Alan Walsh of Burnley’s Financial Affairs is starting 2017 with newly acquired chartered financial planner status.
Alan, who has been with family business Financial Affairs since 2014, recently passed exams for the Chartered Insurance Institute’s Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning – on his first attempt too!
Achieving chartered status is the ultimate symbol of professionalism in any industry. For the financial planning sector, to attain chartered status demonstrates the highest possible standards and a firm commitment to offering the very best financial planning advice to both individuals and commercial clients.
To satisfy the requirements of achieving chartered status, Alan Walsh proved that he has worked in financial planning for a minimum of five years and gathered the necessary qualification credits through exam passes and coursework.
32 year old Alan Walsh, from Steeton in West Yorkshire, said, “2016 was certainly a busy year for me! I reckon I must have completed around 300 hours of study between January and October, and I sat a total of four exams.
“Starting 2017 with chartered financial planner status is a wonderful feeling and makes all the hard work worthwhile. I was delighted to pass my advanced diploma exams first time too.”
To retain his chartered status, Alan will complete 35 hours of continuous professional development activities each year.
Financial Affairs, a family firm established in 1972, is investing heavily in staff development, putting every single employee through Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) qualifications.
Managing director of Financial Affairs Laurence O’Connor said, “Alan’s chartered status is a coup for us – only around 20% of financial planners in the UK have chartered status. This sets Financial Affairs apart from our competitors and highlights the level of expertise we have in the business.
“During 2016 I led a big push on raising standards within our teams by putting all staff through CII qualifications – and sat a number of exams myself.
“All Financial Affairs staff will soon be qualified to at least certificate level, the equivalent of a GCSE in either financial planning or insurance, depending on their job. Other staff are sitting diploma and advanced diploma level exams. This is not a requirement of our industry, rather a goal that we have set for ourselves. It’s all part of our commitment to becoming the best in the region for insurance brokering and financial planning.
“2017 will be a landmark year in Financial Affairs history as we put more staff through CII qualifications. By the end of the year we will be close to our aim of being a chartered insurance broker and a charted financial planner.”
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