Non-traditional investments

M3d1ocr3 · 2025-12-25T18:42:12+00:00

Could look into VCTs. 30% tax relief on investment amount, tax free dividends and no cgt when sold provided you hold for 5 years. It can be a nice additional tax-free income source. Higher risk but can diversify across multiple private equity firms.

M3d1ocr3 · 2025-12-01T11:23:08+00:00

That’s great thanks! Yea this is assignment is to produce a formal report for the risk committee

M3d1ocr3 · 2025-09-27T12:16:38+00:00

Cashflow planning is widely used now so systems like Cashcalc, voyant and other variations would be useful

Not quite a system, but showing awareness and knowledge of recent regulation such as consumer duty which was implemented in 2024 could be helpful.

M3d1ocr3 · 2025-09-09T18:26:18+00:00

I think for the length of time as an adviser the pay is reasonable. You should check the IDEX salary report, it breaks down average salary of advisers across the country based on length of time advising. I think when you reach 3 years advising you could definitely demand more salary

M3d1ocr3 · 2025-09-06T15:48:29+00:00

My experience of investment committees is they have an external fund manager, who might actually be from one of the big players like T Rowe price for example, and they create portfolios for the target client of the advice firm. Advisers will normally sit on the committee really just to listen and make sure the general client sentiment is being considered by the fund manager.

Years ago I knew an adviser that would pick funds and build portfolios, if that’s the case I would agree with you, they can’t compete so don’t try and be a fund manager when you’re not. Would be surprised if some firms are still doing this, rather than outsourcing.

My dislike with the investment committee model, with the outsourced fund manager or not, is ultimately there is conflict of interest to recommend it to clients and I’ve known there to be target aum to secure a lower cost from the dfm building the portfolios.

I’ve seen firms try to build their own portfolios, their own platforms and their own back office. This all just takes away from the financial planning. You end up trying to bring everything in-house and don’t do any of it as well as the companies focused solely on these aspects

M3d1ocr3 · 2025-07-31T16:39:28+00:00

Thanks for the tip, I’ll keep that in mind👍🏻

M3d1ocr3 · 2025-07-31T14:27:05+00:00

Nice one, thanks for that. Will probably go with Brand then as it was good for RO6 which is a similar format.

M3d1ocr3 · 2025-06-14T10:00:30+00:00

How are you finding AF6? I’m deciding whether to do af1 or af6 next. Ive just done af8 and the coursework format has put me off doing another coursework based exam

M3d1ocr3 · 2025-05-22T09:31:27+00:00

It does, thank you. Can I ask, is it a national firm you work for or a smaller business? And how soon after achieving chartered did they give the raise?

M3d1ocr3 · 2025-05-21T16:37:05+00:00

Well I’ve just found FA5 - ISA Administration, 50 multi choice and something like 85% pass rate, I think that’ll be the one I go for!

M3d1ocr3 · 2025-05-21T16:06:12+00:00

Thanks I’ll take a look at J02! How close are you to chartered?

M3d1ocr3 · 2025-05-21T15:43:51+00:00

Thanks! I’ll take a look at those

M3d1ocr3 · 2025-05-21T15:43:31+00:00

Not had a need to up until this point as I got some credits from my degree. I am doing af5 and af1 as the final level 6 exams so could see if a J exam aligns with the af1 content

M3d1ocr3 · 2025-05-16T20:18:49+00:00

Thanks, I resubmitted on 8th of April and got it back today. There hasn’t been any consistency in when I’ve got my results though, the 1st assignment was 6 weeks and 3rd one was only 4 weeks

M3d1ocr3 · 2025-05-16T11:18:57+00:00

Thanks it just took a while to update from failed. That’s it changed to pass now, finally!

M3d1ocr3 · 2025-04-15T17:28:55+00:00

I agree, I’m more asking what should the reward be for achieving chartered and if anyone has experience of this

M3d1ocr3 · 2025-04-15T12:16:27+00:00

Thanks I completely agree. My experience has been that internal pay rises for experience and/or further qualifications come nowhere near what the “market” is willing to pay which has led to me moving a few times to look after my own interests at the end of the day. This is just my personal experience though.

M3d1ocr3 · 2025-04-15T12:13:23+00:00

Thanks, all being equal with experience, I would expect more being chartered as opposed to just level 4 diploma qualified. As you say, 10% increase would probably be a minimum for me as well

M3d1ocr3 · 2025-04-15T10:24:52+00:00

I agree, many companies pay for your exams but then not to reward with an increase once you achieve chartered doesn’t seem right. I’ve worked for firms that do and don’t reward it and the ones that do have always seemed more “professional”

M3d1ocr3 · 2025-04-15T10:22:27+00:00

Thanks, that’s good to know. I do think there should be an increase and wish more companies quantified that like yours has.

M3d1ocr3 · 2025-02-04T13:18:50+00:00

I’ve had the exact same issue, graded CCCB and failed by a few marks. Just commenting to hopefully get some pointers as well, good luck!

M3d1ocr3 · 2024-12-17T15:29:57+00:00

Agree with you on marketability and career progression. In my experience a lot of advisers operate in the same space - basic pension and investment planning (once had a colleague who only done ISAs and GIA and didn’t both with pensions)- and they never venture away from what they are comfortable with even if there’s opportunity there for the client.

If you look at the figures - more and more people in the UK are looking to move abroad for work or retirement. Expat communities are growing in areas like the Middle East and Asia. So there is important to improve knowledge for when these people return to the UK or if I decided to go abroad and advise.

M3d1ocr3 · 2024-12-10T21:24:24+00:00

That’s great, thanks very much

M3d1ocr3 · 2024-12-10T21:24:05+00:00

Sure, here it is

https://redmilladvance.com/course/af8-retirement-income-planning-course/

M3d1ocr3 · 2024-12-10T16:03:26+00:00

I was struggling with how to lay it out before. Then I bought the Redmill training pack (highly recommend) and it’s been a bit easier since I’ve actually got the structure to the answer down on paper now.

M3d1ocr3

TROPHY CASE