The FCA Financial Conduct Authority is the body that regulates the financial services industry in the UK. The FCA requires all individuals who give advice on retirement planning to hold their retirement planning qualification, known as the RO3. I am delighted to say that I passed the FCA's RO3 Retirement Planning Qualification, first time! I have been studying for the FCA's Retirement Planning Qualification for a number of months now and I am delighted to announce that I have passed it with flying colours. I studied hard for this exam and was also given some professional help from my boss, Trevor Mitchell-Johnson at City of London Wealth Management, who also has his Retirement Planning Qualification. Trevor advised me on some exam techniques and helped me focus on key areas of study within the course material which were relevant for my particular circumstances. I would advise anyone studying for an FCA qualification to seek help from experienced colleagues, not only will you pass your exams but you will also learn from their experience and become better at your job. The FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) is the independent regulator of financial services. It is a public body, established by the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, and funded entirely by the firms it regulates - so it does not receive money from the government. The FCA works to protect consumers, ensure that the financial system remains stable, and promote healthy competition between financial service providers. It
also makes sure that firms obey the rules and regulations set out by parliament. The FCA Retirement Planning qualification was launched in November 2016 as a mandatory requirement for all UK based advisers who advise on retirement income options, pensions or investments. The course was developed from regulatory guidance which requires advisers to have knowledge and understanding of specific topics such as retirement options, personal taxation, pension saving rules and retirement income products. FIFCO Training is an Institute of Financial Services (IFS) Approved Centre. We offer the full range of IFS qualifications, including the Financial Planning Certificate (FPC), Advanced Financial Planning Certificate (AFPC) and Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning. Our flexible learning options mean that you can study the way that suits you best, whether that be by attending our classroom-based seminars or through our distance learning options. In this article we hear from one of our successful candidates, Adele Hopkinson, who recently passed her Retirement Planning Qualification (R01).
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