Strategi Institute has developed a number of training and development options that will meet both the CPD requirements standards for advisers, and offer RFAs and QFEs a way to upskill and help maintain their professional competence.
Strategi Institute’s training and development options also allow you to:
- Meet your own targets to improve your personal skills
- Meet your targets as a principal to improve your business and your staff’s skills
There are multiple options including one hour modules (available individully or as part of a package), special interest courses (conducted via classroom or distance learning), a range of special one and two day conferences plus completion of NCFS (5) standard sets.
For more information, download our brochure:
CPD professional development plan
Code Standard 18 states that “An Authorised Financial Adviser must undertake sufficient continuing professional training to maintain the Authorised Financial Adviser's competence at a level appropriate for the financial adviser services the Authorised Financial Adviser provides or intends to provide, and keep up to date with developments relevant to the Authorised Financial Adviser's practice”.
Code Standard 17 states “An Authorised Financial Adviser must maintain and keep current a CPD professional development plan for each CPD period.” Training must be relevant to an adviser’s professional development plan (PDP), and should reflect the areas in which the adviser needs to upskill. When assessing CPD requirements refer to Code Standard 14, which relates to AFAs having to ensure they have the competence, knowledge and skills to provide the advice or service they are or intend to provide. Our industry is constently evolving with regards to consumer expectations, products and regulations. Holding the NCFS(5) or a CFP or LU may give you the required minimum competencies to become an AFA, but it may not necessarily meet the requirements of Code Standard 14.
Strategi Institute has published a CPD plan template for advisers, to help identify where training might be required:
Example of a completed CPD self-assessment plan
A record of all training is required to be held and Strategi Institute has made available a CPD log template that you can use in your practice:
CPD Solutions
Strategi Institute is committed to developing and maintaining a range of innovative solutions to meet the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements for every AFA. Solutions are available in several categories:
Ethics, Values, Attitudes (Best Practice)
Legislation/regulation update #1
Provides updates on changes to the legislative framework over the period 1 December 2010 to 30 December 2011 that may impact on how an adviser operates, and what to look out for. This module includes legislation, regulation, Code and FMA updates.
Legislation/regulation update #2
Provides updates on changes to the legislative framework, changes to regulations and the Code plus new FMA guidelines over the period 1 January 2012 to October 2012 that may impact on how an adviser operates. This module will be released in November 2012.
Placing the interests of the client first
Demystifying Code Standard 1 relating to an AFA placing the interests of the client first and acting with integrity. What does it mean? How does it work? How do you prove it? How does an adviser communicate this to clients? How does this impact on contractural obligations?
Lessons from consumer complaints
A constantly updated course that uses recent 'appropriately sanitised' consumer complaints, and explains how these could be avoided and practical steps businesses can take to improve service standards and build greater trust.
Anti money laundering/Countering the financing of terrorism
Discover the procedures and processes that you need to be thinking about and putting in place now, to be ready and compliant by the time the legislation is fully in effect.
Annual refresher Part 1 (for QFE and adviser staff)
A refresher for QFEs and adviser staff on the overall legislative framework with particular emphasis on changes to the legislation and regulation and any FMA guidance over the period 1 December 2010 to 30 December 2011.
Annual refresher Part 2 (for QFE and adviser staff)
A further refresher for QFEs and adviser staff on the overall legislative framework including FMA guidance notes, and changes to legislation and regulation. This module covers the period January -October 2012 and will be released in November 2012. Particular emphasis will be placed on how to communicate the benefits of the new regulatory environment to clients/customers and the benefits to them of using the QFEs services and products.
For more information about any CPD course, please contact us. For current pricing see how much will it cost? To enrol in any CPD course, see our enrolment page.
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Investment Management
Investment fundamentals Part 1
Provides an overview of asset classes, investment strategies, quantitative analysis, risk and return, and different investment structures. This module builds upon the content of SSD and has a particular focus on how best to communicate these concepts to clients.
Investment fundamentals Part 2
How to construct an investment portfolio. This module will explore the various fundamentals of portfolio construction and take the adviser beyond Unit Standard 25648 in SSD. It will have a focus on software tools for portfolio construction and how to explain to clients the concept of risk vs return.
Product accreditation (in conjunction with product supplier)
Strategi is liaising with specific product suppliers to ensure a consistent and defendable approach is applied to product accredition. This module will provide the necessary technical information about a specific product, where it is most appropriate for a client, how to integrate it into a portfolio, how to interpret the research relating to that product, what needs to be recorded in the SoA and a short assessment to ensure the adviser has the knowledge, competence and skills to use that product.
