AFA/Integratec build new planner course

The Associationof Financial Advisers (AFA) will join the ranks of financial planning educators after linking up with Integratec to develop a series of training courses for its members.

It is understood the AFA has commissioned the financial services training specialists to produce the courses in order to augment the training requirements needed to achieve its fledgling financial planning designation, the Certified Financial Adviser (CFA).

In March, the AFA announced it would make the CFA designation available to its members who completed existing industry recognised courses, such as the Financial Planning Association’s (FPA) Diploma of Financial Planning, but also mooted that it would launch its own range of training programs.

It is understood the AFA will allow its members to combine existing industry courses with those developed by Integratec specifically for the association to attain specialist credentials under the CFA.

Under the CFA designation, financial planners can achieve specialist qualifications in specific areas such as risk insurance, superannuation and investments, as well as general financial planning.

The move by the AFA to offer the courses puts it on par with other professional associations, such as the FPA and CPA Australia, which offer training courses in financial planning.

It is understood the AFA will officially launch the new education program at its annual conference in October.