Overview:

Opens doors to a highly-rewarding career in Wealth Management or planning personal Finance. CFP^CM Certification lends credibility and expands growth prospects for both existing and aspiring professionals.

CFP^CM, Certified Financial Planner^CM
Certification marks owned outside the U.S. by Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd. Financial Planning Standards Board India is the marks licensing authority for the CFP^CM Marks in India, through agreement with FPSB.

Why CFP^CM Professionals are in great demand?
Global economic liberalization has brought wealth to a large number of people who are now seeking the expertise of professionals with knowledge and experience in wide range of areas such as Financial Planning Process, Tax Planning.

Who should enroll?
Individuals seeking a career in and/or self employment opportunities in the Financial Advisory or Wealth Management sectors in the following capacities:

• Financial Advisors/Consultant
• Insurance Advisors
• Investment Advisors
• 12th pass-outs with relevant experience
• Wealth Managers
• AMFI Agents
• Portfolio Managers
• Graduate/Post graduates of any stream

Course details:

Module 1 : Introduction to Financial Planning
Module 2 : Risk Analysis & Insurance Planning
Module 3 : Retirement Planning and Employee Benefits
Module 4 : Investment Planning
Module 5 : Tax and Estate Planning
Module 6 : Advanced Financial Planning

All 6 modules. Each of them includes following features:

• WBT
• VBT™
• LVC
• Assess (There are 5 mock tests per module and there are 5 modules)
• Live Chat

Payment Details (in INR):

For one-time payment  20,000/-
For Installments  (Installment facility is available only with offline payment mode):

• Down Payment: 10,000/-
• 1st installment 5,250/- (After 30 days of down payment)
• 2nd installment 5,250/- (After 30 days of 1st installment)

Note:

• Please note that examination can be schedule anytime after 60 days of registeration.
• FPSB India : All fees of FPSB India can be paid via Demand Draft drawn in favor of Financial Planning Standards Board, India payable in Mumbai or can be paid online by visiting www.fpsbindia.org.

Eligibility Criteria

Certified Financial Planner^CM Certification Membership
The four Es of CFP^CM viz. Education, Examination, Experience, and Ethics mandate that the candidate should undergo training for a minimum prescribed period before registering him self for the examination, on the successful accomplishment of which one needs to adhere to FPSB India prescribed Code for Ethics and rules for professional conduct. CFP^CM Certification is the awarded, subject to the condition that he/she has a minimum of 3/6 years of relevant work experience as specified below:

Technical Requirements:

• Broadband connection (128 kilobits per second) to Internet is required for Video Based Training (VBT™) and Live Virtual Classroom (LVC).
• You may avail our services like Web Based Training (WBT) and Assess Online Mock Tests, through dial-up Internet connection. (Broadband connection gives a superior experience).
• Access is also available at over 2,000 locations in over 125 cities across India via Sify I-WAY

System requirements

• P-IV Processor with minimum 256 MB RAM
• Operating System: Windows XP

Software requirements

VBT™ does not require installation of any special software on end-user's computer, except for some multimedia plug-ins that are either already installed on most computers or can be installed for free from the Internet. The Browser (Internet Explorer 6) should have the following properties:

You require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view following documents.

• JavaScript enabled
• Pop-up blocker disabled
• Cookies enabled

Examination:

The AFP/ CFP^CM Certification examinations are designed to Assess the candidate's ability to apply Financial Planning knowledge to real-life Financial Planning situations. By passing all the CFP^CM Certification examinations, the candidate demonstrates to the public that he/she is at the appropriate level of competency required to practice Financial Planning.

Examination Model

• Examination Model Examination 1,2,3 & 4
• Examination Model Examination 5

Examination Model - Examinations 1,2,3 & 4

The examinations will be centrally administered by National Stock Exchange of India (NSE), at their test centers. Admit card (hall ticket) will be generated by the system. Students are required to take a printout of their admit card and carry the same to the test center.

Each exam is of 2 hour duration.

• A Student can schedule maximum four module examination/s at a time as per the availability of seat.
• Results will be declared by the system itself once the student clicks the â??SUBMITâ?? button after the Examination is completed or if the Examination duration is elapsed the system will treat the answer sheet as â??submittedâ?? and result will be displayed on the screen.
• Students shall get a printout of their result at the test center after the Examination.

