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Whether you have just finished secondary school or are of mature age and looking for a new career, financial planning may be the career for you.
As a first step, undertake an entry-level education program recognised by the FPA. These are specifically designed to:
- Provide the knowledge, skills and qualifications for you to become a financial planner
- Help practising financial planners maintain their credentials
- Keep financial planners up to date with the changes affecting the sector
- Provide a pathway to CFP® certification.
Education and qualifications needed to become a financial planner
You will need to comply under ASIC’s Policy Statement (RG) 146 which has set a minimum requirement to become a financial planning practitioner.
This can be met by the successful completion of a training program that provides the knowledge, skills and integrity requirements of ASIC RG 146, and can be achieved by undertaking the Diploma of Financial Services (Financial Planning).
To then retain your representative status with an AFS licensee, it is necessary to undertake Continuing Professional Development (CPD) on an ongoing basis.
To achieve the internationally recognised CFP® Mark, practitioners must then undertake and complete the CFP Certification Program. In line with FPA’s continuing efforts to raise professional standards in financial planning, an undergraduate degree is required for entry to the CFP Certification Program.
Personal attributes
If you’ve got the following attributes then you should definitely consider a career in financial planning:
- Enjoy dealing with people
- Great communication skills and willingness to listen
- Ability to build rapport and trust
- Ability to network and build long-standing relationships
- Attention to detail
- Well organised
- A genuine desire to help people have a better future
- Willingness to learn
- Being honest and ethical
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