For more information about any CPD course, please contact us. For current pricing see how much will it cost? To enrol in any CPD course, see our enrolment page.
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Insurance/Risk Management
Product accreditation (in conjunction with product supplier)
Strategi is liaising with specific product suppliers to ensure a consistent and defendable approach is applied to product accredition. This module will provide the necessary technical information about a specific product, where it is most appropriate for a client, how to integrate it into a portfolio, how to interpret the research relating to that product, what needs to be recorded in the SoA and a short assessment to ensure the adviser has the knowledge, competence and skills to use that product.
Lifecycle insurance needs
Learn to recognise a client's life stages and how their insurance needs change. Make sure you really are putting your client's needs first and can compliantly justify why some insurance products need to be changed during the life of a client.
Psychology of insurance purchasing
Do you know why some people buy insurance in some circumstances and not others? It is not always about the price. Find out what drives people to their decision. This module will enable you to provide better insurance solutions plus increase your revenue.
Developing a compliant risk SoA
Practical tuition on how to construct a compliant risk Statement of Advice (SOA), plus tips on how to automate and update it. A template will be provided.
For more information about any CPD course, please contact us. For current pricing see how much will it cost? To enrol in any CPD course, see our enrolment page.
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Mortgage Broking
Product accreditation (in conjunction with product supplier)
Strategi is liaising with specific product suppliers to ensure a consistent and defendable approach is applied to product accredition. This module will provide the necessary technical information about the lending solutions from a specific product supplier, where it is most appropriate for a client, how to integrate it into a funding solution, what needs to be recorded in the SoA and a short assessment to ensure the adviser has the knowledge, competence and skills to use that product.
Making your advice process compliant
Relating the legislation, regulation and Code to the mortgage advice process and working through a detailed checklist to ensure that your mortgage advice process is compliant. Identify if you are providing just financial advice or an investment planning service. What should you do if you are not compliant.
For more information about any CPD course, please contact us. For current pricing see how much will it cost? To enrol in any CPD course, see our enrolment page.
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Business Development
7 steps to financial profitability
Learn the secrets to dramatically improving the financial profitability of an advice business and what needs to happen to keep it profitable.
Business Success Part 1
This module helps financial advisers define what business success means to them and whether they have the skills and support in place to achieve that success. The foundations for what are required are outlined.
Business Success Part 2
This second module takes a financial adviser on a guided tour of the various components of an advisory business and provides tips and suggestions on how to transform a mediocre business into a successful one. Emphasis is placed on looking after the interests of clients, how compliance is an investment and not an expense and why well trained staff and repeatable processes are all part of the overall solution.
Developing a winning client service proposition
Guidance and examples on what the client is looking for from their financial adviser; how to structure a winning service proposition, and how to market it.
How to increase business profitability by over 50%
Want to significantly improve your bottom line? Work smarter by fine-tuning the various ratios in your business and watch your profitability grow.
Preparing your business for sale
What can you do to ensure you maximise the value from the sale of your business? Discover the small changes that can make a big difference. Undertake a self analysis of your business to identify if your business is increasing or potentially decreasing in value.
How to use IT to streamline your business
Discover how to make IT work for you - not the other way around.
Business continuity planning
Find out how to ensure your business can continue to operate in the event of earthquake, flood, fire etc. Learn to identify the risks - internal and external - and reduce your exposure. Discover why a business continuity plan is essential for your business and how to design one.
For more information about any CPD course, please contact us. For current pricing see how much will it cost? To enrol in any CPD course, see our enrolment page.
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Behavioural Finance
Asking the right and wrong questions
Move past simply asking your clients how much money they need in retirement and how much risk are they comfortable with. Learn to ask the questions that will add value to your advice and help build long-term relationships with your clients.
7 implications for the retirement revolution
As the baby boomers reach retirement the old rules are being rewritten. Find out how changing attitudes, lifestyles and the predicted economic conditions will affect your clients' retirement planning.
Why investors make the wrong decisions
Why do so many investors make the wrong decisions? Learn what drives investors' irrational decision making and frame your advice process to lead to better, more rational and economically beneficial decisions.
For more information about any CPD course, please contact us. For current pricing see how much will it cost? To enrol in any CPD course, see our enrolment page.