Examination Model - Examination 5

The examination will be administered by the FPSB India, at centers and timings which will be notified by the FPSB India through the hall tickets to be sent to all registered candidates. The exam is for 4 hour duration and is conducted on-line.

Eligibility Criteria: Candidate shall be eligible to appear for Examination 5 only when s(he) has;

• Completed Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC), 12th (or equivalent) examination from recognized Board/ University.
• Cleared Examination 1,2,3 & 4 of CFP^CM Certification Program.

Examination Pattern

• Pattern - Examination 1,2,3 & 4
• Pattern - Examination 5

Pattern - Examination 1,2,3 & 4

The candidates will answer a multiple choice examination, administered on-line by the NSE. All questions are designed to have a question body with 4 alternative answers. The candidates are expected to click the correct answer. The correct answers are coded and stored in the system. Candidates' answers are checked against these answers and scores are allotted by the system. The examination process is fully automated from the point of creation of test paper for the candidate to the declaration of results. The marks for each question are provided along with the question. The scoring system assigns pre-specified marks to each correct answer. No Negative marking for wrong answers.

Permitted Accessories - Candidates will have access to MS Excel in the computers on which they take examinations.

A good level of proficiency with MS Excel, particularly the finance function formulae and calculations is essential. Candidates are permitted to bring in their calculators scientific/financial as appropriate. Candidates are expected to use only blue or black ballpoint pen. It may be however noted that no exchange of accessories will be permitted during the examination.

Pattern Examination 5

The Question paper shall consist of a Test Booklet having any two Case studies depicting real life scenarios of individual Financial Planning situations. Each question or incomplete statement is followed by four alternatives. Students are expected to select the correct alternative on the system. Each question will carry pre-specified marks for each correct answer.

The candidates will be evaluated based on the following learning objectives:

• Determining the client's financial status by analyzing and evaluating the client's information.
• Assess™ the goals and objectives of client, commensurate with client's value, temperament and risk tolerance (including asset allocation). The candidates are expected to know the names and basic information on Key Financial Products (Mutual Funds, Insurances, Bonds etc.) available in the market today, under broad categories; and would be expected to incorporate the same in the solutions being offered.

Permitted Accessories: Candidates are permitted to use their calculators scientific/financial. Candidates should use only HB Pencil for marking oval. It may however be noted that no exchange of accessories will be permitted during the examination. Laptops/computers are not allowed for this examination.

Results - Examination 1,2,3,4 & 5

Results are processed on-line and is declared on the spot.

Evaluation System

A student who scores 60% or more will pass the examination and anyone who scores below 60% (exclusive) will fail the examination. There is no negative marking in the Examination.

Why should you opt for a career in Wealth Management or personal Finance Planning?
The economic liberalisation has brought wealth to large number of people who are increasingly seeking help of professionals in wide range of areas, such as Financial Planning process, Tax Planning, Employee Benefits and Retirement Planning, Real Estate Planning, Investment (in equity, debt, etc.), Management, Insurance etc.

As against the 350 CFP^CM professionals presently available (2007), there is a requirement of at least another 50,000 qualified Financial Planners in India. (Said by: Mr. Ranjit Mudholkar, CEO, FPSB India, in Times Ascent)

How much can you earn?
In the US, according to the 'Survey of Trends in the Financial Planning Industry' the 2006 median income for Financial Planners was $232,995. (INR 93.19 lacs, USD 1=INR 40)

The survey also shows that in the year following CFP® Certification, on an average, Financial Services professionals increased their income by more than $15,000. Additionally, over 80% of Financial Services professionals expressed satisfaction over their career choice.

In India, it is observed that CFP^CM begin their career with a package of Rs. 3 lacs per annum and there is no upper limit to the income of competent and experienced professionals.

Career options

• Private Banking
• Financial Advisory / Consultation
• Wealth Management
• Insurance Advisory
• Retirement Planning
• Accounting
• Trust / Estate Planning
• Investment Advisory/ Portfolio Management