he represent and advocate PFS members’ interests, he will also work closely with the Board to preserve PFS assets. Furthermore, he will enhance our governance and enable new operational processes that serve the needs of all members while maintaining public confidence in your services. 

Look out for Don at a regional conference near you soon!

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Hi, I’m Ian McIver the Chair of the PFS South Wales region which covers the Cardiff & Swansea CII regions. We hold our PFS meetings in The Vale and, of course, all are welcome to attend.

We have an excellent relationship with various colleges and universities and often invite students to attend and witness the world of financial planning in action! We are always looking for like-minded people to join the committee, so if you are interested please do get in touch.

Ian

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