why bother?

If a certain well known network allows an unqualified person to offer advice and recomendation on pure protection. Why should advisers bust a gut and spend money and time on studying?

Posted by: rob

Sort your data management

Zurich are a greater danger to the future of IFAs with their cavalier handling of data. Zurich wrongly (and without my permission)transfered all my clients and agencies to another IFA causing immense damage to my firm

Posted by: Bob Newton

Exam Pressure

I note the comment from the CII - who are bound to say don't delay and take exams as they want to make loads of money out of us IFA's and protect their jobs. Cost of Exams, books etc. they must be rubbing their hands together.

Posted by: S Simonds

Multiple choice

When quizzed on the future of the JO exams, and asked whether they will be moved to multiple choice, a CII representative went 8 shades of red and refused to comment. The same colour of red Geff Hoon went when asked if there was anything in this "expenses scandal". Myself, I think we should have a written test with access to our manuals as we would in the real world, and similar to accountancy examinations, (they are allowed their Tolleys).

Posted by: Richard Williams

Lies, damn lies and statistics.

the Cii figures must be manipulated. I know 12 advisers who studied hard for JO4 in October and none of them passed. Fay Goddard, theh patronising pontificate of the PFS wrote an article in Money Marketing (25/02/10)offering her 'top 10 tips' on how to pass exams as the pass rates were poor and as high as she would have expected. By the way she suggested a good idea was to but the study text!!! Seriously, the papers are demanding and whilst rinning a business and a family are a tall order and expensive when you fail. I have no problem in developing relevant knowledge but most of JO4 is not even relevant CPD. De-authorisation is a major concern should QCF 4 not be attained . I wonder why I bothered acquiring 110 credits from the CII as they now apear to be worthless in favour of the new regime. A voice needs to be found as this is a very real threat our livelihoods.

Posted by: Peter Taylor

Lies, damn lies and statistics.

the Cii figures must be manipulated. I know 12 advisers who studied hard for JO4 in October and none of them passed. Fay Goddard, theh patronising pontificate of the PFS wrote an article in Money Marketing (25/02/10)offering her 'top 10 tips' on how to pass exams as the pass rates were poor and as high as she would have expected. By the way she suggested a good idea was to but the study text!!! Seriously, the papers are demanding and whilst rinning a business and a family are a tall order and expensive when you fail. I have no problem in developing relevant knowledge but most of JO4 is not even relevant CPD. De-authorisation is a major concern should QCF 4 not be attained . I wonder why I bothered acquiring 110 credits from the CII as they now apear to be worthless in favour of the new regime. A voice needs to be found as this is a very real threat our livelihoods.

Posted by: Peter Taylor

how about this way...

If the required qualifications are deemed to be on a par with "A levels" then why don't the CII and PFS set them up as such in terms of grading passes? I have passed some exams with flying colours but have also failed some marginally. Perhaps if an A level grading system had looked at my results it may have suggested A/B passes in some sections with only C passes in others. Therefore an overall pass of "C". This achievement may then encourage me to move on to higher level qualification in line with a degree, where the degree could also be rated as 1st, a 2/1 or at the worst a 2/2. We would know where our expertise lay and we would concentrate in those areas of knowledge to give advice. Our risk assessment departments would also monitor our general and specialised knowledge through quick tests, cpd and if necessary file reviews. A failed exam or even the thought of a failed exam is enough to make the most enthusiastic adviser half hearted about the whole rdr qualiication situation. Finally, consider this approach to grading qualification levels; When my daughter started learning piano she started at Grade 1. The opportunity was to pass, pass with merit or distinction. She "passed" and progressed to grade 2. A similar occurrence happened with grades 2 and 3. She progressed through 4 with Merit. and passed grade 5. She now plays piano competently.....would this be the same if the examining board had a pass/fail only system?

Posted by: Viv King