The Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning will equip you with the expert knowledge and professional skills required by practitioners in the financial planning sector. You will be competent to provide financial planning services to a wide range of individual and corporate clients. 

In addition, Milpark Education’s Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning addresses the educational requirements for the designation of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^®, awarded by THE FINANCIAL PLANNING INSTITUTE OF SOUTHERN AFRICA (FPI). This designation, which is internationally recognised, is the highest designation for financial planners in South Africa. On completion of the Milpark Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning, students will be eligible to apply to the FPI to write its Professional Competency Examination for the CFP^® Certification.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning appears on the Financial Sector Conduct Authority’s (FSCA) list of recognised qualifications for FAIS Fit and Proper purposes. 

DESCRIPTION AND PROGRAMME PURPOSE

The purpose of this qualification is to equip students with the expert knowledge and professional skills required by practitioners in the financial planning industry. Students will be competent to provide financial planning services to a wide range of individual and corporate clients. Milpark Education’s Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning addresses the educational requirements for the designation of Certified Financial Planner^®, awarded by The Financial Planning Institute of Southern Africa (FPI). This designation, which is internationally recognised, is the highest designation for financial planners in South Africa.

On completion of the Milpark Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning, students will be eligible to apply to the FPI to write its Professional Competency Examination for the CFP^® Certification.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning appears on the Financial Sector Conduct Authority’s (FSCA) list of recognised qualifications for FAIS Fit and Proper purposes.

WHO SHOULD ENROL

The programme would be suitable for:

• Persons who want to become expert financial planning practitioners in order to provide professional financial planning services to a wide range of individual and corporate clients.
• Persons who wish to obtain the required qualification to qualify for entry to the FPI’s Professional Competency Examination for CFP^® Certification.

PROGRAMME OUTCOMES

Successful completion of this qualification should enable the student to:

1. Apply financial planning expertise and knowledge in financial planning for the benefit of clients and society.
2. Establish a planner/client relationship by explaining concepts and services and client responsibilities – all within the parameters of professional conduct.
3. Assess a client profile, obtain documented personal information and determine the current financial status of a client.
4. Determine the financial goals (capital, risk and investment needs) of a client.
5. Present a plan to a client for approval and agreement.
6. Implement, manage and monitor such plan within the ethical constraints of the profession, testing effectiveness and recommending change where necessary

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

The minimum admission requirement for the Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning is an appropriate Bachelor’s degree at NQF level 6 (old) or 7 (new) or equivalent.

A pass in Matric mathematics on higher grade or a C symbol on standard grade or equivalent is also required. Relevant post-matric studies which demonstrate familiarity with the mathematical abilities required will be considered.

Applicants are requested to submit a detailed curriculum vitae displaying details of employment for the previous ten years which will be used as part of the curriculum planning process. Applicants without extensive experience in financial planning will be required to complete the qualification over a minimum period of two years.

In line with our admission policy, applicants with insufficient/no/outdated tax knowledge may be admitted on condition that they successfully complete the Induction to Financial Planning INDFP1-8 and the Financial Planning Environment PGFPEN-8 modules, in this order, before being allowed to register for further modules.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) applications

Milpark admits a small number of students onto its programme via Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

Entry via RPL is possible upon application to the Dean of the School, but numbers are limited by legislation. Applicants with relevant work experience and an NQF level 5 qualification in financial planning or wealth management as well as an NQF level 6 qualification in financial planning are encouraged to apply via this route. Academic performance on these qualifications will be a consideration and full academic transcripts are to be provided. A minimum average of 60% on the NQF level 6 qualification is strongly advised.

In addition, full details of employment and a detailed curriculum vitae are required, and relevant experience as a financial adviser/planner will be a decisive consideration.

In line with our admission policy, applicants who receive conditional admission via the RPL admission process, will be expected to successfully complete the Induction to Financial Planning INDFP1-8 and the Financial Planning Environment PGFPEN-8 modules, in this order, before they receive full admission to the qualification.

Other certificates

Any applicant who has a certificate other than a South African National Senior Certificate has to provide:

• a SAQA Certificate of Equivalence, if they want to enrol for a Higher Certificate, Advanced Certificate, Diploma or Postgraduate qualification (www.saqa.org.za)
• or a USAF Exemption Certificate, if they want to enrol for a Bachelor’s degree (https://mb.usaf.ac.za/).

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