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Overview

The Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning is a highly regarded postgraduate qualification (Level 9) and is the gateway qualification to the prestigious international CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation.

It is ideal for individuals currently working in or seeking a career in financial planning and wealth management. This programme has been designed in conjunction with leading advisers and industry experts to ensure what you learn is practical, relevant and immediately transferable to your professional practice. You’ll build on the skills you’ve already developed from the QFA and take your knowledge to the highest international standards.

The Postgraduate Diploma is LIA’s gateway to CFP - the world’s most widely respected financial planning certification. Candidates for CFP certification must pass the Certification Examination of Financial Planning Standards Board Ireland DAC.

To meet the educational requirements for sitting the CFP exam, individuals must hold both the Qualified Financial Adviser (QFA) designation and the Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning.

At present there are 192,000 CFP professionals in 27 countries around the world (815 of whom are in Ireland). 

Watch this short video to hear about the transformational impact that the Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning had on Mark Hedderman’s practice and the impact that it can have for you!

LIA Graduation 2023

Watch this highlight of our Graduation Ceremony in October 2023 and hear from our most recent graduates on the far-reaching impact that LIA's Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning is having on their careers.

Programme Structure

This is an 18-month programme of six modules, delivered over three terms. This part-time programme is delivered primarily via online lectures through Zoom, with supporting face-to-face classes and online material where appropriate. It is also possible to take the course over 6 terms i.e. one module at a time. This path would take 36 months to complete.

Term 1

September - December

- Principles & Practices of Financial Planning

- Risk Management & Insurance Planning

- Retirement Planning*

*The Retirement Planning module can be completed across all terms.

Term 2

February - May

- Investment Management

- Tax and Estate Planning

- Retirement Planning*

*The Retirement Planning module can be completed across all terms.

Term 3

September - December

- Retirement Planning*

Integrated Personal Financial Planning

*The Retirement Planning module can be completed across all terms.

Three standalone designations:

  • Financial Planning Risk Adviser (FPRA)
  • Retirement Planning Adviser (RPA)  
  • Specialist Investment Adviser (SIA)  

Award

Once you have completed the course you will be awarded the Postgraduate Diploma in Business in Financial Planning from Atlantic Technological University (ATU Sigo). This is a Level 9 qualification on the National Framework of Qualifications and carries 60 ECTS credits.

Embedded ‘Exit’ Award

If you wish to terminate your studies prior to completion of the entire programme, you are entitled to the Postgraduate Certificate in Business in Financial Planning (level 9) from Atlantic Technological University (ATU Sligo) on the basis that the following three modules are completed:

  • Principles and Practices of Financial Planning
  • Investment Management
  • Retirement Planning

Applications for the exit award must be submitted to level9@lia.ie

Course Aims

On successful completion you will be able to:

  • Employ the constituent disciplines underpinning financial planning, including investments, pensions, taxation and estate planning.
  • Apply the analytical, problem solving and decision-making skills required to produce comprehensive financial planning solutions.
  • Evaluate economic, financial and other relevant data to create integrated financial plans.
  • Integrate a deep understanding of professional values and ethical issues in financial planning execution.

Course Content

Modules

Principles and Practices of Financial Planning

  • Appraise the client engagement process and the financial planning process.
  • Evaluate standards of practice, rules of conduct and ethical principles for the practice of financial planning.
  • Compile and evaluate the information required to develop a suitable financial solution and or a suitable financial plan.
  • Elaborate the concept of time value of money and financial mathematics relevant to financial planning.
  • Evaluate relevant regulatory, ethical, economic and political environments related to financial services and of the social and political environments relevant to financial planning.
  • Formulate the behavioural aspects of financial planning applicable to the client engagement process and the financial planning process.

