Diploma in Investment Planning                  

Those pursuing a career in regulated financial advice can be assured they will get off to a great start by studying our Diploma in Investment Planning (Dip IP). The Dip IP is approved by the Financial Services Authority as meeting the required qualification standards, and has been developed in conjunction with our partners the Association of Professional Financial Advisers [APFA] and BPP Learning Media. 

Through the Dip IP we aim to not only help develop an adviser's knowledge and understanding of the profession but to hone the skills required to put this into practice with clients.

Dip IP is supported by a comprehensive package of study and revision materials which will take you through the full syllabus at the end of which there are two examination papers. You can chose to study each paper together or one after the other.

Paper One: addresses the three CORE units:

• Financial Services Regulations and Ethics
• Investment Principles and Risk
• Personal Taxation

Paper Two is in two sections:

• Packaged Products covering:
  • Financial Protection
  • Pensions and Retirement Planning, and
• Application:
  • Providing Investment Advice a holistic assessment of the adviser's skills in applying their knowledge of the full syllabus.

The programme of study is suited to both experienced advisers and those new to role or aspiring to an advice role in the future - more information is contained in our brochure. 

Find out more about how we assess the Diploma.

Find out more about the study support package you will receive.

To apply now, download the application form or download the pdf here for filling in later.

Existing Advisers

Those individuals who were deemed competent advisers as at June 2009, and that held a qualification that was deemed appropriate by the FSA, are referred to as existing advisers. This group of advisers had until December 2012 to comply with all the new requirements set out by the FSA.

All routes to the Diploma in Investment Planning (Dip IP) that were open to Existing Advisers only are now closed to new entrants.

The Providing Investment Advice examination was designed solely to meet the requirements of Existing Advisers in the period up to the 31^st December 2012.

Please note that the final date that this examination may be taken is 30^th August 2013. Students who do not sit and subsequently pass the examination by that date, and who wish to complete an RDR-compliant financial planning qualification with this body, must then enrol for the New Adviser version of the DipIP qualification. At that time, the normal re-enrolment fees will apply.

Those holding our DipIP will not require ‘gap fill’ to meet the new standards. If you hold one of our other qualifications you should read about the gap fill options available to you.