News 12/2013: Diploma video, R06, CPD, workplace pensions, free event
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Posted Dec 05, 2013
Welcome to our monthly newsletter, keeping you up to date with industry news and developments, and reminding you about the latest products and facilities you have available to you on the Wizard Learning website. 1. Audiovisual on achieving diploma status For those looking to complete the advanced diploma and become chartered we have created this audiovisual presentation. 2. R06 Expected Solution To make sure that you have the best possible chance of passing R06 first time, Wizard Learning have developed a study package in the form of an Expected Solution to help you to focus your exam preparations. This is an economical and effective form of exam preparation and counts towards your structured CPD requirements too. The R06 exam requires you to analyse two client case studies, which are issued by the CII two weeks before the exam. You are required to answer 5 to 7 questions and a number of ‘sub-questions’ on each case study in a three hour period. Your responses to the questions will demonstrate your ability to identify client needs and recommend appropriate solutions, and your knowledge of the factors that are relevant when assessing each financial planning need, such as risk, taxation, health and timescales. By purchasing the Wizard Learning R06 Expected Solution, your package includes:
In the R06 Expected Solution we list the questions that are most likely to be asked for each of the case studies and provide model answers. The Expected Solution document is available as a pdf link on your Wizard Learning record on the Monday seven days before the exam and you will be notified by email when it is available to access. See here for more details on our R06 Expected Solution Package. By 2050, males and females are expected to live for 26 and 28 years respectively beyond their State retirement age and, by that time, there will only be two people working - and paying into the State pension pot - for every one person retired. These facts are confirmation of the pension crisis that is looming in the UK. In an attempt to further encourage individuals to take more responsibility for their financial welfare in retirement, the current Government has introduced significant reforms to workplace pensions. The process began in October 2012, and is being rolled out over a five year period, the outcome being that all employers will eventually be required to auto-enrol all eligible jobholders in a qualifying pension scheme from a starting ‘staging date’, sometime between 2012 and 2017 given to them by the Pensions Regulator. Those employers who already have pension provision in place will be able to continue using their existing scheme provided it meets the qualifying criteria of being HMRC registered. Those employers who currently do not offer any kind of pension provision for their employees will have to set up a new Qualifying Workplace Pension Scheme (QWPS) or make use of NEST, a multi-employer registered occupational defined contribution scheme set up by the Government. In addition to auto-enrolling all eligible jobholders, employers are required to make a minimum level of contribution, which is determined by the definition of ‘earnings’ that they choose to adopt and their given ‘staging date’. As a further incentive, the Government will provide tax relief on all contributions made by the individual employees. Many employers are still unaware of the requirements and implications of this new system and will need advice. Not adhering to the new rules will result in large fines, so advisers need to understand the key facts and implications in order that they can provide advice and guidance to their corporate clients going forward. Take a moment to consider the questions below:
Workplace pension reform online course 4. CPD: Keeping up-to-date on changes and issues The biggest section was compliance and regulation with a total of 12 articles covering a range of items. One article from the Taxation and Trusts section that has a significant impact for employers is summarised below. The countdown to a national insurance cut begins A new online calculator has been launched to enable employers to see the overall impact of the allowance on their payroll or of taking on an extra employee. Further information is also available at here. CPD system overview - see here for full system details and free trial For CPD system subscribers, the results of each monthly assessment are automatically recorded on their own personalised CPD Certificate; an official record of completed CPD activity and compliance with the FCA Training and Competence requirements. Subscribers to the Wizard Learning CPD system are also given access to a range of online ‘test your knowledge packages’ for diploma exams, online courses for diploma exams, our compliance courses and other specialist online courses – Wizard Learning is your ‘one-stop-shop’ for your CPD. 5. Safeguarding the future of your business – life after trail Panacea Adviser and NMBA have joined up to bring you a FREE exclusive Q&A event with key industry figureheads to address: What they believe the removal of trail means for the industry The panel of industry experts includes: Keith Richards, CEO, The PFS; Neil Stevens, MD, Simply Biz; Chris Hannant, Director General at APFA; Garry Heath, former Director General of the IFA Association; Mike Morrow, Sales & Marketing Director, Ascentric Date: 08/01/2014; Time: 09.30 – 12.30 Venue: The Cathedral Room, Standard Life Investments, The Gherkin, 30 St Mary Axe, London, EC3A 8EP Visit www.panaceaadviser.com/trailevent for more information and to register. Training modules
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