Risk Management and Insurance Planning - Leading to the FPRA designation

  • Elaborate entitlements to, rates of payment of, and the taxation of the State Pension (Contributory) and the State Pension (Non-Contributory).
  • Compile and appraise the risks faced by clients and the most appropriate techniques for mitigating such risks.
  • Formulate a prioritisation of a client’s risk management needs.
  • Compile and assess the relevant details of the client’s personal information needed for risk management and insurance planning, including information in relation to the clients current and past state of health.
  • Evaluate the appropriateness of insurance products in mitigating risk, and estimate appropriate levels of insurance cover based on a client’s needs analysis.
  • Evaluate and discuss business accounts.

Tax and Estate Planning

  • Appraise the legal concepts and principles underlying, and the fundamental features of, the Irish taxation system and framework relevant to financial planning, including Income Tax, Capital Gains Tax, Capital Acquisitions Tax, Corporation Tax and Stamp Duty.
  • Compile and determine current, deferred and future tax liabilities as part of the strategic financial planning process.
  • Elaborate the taxation reliefs, exemptions and deductions relevant to financial planning.
  • Measure how different financial products are taxed and the effect this has on the client’s overall financial position.
  • Evaluate the strategies and techniques used to preserve and distribute accumulated assets, and the legal, tax, and financial aspects of this process.
  • Compile and determine the types of taxes that apply to financial products as part of a client’s estate.

Investment Management - Leading to the SIA designation

  • Evaluate the characteristics of equities, bonds, property, cash and other asset classes, and compare and contrast the risk and return features of these different asset classes.
  • Appraise the rationale for diversification of a client’s portfolio of assets.
  • Interpret portfolio theory and explain its implications for asset allocation.
  • Formulate how to design an investment portfolio to meet client needs and constraints.
  • Evaluate performance measurement and elaborate on how to determine appropriate benchmarks when assessing performance.
  • Appraise the features and benefits of investment products and their suitability to client needs.

Retirement Planning - Leading to the RPA designation

  • Elaborate entitlements to, rates of payment of, and the taxation of the State Pension (Contributory) and the State Pension (Non-Contributory).
  • Appraise and compare the different pension products, including their retirement provision options, for sole traders and partnerships, proprietary directors and employees.
  • Elaborate the process of using projections to determine a client’s retirement income shortfall and the contribution required to meet that shortfall.
  • Compare the different methods of providing death and disability cover in conjunction with retirement funding arrangements.
  • Assess the main investment asset classes, and explain optimisation of returns, the potential benefits of rebalancing, and various default investment strategies employed under various retirement funding arrangements.
  • Evaluate the steps involved in making a personal recommendation to a client in relation to his or her retirement funding needs.

Integrated Personal Financial Planning

  • Critically appraise the financial planning process in the practice of financial planning.
  • Evaluate the process of collecting the information required to develop a suitable financial solution and / or a suitable financial plan.
  • Appraise the process used to identify the client’s objectives, needs, values and constraints that have financial implications.
  • Formulate the process of consolidating recommendations and action steps into a financial plan.
  • Compose client friendly communication and employ appropriate presentation skills for use in the client engagement process.
  • Elaborate the economic, political and regulatory environments / requirements impacting on financial planning.
Study with LIA

Key Information

Click below to access the Level 9 exam timetable.

The registration fees are €1,100 per module and includes examination entry and access to learning supports.

  • Relevant 2.2 honours degree (level 8) in business, finance or in a numerate discipline (such as mathematics, physics or engineering) 

OR

Equivalent relevant professional qualification: 

e.g 

  • Qualified Financial Adviser (QFA) with three years’ relevant work experience obtained in the life assurance or financial services industry. 
  • AITI Chartered Tax Advisers (CTAs) 
  • ACIIs/FCIIs 
  • Actuaries 
  • Member of a Professional accountancy bodies (ICAI, ACCA, CIMA, ICPAI) 
  • Solicitors and barristers 

Your application form will be reviewed to ensure you are eligible to complete this course. Payment will not be required until after you have been accepted to the course.

Who is this course for?

This course is aimed at the following:

Current financial advisers seeking career advancement.

Career changers who want to become financial planners.

Consultants, accountants, solicitors, actuaries and tax specialists seeking to advance their knowledge and expertise in financial planning.