Partnering to increase the number of accredited financial planners and advisors

The Financial Planning Institute of Southern Africa (FPI), a South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) recognised professional body and a SARS approved Recognised Controlling Body, is proud to announce a new partnership agreement with Old Mutual and PPS Insurance aimed at training and developing financial planners and advisors within these organisations into ultimately attaining the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® designation.

“Old Mutual is committed to developing a robust, professional and qualified advisor force able to help our customers achieve their lifetime financial goals. We are excited about our new agreement with FPI, an organisation that plays a vital role in the development and professional standard of the financial planning profession,” said Lizl Budhram, CFP®, Head of Advice at Old Mutual Personal Finance.

“As a business, we have seen the benefits and positive impact of the initial agreement between Old Mutual Corporate and FPI signed in 2014. The new agreement allows us to continue to align our strategic efforts and implement the professional upskilling of our financial advisors,” Budhram added.

The FPI Corporate Partner™ agreement was established to raise the competency levels of financial planners and financial advisors through various up-skilling initiatives. The up-skilling process provides financial planners with a learning pathway towards the CFP® certification; a designation awarded to financial planners who have met the rigorous certification standards of education, examination, experience and ethics requirements.

Nico Coetzee, Executive - Financial Planning at PPS Insurance commented: “As a recognised FPI Corporate Partner™, we look forward to getting involved with various FPI initiatives to benefit the consumer and the wider financial services industry. This partnership undoubtedly supports our strategic objectives as well as our vision and mission to be an exclusive organisation for graduate professionals.”
 
“As an Institute, we believe that the FPI Corporate Partner™ agreement provides an exceptional framework for FPI to work together with larger corporations in realising this common shared objective. We are delighted with the growing industry-wide recognition of the value of the CFP® certification”, said Sherma Malan, CFP®, Head: Membership and Corporate Relations at FPI.

“We commend Old Mutual and PPS Insurance on their commitment to partner with us and ensuring professionals providing financial advice are qualified and have the necessary skills,” Malan added.

The new FPI Corporate Partner™ companies join the likes of Standard Bank Financial Consultants, Alexander Forbes, attooh!, FNB Financial Advisory Services, GCI Wealth, Liberty, Momentum and Sanlam.