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Personal Development
Constructing your professional development plan
Step through what is a Professional Development Plan (PDP), how to develop it, what should be included within it, how to maintain it and how this translates to the CPD hours you need to achieve. Avoid wasting time and money by undertaking CPD that does not adequately meet the requirements of Code Standards 17 & 18.
Time management for financial advisers
Get the most from your day! Learn how to master your time to achieve higher productivity while still keeping your work-life balance. This module, specifically designed for financial advisers, will help you set the habits in place to earn greater revenue and provide improved client service.
7 tips for running an efficient practice
What every adviser needs to do to recover lost income
Reducing stress
Getting your work-life balance right: learn to recognise and manage the stress in your life. Reducing stress will often lead to a happier office, happier clients and improved financial performance.
For more information about any CPD course, please contact us. For current pricing see how much will it cost? To enrol in any CPD course, see our enrolment page.
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Short Courses
QROPS course (2 days)
Explains what is deemed to be Best Practice when providing advice to clients with UK pensions. Explores the difference between giving advice and facilitating a pension transfer, and the tips and traps relating to both. This course is essential for all advisers who deal with QROPS.
Download the QROPS brochure
Traditional Insurance Policies course (1/2 day)
All the information you need when advising on investment-linked contracts of insurance - includes a valuation method to ensure your advice is balanced and your clients' interests paramount. This module is essential for all advisers who have clients in whole of life or endowment policies .
For more information about any CPD course, please contact us. For current pricing see how much will it cost? To enrol in any CPD course, see our enrolment page.
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Conferences
Behavioural Finance Conference (1 day)
This one day conference is the first of its kind for financial advisers in New Zealand. The conference is jam packed with speakers, handouts and breakout sessions designed to help financial advisers of all disciplines better understand the fears and motivations of their clients and how to harness that knowledge to build better advice processes, better service propositions and a more valuable business.
PortfolioConstruction Forum Markets Summit 2012 (14 February 2012, Sydney)
Limited to only 25 NZ attendees, this summit focuses on the medium-term outlook for the markets, and the portfolio construction implications. Relevant to all wealth management professionals who need to understand the drivers and outlook for investment markets.
PortfolioConstruction Forum Symposium (16 - 17 May 2012, Auckland)
This two day conference builds on the best from past Australian Portfolio Construction Conferences. Leading experts will expound their theories around portfolio construction, risk profiling, rebalancing, what constitutes due diligence on products, the implications of including direct securities in portfolios, what constitutes defendable research and how to incorporate all this into meaningful advice documents that clients will understand. This conference enables heaps of interaction and debate and is designed to enable financial advisers to return to their offices with practical solutions they can implement
PortfolioConstruction Forum Masterclass (21 August 2012, Sydney)
Limited to only 15 NZ attendees, this masterclass is a one-day, classroom/workshop-style programpresented by selected subject matter experts. The emphasis is on an activelearning environment featuring small, high-quality peer group interaction where in-depth Socratic debate and active discussion is encouraged (indeed expected!).
PortfolioConstruction Forum Conference (22 – 23 August 2012, Sydney)
Limited to only 25 NZ attendees, this Conference focuses on the three pillars of portfolio construction – markets, strategies and investing. This Conference will challenge and refresh your portfolio construction thinking and give you the tools to build better quality investor portfolios.
For more information about any CPD course, please contact us. For current pricing see how much will it cost? To enrol in any CPD course, see our enrolment page.
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NCFS Level 5 courses
SSA: Core Knowledge
Expand your knowledge of the industry, financial markets, the advice process and products. This Standard Set is a good place to start for those new to the industry.
SSB: Capstone Knowledge of the Code
The legislative framework that all authorised financial advisers need to understand. It is also highly recommended for all RFAs and QFE advisers.
SSC: Capstone Professional Practice
Applying the Six Step Advice Process and complying wth your legislative and regulatory obligations. This is the new benchmark for providing compliant advice.
SSD: Investment Adviser
Understanding investment concepts used by financial advisers, and applying the principles of investment advice.
SSE: Insurance Adviser
Covers life and health insurance as well as the life and health market, plus insurance structures, principles and products used by financial advisers.
Fire & General Insurance
Gain understanding of fire and general insurance plus the fire and general insurance market.
Residential Property Lending
Knowledge of the mortgage industry, lending principles and loan products, with an emphasis on the residential property market as residential property lending as a financial adviser.
Business Risk Insurance
Provides in-depth understanding of how to provide compliant business insurance advice to clients.
For more information about any CPD course, please contact us. For current pricing see how much will it cost? To enrol in any CPD course, see our enrolment page.
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