CERTIFICATE IN FINANCIAL ADVICE
NEW ZEALAND CERTIFICATE IN FINANCIAL SERVICES (LEVEL 5) [VERSION 2]

Massey University has partnered with Kaplan Professional, Australia’s leading and largest provider of financial services education, to deliver the premium online Certificate in Financial Advice.

 

The programme is mapped to the New Zealand Certificate in Financial Services (Level 5), Version 2 and meets the standard required by the Code of Professional Conduct for Financial Advice Services in New Zealand.


The Certificate in Financial Advice is designed for individuals who are already working, or wish to work in, New Zealand’s financial services industry. The qualification is suitable for those who are eager to learn specialist in-depth technical knowledge and skills necessary to provide personal advice and advance their career.

Areas of specialisation include:

Massey_Icon_Investment

Investment

Massey_Icon_Life Disability Health Insurance

Life, disability and health insurance

Massey_Icon_General Insurance

General insurance

Massey_Icon_Residential Property Lending

Residential property lending

On successful completion of the Certificate in Financial Advice, you will meet the new requirements for providing financial advice in New Zealand set in the Code of Professional Conduct for Financial Advice Services. The competencies and capabilities in this qualification are equivalent to the relevant outcomes of the New Zealand Certificate in Financial Services (Level 5) [Version 2] approved by the New Zealand Qualification Authority. This qualification has been independently validated by the Skills Organisation (Skills) and the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) has been notified of the outcome.

Potential job outcomes

  • Financial adviser
  • Insurance adviser
  • Investment adviser
  • Paraplanner
  • Technical consultant
  • Business development manager
  • Mortgage broker

Qualification overview

The Certificate in Financial Advice consists of one (1) compulsory subject and one (1) elective subject as a specialisation. This allows you to tailor your study to focus on a particular area of professional practice or to align with your career aspirations.


To meet the competency requirements of Standards 6,7 and 8 of the Code of Professional Conduct for Financial Advice Services, you must complete the elective subject most relevant to the type of area you provide advice in.


If you provide advice in more than one area, you must complete each of the elective subjects most relevant to all those areas.


Compulsory subject

  • Introduction to Financial Advice (30 credits)

 

Elective subjects (choose one)

  • Essentials of Investment Advice (30 credits)
  • Essentials of Insurance Advice – Life, Disability and Health (30 credits)
  • Essentials of Insurance Advice – General (30 credits)
  • Essentials of Residential Property Lending Advice (30 credits)

You must complete a total of 60 credits in order to meet the completion requirements of the Certificate in Financial Advice.

Full enrolment package

In addition to the Certificate in Financial Advice, you will also have the added benefit of a tailored one-year continuing professional development (CPD) subscription to Ontrack, Kaplan Professional’s market-leading continuing education platform, and access to additional financial services-focused short courses to further your specialist knowledge and skills.


This comprehensive package offers the most complete offering and value of all providers.


Your Ontrack subscription will provide you with a curated library of specialist content tailored to the New Zealand market. This in-depth, timely and topical content is delivered through engaging and innovative digital modules on a monthly basis. You will also be able to follow a personalised learning plan specific to your role, organisation and CPD requirements.

 

Maintaining your CPD is a fundamental requirement of the Code of Professional Conduct for Financial Advice Services.


The following short courses will be available for you to complete in Ontrack:

  • Financial Statement Fundamentals – Small and Medium Enterprises
  • Understanding and Analysing Financial Statements
  • Code of Conduct
  • Fraud Awareness
  • Cyber Security
  • Social Media Management
  • Equity and Diversity
  • Bullying in the Office

Learning outcomes


On completion of the online Certificate in Financial Advice, you will have developed the knowledge and skills to:

  • Develop a range of financial advice solutions for clients by applying knowledge of the impact of current economic and financial indicators
  • Demonstrate appropriate quantitative and qualitative research in developing suitable financial advice solutions
  • Apply legal, ethical and professional financial advice conduct obligations to clients

The competencies and capabilities in this qualification are equivalent to the relevant outcomes of the New Zealand Certificate in Financial Services (Level 5) [Version 2] approved by the New Zealand Qualification Authority. This qualification has been independently validated by the Skills Organisation (Skills) and the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) has been notified of the outcome.

Who is this qualification for?

  • Existing financial advisers looking to meet the new education requirements set in the New Zealand Code of Professional Conduct for Financial Advice Services
  • Those looking to advance their career in the financial services sector
  • Individuals looking to enter the industry and become a financial adviser in New Zealand

Entry requirements and fees

 

You must have an entrance to university qualification (either through Bursaries and Scholarship Examinations, NCEA, New Zealand University Entrance, Admission with Equivalent Status, Discretionary Entrance or Adult Admission*).

The total fee for the Certificate in Financial Advice is $1,800. This includes a one-year tailored subscription to Ontrack and the short courses within the platform.

*Applicants who are 20 years of age or older, who do not have a university entrance qualification, are eligible for entry provided places are available.

How is the qualification developed and delivered?


The Certificate in Financial Advice combines Massey University’s academic prestige and rigour with Kaplan Professional’s financial services education and corporate expertise.


Content is written and delivered by leading industry practitioners and subject matter experts. This ensures your learning is focused on practical and relevant outcomes directly applicable to your professional practice.


The Certificate in Financial Advice is delivered 100% online in KapLearn – Kaplan Professional’s innovative and user-friendly learning hub. KapLearn contains a wealth of interactive and engaging study resources, including discussion forums, industry case studies, multimedia content, pre-recorded lectures, research journals and subject notes.

 

Throughout your learning, you will benefit from dedicated and proactive support from an experienced and knowledgeable Student Experience team. You will also have access to continuous technical support from subject matter experts in an ‘Ask Your Tutor’ forum.

Duration and intakes

The duration of each intake is 12 weeks. You will have 12 months to complete the Certificate in Financial Advice from your initial enrolment date. Intakes commence every second month:

  • January
  • April
  • June
  • August
  • October
  • December

This provides you with the flexibility and freedom to plan your studies around your personal and professional commitments.

Future study opportunities

 

On completion of the Certificate in Financial Advice, you may be eligible for entry into Massey University’s Bachelor of Business (Financial Planning and Advice) – the only qualification of its kind in New Zealand. This will enable you to delve deeper and broaden your understanding of the financial services industry, while empowering you to stand out from your peers.

Meet your CPD requirements under the new regulatory framework

 

Specifically designed for financial services professionals to meet their continuing professional development requirements under The Code of Professional Conduct for Financial Advice Services – Standard 9, the Financial Services New Zealand library is now available on our market-leading and purpose-built online continuing education platform.

Hear from our alumni community

When considering where to study, often the most useful information comes from those who know what it’s like to undertake the programme. Hear first-hand from our graduates and discover why they chose to study online with Massey University and Kaplan Professional.

Find out more

Interested in enrolling in the Certificate in Financial Advice? A member of Kaplan Professional’s Course Advice team can answer any of your questions and support you with your study plans.