Ken Hall

Ken has been awarded individual Chartered status by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). This is considered the “gold standard” financial planning accreditation.

Chartered status is a symbol of Ken’s technical competence and signifies a public commitment to upholding professional standards and adhering to a professional Code of Ethics.

AdvDipIP (Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning)

This qualification enables professional advisers to develop specialist planning capabilities, covering topics like: personal tax and trust, business financial, pension and investment planning.

Certified Financial Planner (Institute of Financial Planning)

The Institute of Financial Planning is the professional body for those committed to the development of the multi-disciplinary profession of financial planning. All members sign the Code of Ethics and Professional Practice. Certified Financial Planner is an internationally recognised qualification.

AF3 (Pension Planning)

This examination assesses the candidate to develop in-depth financial planning skills related to personal and corporate pensions.

AF5 (Financial Planning Process)

This examination assesses the candidate to develop an understanding of the financial planning process when giving advice to clients.

AF8 (Retirement Income Planning)

This unit develops and demonstrates the advanced skills needed for advising on income planning to those in and approaching retirement.

J04 (Pension Funding Options)

At the end of this unit, candidates should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the: main tax and legal frameworks that govern the accumulation phase of building up retirement benefits under registered pension schemes; features of defined contribution and defined benefit pensions; choices faced by early leavers and use of transfer value analysis; State retirement benefits available, including the risks and suitability of contracting out of the State Second Pension.

J05 (Pension Income Options)

At the end of this unit, candidates should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the: process of decumulating pension funds and the main issues for clients and advisers; main choices facing members of pensions schemes during decumulation; features, risks and tax treatment of the secured pension option; features, risks and tax treatment of the unsecured pension option; features, risks and tax treatment of phased retirement; features, risks and tax treatment of the alternatively secured pension option.

R08 (Pension Update)

This qualification focuses on pension reforms and how they affect advice, including the new legislative, compliance and reporting requirements.

CF8 (Certificate in Financial Planning and Long-Term Care Insurance)

This qualification assesses a knowledge and understanding of the UK regulation environment in the financial services industry, long-term care insurance products and the giving of long-term care insurance advice.

CF9 (Pensions Simplification)

This examination assesses a knowledge and understanding of the government’s simplified pension taxation regime which came into full effect on 6 April 2006 (A-Day). Eight tax regimes for pensions were reduced to one, radically affecting planning and transactions.

ER1 (Equity Release)

This examination assesses a knowledge and understanding of the different types of equity release products, risks to the consumer associated with equity release and application of suitable equity release solutions according to the circumstances of different customers.

G10 (Taxation and Trusts)

This examination assesses a knowledge and understanding of the UK tax system, the law and practice of trusts, but also an ability to advise individual clients on the tax treatment of their investments and the use of trusts to meet their current and foreseeable future needs.

H15 (Supervision and Sales)

This examination assesses specialist supervisory knowledge and skills in the regulatory environment.

MAQ (Mortgage Advice Qualification)

This qualification assesses the knowledge and understanding of the UK regulation environment in the financial services industry together with types of mortgage products and repayment options and the giving of mortgage advice.

SV1 (Saving and Investments)

This examination assesses the knowledge and understanding of economic factors that affect risk from different investments, product features and regulatory framework of retail investments, taxation liabilities and portfolio planning.