r/cii

Hi all,

Ive been pondering a career change to admin/paraplanning.

Ive been in the oil and gas industry, quality/welding inspection all my working life.

But for several years now, as a hobby/self learning, a-bit weird I know! But it scratches an itch h and find it all really interesting. Ive been researching/ going through the Cii R01-6 course work, even signed up to the plannex tutorials etc… and the Cii audio revisions, anything to do with retirement planning really.

Recently Ive thought about taking my interest in Financial planning to the next level and actually taking the exams.

I have no interest in being an advisor but the technical side of paraplanning really appeals to me.

But the career change at my age seems a long shot. Judging by a-lot of posts on here.

Would you think getting the exam first and trying to get a admin position first? Or will my age be a no go?

I fancy just doing the exams anyway even if I don’t go for the career change.

Cheers C

I am aiming to complete this lvl 4 diploma in regulated financial planning but I was wondering if there are plenty of career avenues for me once I complete it and if there is a demand for paraplanner and advisors across the uk? I am a young female and I have an interest in wealth management and investments, I’m also interested in pensions.

I have absolutely no experience in finance and I work a job completely unrelated with very few transferable skills but I made the decision for a career change and I’m incredibly driven to do so.

Thanks :)

Hello,

I’m looking to book my R06 sitting for June 30th and wanted to ask if anybody had experience in sitting R06 before they sat R04.

I’m currently considering it just because timelines between finishing R04 and starting R06 would be pretty tight?

Would this be doable, or should I just wait??

Anybody have any experience of AF8 where you’ve put the factfind into cash flow modelling (no preferences) and the current situation for the clients shows no shortfall. And even after a market crash a year after retirement there is still no shortfall. There are weaknesses in the current situation but nothing that stops them meeting their short & longer-term objectives.

Does anyone know how far in advance the slots for sitting R06 online fill? I’m looking to book for the end of June. However, my employer will pay for the exam, so I won’t be able to book it until they have paid for my exam voucher. TIA!

Hey everyone,

I’m looking to start self funding some my R0’s and getting R05 and R01 completed ASAP. I’m starting off with R05, as I’ve read that this is a lot easier than the others… my question is, what’s the most cost effective way in completing these. Ideally I want to minimise the cost as much as possible but still give me a solid shot in passing.

Appreciate any help! 😄

Hi guys,

I’m planning to do R01–R06 for the Diploma, then AF4, AF5, AF8 + a few J units to get Chartered, all while working full time.

How long did this take you if you’ve done similar? And roughly how many hours per week were you studying?

Also have you found that being chartered has been very important within your careers, or has anyone found that there’s actually no real benefit?

Just trying to get a realistic idea. Thanks!

This is my current exam plan:

R01 - regulation
R02 - investments
R05 - financial protection
R03 - taxation
R04 - pension
R06 - financial planning practice
J10 - Discretionary investment management
J12 - Securities Advice and dealing
AF4 - Investment planning
AF5 - Financial Planning Process
J11 - Wrap and Platform Services
J05 - Pension Income Options
AF8 - Retirement Income Planning

Taking R02 in a couple of days, any last ideas from people who have recently taken the exam on what will come up ETC…

Hi all,

As above really, I would appreciate any views from those who already work in the industry and any thoughts from those in a similar position.

I am mid 30’s and work in financial services currently, managerial level role earning c.£60k. I’m based in the South West.

I self funded my level 4 and completed the final exam in July. Since then, I’ve been applying for various trainee adviser positions and have had some interviews, but the usual response is I gave a strong account of myself but other candidates had more relevant (industry) experience.

I’ve got a family so an admin role is out of the question salary wise - I know a drop is inevitable but anything below c.40k is a non starter. I would be happy to go in at Paraplanner level but trainee roles seem few and far between, and the standard Paraplanner roles all want prior experience.

There must have been others who joined the profession without starting as admin - I don’t understand how career changes could be attracted to the industry otherwise.

Possibly a tad of delusion on my part having heard a lot about a shortage of staff in the industry and a want to attract new talent.

I’ll stick with it of course!

Just seeing if anyone has recently requested a remark and heard anything?

Coming up to day 20 now and would expect not to hear until the full 35 day but never the less!

Hi all, I’m confused by the resubmissions for AF8. Let’s say my 12 month enrolment period ends the beginning of June. If I submit AF8 assignment 3 now, I probably won’t get it back by the beginning of June. So if I fail, how does that work with resubmission? Do you get a set window, or do you need to purchase the whole unit again?

I have signed up to sit AF1 in September and am considering sitting AF5 too, but they are only 5 days apart so i'm worried this is a little ambitious!

Has anyone sat these two exams in the same sitting and if so, how was it? Im aware that there isn't too much revision you can put into AF5 until you get the fact find, but I'm nervous they are too close together...

Any thoughts or advice would be welcomed! Thanks

I want to sit R06 on June 30th then J10 in July/August (conscious their will be a new edition from September onwards) then AF5 mid September and AF4 at the end of September.. is this possible ?

Also with the J10 exam being before September and AF4 after September do you guys think there will be alot of change in content / rules..

Please help this would all be alongside working full time but I’ll take some study leave where I can.

Edit: R06 is mandatory to take in June. But I can do the chartered exams in whatever order after obviously I want to make use of the September sitting..

I’ve booked my R05 exam for Saturday the 9th as I felt ready after reading the book. However, I keep failing the mocks (scoring between 64% and 68%).

I know I still have time to improve, but what score should I be aiming for in mocks before the exam?

For context, I’ve read the CII book, completed the three KnowR0 mocks, and done one on the BTS app.

Wish me luck!

Started on my DipPFS journey today by enrolling in R01 and getting started on the 25/26 textbook. Considering the text is pretty dry, but dense with acronyms, dates and definitions, I wondered if anyone had any tips in terms of order of operations in using the textbook vs audio files vs revision mate etc.

My game plan was to read through the study text and make notes of meaningful facts/definitions/acronyms, however considering there are so many, my notes are hardly condensed. Are there any resources which allow for practice questions to be broken down into chapters of the book, or sub-sections? I would like to test my retention but realised any practice questions I encountered were based on much more than the first couple chapters.

How often were you guys doing practice questions compared to simply reading the material and making notes?

Thanks in advance

Hi,

is anybody having issues accessing their BTS log ins? mine says processing for the last two weeks and I’m not getting a response from them either via email.

can anyone recommend any other providers?