Level 6 Diploma in Financial Advice (Adv DipFA) | LIBF (2024)

Working in financial advice is a very rewarding career. You can help your clients retire sooner, plan for that once-in-a-lifetime trip or face financial ups and downs with much more confidence.

As with any profession, financial advisers will have different levels of experience and expertise as they go through the stages of their careers.

As a Level 6 qualified financial adviser, you’ll demonstrate the highest level of professionalism – important to showcase your credentials and for your customers to know they are getting the best service.

You can now differentiate yourself based on your knowledge about likely changes in the sector and what your clients need.

• Get the expertise you need to provide complex financial advice and planning services.

• Tailor your learning to match your current and future areas of specialism by picking modules relevant to you.

• Develop your skills to provide advice for a variety of areas – bringing in new opportunities for your business.

And if you have three years' relevant work experience, achieving Adv DipFA could lead to chartered status.

While you study online, we will support you with weekly study guides. Our team of dedicated tutors will also be on hand to answer your queries.

During your studies, you’ll become a Member of LIBF (MLIBF), receiving benefits including careers support and access to professional networking events.

Who can study Adv DipFA?

• Financial advisers

• Financial consultants

• Paraplanners

• Financial planners

• Independent financial advisers (IFA’s)

• Wealth advisers and wealth managers

• Retail investment advisers

To study Adv DipFA you must already hold a Level 4 financial advice qualification approved by the FCA with us or another awarding body. If not, please see our Level 4 Diploma for Financial Advisers (DipFA).

And if you have qualifications from us or another awarding organisation, you may be able to count them as credits towards Adv DipFA. See our Recognition of Prior Learning policy.

Adv DipFA comprises of five units but you only need to complete four, which you can study in any order.

The two compulsory units are TTTC and MANI. You can then pick from at least one of the Level 6 optional units and either one of the Level 4 optional units or a specialist unit.

If you decide to take CeMAP Diploma as the specialist optional module you must have CeMAP or an equivalent Level 3 mortgage qualification prior to picking this option.

Are you eligible for an exemption?

If you have qualifications from us or another awarding body, we may be eligible to apply for recognition of prior learning.

As part of your fee, you’ll get:

• access to our learning platform, Brightspace

• online student forum and group activities

• exam papers

• coursework exemplars

• online study materials

• online tutor support

• webinars

• access to our virtual library KnowledgeBank

• online access to our student portal, MyLIBF.

  
  

If you have a previous financial advice qualification, you may be exempt from some of the units.

Here are a few exemptions you can use towards Adv DipFA:

• You can claim credit for the specialist unit if you have completed the Later Life Adviser Accreditation from the Society of Later Life Advisers (SOLLA).

• Practical Investment Planning (PIP) has been formally recognised by LIBF as an eligible specialist unit Adv DipFA.

• If you have started a advanced qualification with another awarding body, you may have credits you can use towards the Adv DipFA.

You’ll need to provide details of your current qualifications and accreditations via the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) form.

If you’re not sure whether an exemption applies to you, please contact our Student and Customer Services team on +44 (0) 1227 818609 or email customerservices@libf.ac.uk

You can register for one of the following study sessions throughout the year:

We assess each unit of Adv DipFA differently.

• TTTC – coursework and three-hour 15 minute typed electronic exam.

• MANI – video presentation and three-hour typed electronic exam with multiple choice and written responses.

Your exam will be on a set date depending on which study session you join. Please refer to the timetable above for exam deadlines. You can choose to sit your exam at a test centre or through remote invigilation at home.

You will also be assessed when you take the optional units. The popular choices are:

• Certificate in Long-term Care and Later Life Planning (CertLTCP), which is tested by an electronic exam.

• CeMAP Diploma has two elements – an exam with 50 multiple-choice questions and coursework.

• PETR has a 3-hour 15 minute typed exam with a mixture of multiple-choice, short answer and long answer questions.

• Financial Planning in Retirement (FPIR) has three different types of assessments – forum contribution, video presentation and timed assessment.

For all exams, you can choose to sit at a test centre or through remote invigilation at home.

To register for the next study session, please complete our online registration form.

Registration is open all year round.

You can also call our Customer Services team on +44 (0)1227 818 609 or talk to them on live chat.

We understand that everyone has different learning styles. Some students prefer a qualification route with extra learning support.

We have recognised a select number of Advanced DipFA training providers offering to help support your learning and understanding of the concepts and materials.

Please note that using a learning support provider is entirely up to you: it is NOT a requirement of your studies.

When you've completed your Adv DipFA, if you have three years' relevant work experience you will be eligible to apply for chartered status.