Adviser Workshop: How and why to go beyond level four

Duncan Hannay Robertson (pictured), Matthew Walne and Rob Jackson talk about the challenge of working towards further qualifications and their motivations for doing it.

Duncan Hannay Robertson

Private client adviser, Hannay Robertson

I want to become a member of the Society of Later Life Advisers so I have signed up for the CF8 exam in long-term care insurance, which includes equity release.

With my business model, I have a small number of clients, so the work is easy to fit it in, but you do need the motivation to do the exam. It’s mainly done through distance learning and involves filling in online questionnaires.

New skills are necessary

It’s important to improve qualifications and learn new skills. I was chartered in 2005; nobody had to tell me to do the exams. I knew I had to do them.

Clients still buy the personality and the sales skills; unfortunately, they don’t buy the qualifications.

In time, the qualifications will make a difference. If you wanted a road designed, you wouldn’t go to a civil engineer, you’d go to a chartered engineer. It will take another decade for that to happen, but one day the public will only ask for advice from a chartered adviser.

Matthew Walne

Managing director, Santorini Financial Planning

This year will be very busy. I’ve taken on a lot by going for the certified financial planner examinations and my ISO 22222 financial planning certificate.