Financial services Diploma for Financial Advisers (DipFA)

FSRE will introduce you to the financial services profession, and develop your knowledge and understanding of regulations, legislations and the Code of Ethics.

It’s a comprehensive module that not only looks at the FCA approach to regulation but also the relevant laws and legislation that advisers adhere to in their day-to-day activities.

It also looks at the skills required when dealing with clients and the different financial products and the services clients may need at various stages of their lives and the potential solutions that could help them.

This module develops your knowledge and understanding of the UK taxation system, it also develops your ability to analyse the taxation treatment of individuals and trusts when advising on investments.

Financial advisers require a general knowledge of individual taxation, including inheritance tax and the taxation of trusts. They also need to understand how different investment solutions are taxed when providing advice and discussing potential solutions with clients.

Delves into the economic environment and its impact on investments as well as providing a detailed understanding of investment products and their performance in different situations.

Understand the different investment theories and learn the framework required to advice clients on their investment choices to meet a wide range of different objectives.

Build your understanding of the need for financial protection and why your clients need to recognise its importance. This module looks at the role and limitations of state benefits and the various policies and solutions available to meet any protection shortfalls.

It ensures you know the main features of the potential solutions available, how they work in detail and to be able to identify the clients protection needs and potential priorities in different circumstances. It also provides you with the skills needed to be advise clients to ensure they prioritise any protection shortfalls accordingly.

Explore retirement planning and the political, economic, and social environmental factors which provide the context for pensions planning as well as the different taxation regime that applies.

Learning about retirement planning ensures you have a comprehensive grounding on the different state pension benefits that are provided and their relevance to an individual's pension planning. It also ensures you understand the structure, characteristics and application of defined-benefit (DB) schemes and the range of defined-contribution (DC) scheme options available.

It also provides you with the knowledge required to be able to discuss the options available and the factors that need to be considered when drawing pension benefits.

This coursework module develops your knowledge and capability to be able to demonstrate your ability to provide effective financial planning solutions for clients.

It ensures you understand the process of gathering client information for holistic financial planning, are able to analyse the information and can create, formulate, and communicate this effectively.

It ensures that your able to demonstrate your understanding of all of the previous five modules when advising clients in various situations.

You can find more details about your Diploma for Financial Advisers (DipFA) course here:

Qualification specification

28 May 2024

1 July 2024

5 August 2024

9 September 2024

14 October 2024

18 November 2024

17 February 2025

31 March 2025

12 May 2025

23 June 2025

4 August 2025

15 September 2025

27 October 2025

8 December 2025

The FSRE videos have been created to help students focus on the areas of the syllabus that they find more difficult.

An experienced tutor will break down the learning into smaller topics to help you understand the content more easily and provide examples to support your learning. The videos also include example questions throughout that reinforce your learning to help you prepare for your assessment and give you a taste of the exam question style.

The videos can be watched on any device, from anywhere in the world – as long as you have internet access – giving you the flexibility to study when and where it suits you.

The videos cost just £155 for the full series and access lasts for 12 months.

We have partnered with two institutions –ICS Learn and Simply Academy – who’ve created academies to teach DipFA. These academies offer students an innovative way to study the DipFA course focusing on flexibility, convenience and making the learning process more manageable.

Classroom virtual learning with Simply Academy

Simply Academy offer students the opportunity to study with the DipFA Academy where you can learn in a classroom environment but from the comfort of your own home. Small class sizes allow you to benefit from an interactive style of learning. You’ll be able to join in with discussions with your class and get live feedback from your tutors. For more information about the structure, costs and timetables please see the DipFA Academy page on the website of our trusted partner, Simply Academy.

100% online learning with ICS Learn

ICS Learn offer students the opportunity to self-learn 100% online through their Digital Academy. This virtual learning platform allows you to study at a place and time that suits you, and at your own pace. For more information about the structure, costs and timetables please see the Digital Academy page on the website of our partner, ICS Learn.

Modules one to five

Exams are sat electronically at any one of the Pearson Vue test centres across the UK or via remote invigilation where you can sit your assessment remotely – for example at home.

We recommend that exams are booked two months in advance of the date you wish to sit. However, subject to availability, an examination can be booked as little as two working days in advance.

Module six

On registration of module six (coursework) you will be able to choose a specific coursework session. You can view and change your coursework session via MyLIBF, but this must be changed before the deadline date.

An ALSP is a training organisation that has joined our ALSP scheme and has been formally recognised by us as delivering appropriate additional learning and training support.

To gain our recognition, an ALSP’s course is assessed rigorously and must continue to meet certain quality standards relating to:

• accuracy of course information

• comparability to LIBF’s programme of study

• accuracy of course content

• quality of delivery, both online and in a classroom

• trainer/author credentials

• course management policies and procedures

• satisfactory annual reporting of their training activities and course management.

While all ALSPs’ courses undergo regular monitoring, they might not be suitable for all students and we offer no guarantee if you use an ALSP. If you are considering using third party services, it’s very important that you assess their offering against your needs and choose your provider with great care. Please see the FAQ on what you should look for when choosing a learning support provider. A list of our current DipFA ALSPs is here.

Using a third party learning provider is entirely your choice: it is NOT a requirement of your DipFA studies. However, once you have commenced your studies, if you feel you would like or need supplementary support in addition to the resources available from LIBF, paying for an additional course might benefit you. For example, an extra online course from a training provider might be structured in a way that suits your learning style.

Many training organisations also offer face-to-face workshops. The benefits of these include you being able to meet and learn with fellow students and a qualified trainer, discuss issues relating to your individual needs, undertake varied activities, practice exam questions and better understand your progress and learning gaps – all away from the distractions of a work/home environment.

There are dozens of learning support providers offering training courses. Please be aware that while websites appear to be professional-looking, not all are bona fide organisations. For an example of this, please see this a ruling by the Advertising Standards Agency in 2018.

If you are considering using a learning support provider that is not an LIBF-recognised ALSP, we strongly recommend you read its website thoroughly and look at whether:

• it can be contacted by phone or e-mail (beware of those only offering a call-back service)

• an address is given. Check on the government's Companies House website that the company and its address are genuine.

• Do an online search on the address. Does the company operate from professional-looking premises?

• training course fees are clearly stated

• it states you will also need to register with LIBF and pay the appropriate fee

• syllabus information and course content appears accurate, complete and up to date

• there are any testimonials (but bear in mind they might not be genuine)

• there are clearly stated terms and conditions. Make sure you read them carefully

• the organisation claims to be recognised or accredited by LIBF and/or uses our logo. Please note that only ALSPs are authorised to state they are accredited by us and display the official ALSP logo. The names and contact details of our ALSPs who offer support for DipFA are published on our website here.

  
  

You are strongly advised not to simply register and/or pay for a course online. Your first step should be to phone the organisation to discuss the course and your needs. If they cannot describe the course in detail, or if there is no answer and they do not reply to voicemails or e-mails, you should be very cautious.

We are aware of a number of revision courses and learning materials being offered for sale online. If these are not being offered by one of our Accredited Learning Support Providers, you should be very wary of buying these items, even if they appear to be good value. The provider and the materials have not been reviewed by us and therefore their quality and relevance to your studies is unknown. Note that these materials might be incomplete, inaccurate or out of date and could be misleading.

If you have any concerns, please e-mail customerservices@libf.ac.uk