Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning: What is it and why should I study it?
Are you looking to meet the FASEA education standard? Whether you’re a new entrant to the industry, a career changer or an existing adviser, Kaplan Professional’s FASEA-approved Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning can help you meet education requirements to progress your financial planning career.
In this blog post, we cover what a Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning is and what the benefits of completing the qualification are.

 
What is a Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning?
Kaplan Professional’s FASEA-approved Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning is a higher education qualification set at the Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) level 8. This qualification consists of eight subjects, which are the first eight subjects of the Master of Financial Planning. The Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning is delivered 100% […read more]

Considering a career in financial planning? Do you already work in the industry and want to upskill and specialise in specific areas? Kaplan Professional’s FASEA-approved Master of Financial Planning may be the ideal qualification for you.
In this post, we discuss what a Master of Financial Planning is, whether it’s worth completing the qualification, and what potential career opportunities there are.
 

 
What is a Master of Financial Planning?
Kaplan Professional’s FASEA-approved Master of Financial Planning is a higher education qualification set at the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level 9. This 100% online qualification has been developed in consultation with industry experts with a wealth of experience, ensuring practical and relevant learning rather than solely focusing on academic theory. The Master of Financial Planning consists of 12 subjects – 10 core subjects and two electives. It can be […read more]

 
This blog post has been updated and was originally authored by Kaplan Schweser.

 
To have the best possible chance of passing each level of the CFA® exam, the CFA Institute recommends allocating a minimum of 300 hours towards preparation. It’s critical for your success to efficiently plan your study in advance, rather than cramming in the final weeks before the exam. In this blog, we share our top tips for how to use your 300 hours of study wisely to significantly increase your chances of passing the CFA exam.
 

 
Tip 1: Develop your study plan at least six months before the CFA exam
Many successful CFA charterholders credit their exam success to the early development of their study plan. Depending on the exam windows, we […read more]

 
Considering a career in financial planning? If you’re seeking to upskill or change career paths, Kaplan Professional’s postgraduate financial planning qualifications can be completed 100% online at your own pace. With the flexibility to study across six annual intakes to suit your personal and professional commitments, now may be the ideal time for you to commence an online financial planning qualification. Here’s what you need to know about the recent changes in the Australian financial planning industry, and what qualifications are available and suitable for your circumstances.

Changes in the Australian financial planning industry

There has been significant upheaval in Australia’s financial planning industry recently, following the introduction of the Financial Adviser Standards professional standards and education requirements that took effect from 1 January 2019. These professional standards and education requirements will differ depending on whether […read more]

 
This blog post has been updated and was originally authored by Kaplan Schweser.
 
Every year, thousands of candidates sit the CFA® exam. The CFA charter is widely considered to be the ‘gold standard’ in the investment community, so it’s no surprise the intense difficulty of the exams can often lead to several candidates failing at least once. We understand how frustrating this can be for candidates who spend months preparing for the exams. However, it’s not all bad news. At least you’ve gained experience and understand the process if you do have to re-sit. This alone can support you and increase your confidence throughout your preparation.
If you need to re-sit the CFA exam, here’s what to keep in mind.
 

 
May 2021 CFA […read more]

Kaplan Professional CEO Brian Knight shares six themes that are shaping the rapidly changing financial advice world from the perspective of the industry’s leading education provider.
 

 
The next six months
The most pressing issue facing the industry in the immediate future is the looming deadline of FASEA’s Financial Adviser Examination. The Federal Government recently announced they would grant an extension until September 2022 for advisers who had failed the FASEA exam twice.
Kaplan Professional welcomes any initiative that will provide assistance and support to advisers, especially those who genuinely wish to stay in the industry, and we remain committed to supporting all advisers to pass the FASEA exam.
FASEA has recently announced advisers will have the option to sit in November 2021 irrespective of the timing of their last sitting, so advisers will have two opportunities to sit the […read more]

As the industry’s largest and leading education provider, Kaplan Professional hears a diverse range of thoughts and theories about education. Often some of this commentary is simply incorrect and requires clarification. I wanted to use this opportunity to debunk some of these myths.
 

 
These answers are based on our experience of supporting our corporate clients and thousands of financial advisers around the country with the FASEA education requirements. This has helped Kaplan Professional to develop a thorough understanding of what it takes to help advisers manage and succeed with their studies. I hope this can provide advisers who are apprehensive or anxious with the confidence they need to make the decisions right for them.
 
Myth one: I haven’t started studying because the extensions mean I have plenty of time.
 
What must be remembered is many advisers have […read more]

 
This blog post has been updated and was originally authored by Kaplan Schweser.
 
The CFA® exam encompasses three separate exams that each cover a lot of material. To be successful, it’s highly recommended you have an effective plan of action to master the concepts and be as ready as possible for exam day. These tips can help you prepare your own study plan.
 

 
Start early and be consistent
The CFA Institute recommends 300 hours of study, which is usually the minimum requirement most people need to be successful. In order to dedicate that many hours over six to nine months, you’ll need to put in the time and effort every week. It’s important not to cram everything into the last few months […read more]

 
This blog post has been updated and was originally authored by Kaplan Schweser.
 
If you’re a candidate for the CFA® Program, you need a study plan that will allow you to succeed. In this video, Dr. Doug Van Eaton, CFA discusses the CFA Program Level I curriculum and proven study strategies.
 

 
2021 video transcript coming soon. For reference, below is the 2020 transcript.

 
Hi, I’m Doug Van Eaton. I’ve been a Level I manager for CFA® education at Kaplan Schweser for about 15 years now, teaching CFA for about 20 years, CFA topics, education and teaching finance and economics for, let’s just say much longer than that. So, we’ve got a pretty catchy title for you here, right? How to pass the Level […read more]

 
This blog post has been updated and was originally authored by Kaplan Schweser.
 
While everyone hears about the difficulty of the Level I CFA® exam very few believe it until they experience it for themselves. To pass the exam, you’ll need to achieve at least the minimum passing score (MPS) set by the Board of Governors of the CFA Institute after each exam. The June 2019 Level I pass rate was only 41% and the December 2019 pass rate was only slightly higher at 42%. This means it’s crucial you have a study plan in place and adhere to it.
 

 
Former CFA Program students, who are now charterholders, were asked what advice they have for candidates just getting started in their studies. […read more]