Personal Finance Society and Chartered Insurance Institute
The Personal Finance Society (PFS) is the Financial Services arm of the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). The PFS was established in January 2005 by merging the Life Insurance Association (LIA) and the Society of Financial Advisers (SOFA).

On 7 September 2005 the CII received confirmation from the Privy Council that its application to award chartered status to financial services professionals has been granted. The introduction of the Chartered Financial Planner title completes the suite of designations available to the financial services profession through CII and PFS membership. Consumers will be reassured as, for the first time, financial services will be elevated in the public eye to the same standing as other Chartered professions, such as accountants, engineers and surveyors. The formal launch and ability to apply for the title will take place in November 2005 when CII will be writing to all members to advise them on the eligibility criteria and routes to becoming a Chartered Financial Planner by achieving chartered status. The CII believes that the creation of chartered status is a significant milestone in the establishment of an internationally recognisable benchmark of quality and ethical practice for financial services professionals. It will also help to underline the commitment by all of us in the industry to raise standards and build public confidence.

The CII exams include the Certificate in Financial Planning (which replaced the Financial Planning Certificate in July 2005), MAQ (Mortgage Advice Qualification), G10 October 2003 exam and G10 April 2004 exam

CII exams and qualifications

• Certificate in Financial Planning
• Diploma in Financial Planning (see also the CII's transitional rules for the Diploma )
• Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning
• Fellowship
• Chartered

For full details see CII exams  

Institute of Financial Services and Chartered Institute of Bankers
The Institute of Financial Services (IFS)'s  parent company is the Chartered Institute of Bankers (CIB). The IFS also has a mortgage exam, which is known as CeMap.

Training
Train 2 Gain (username=moneywise, password=chapel) have useful AFPC training.

Lifetime mortgages / Equity release mortgages 
The Council of Mortgage Lenders has published guidance on lifetime mortgage sales and Equity Release. We strongly recommend advisers to consider studying for one of the two lifetime mortgage qualifications. Details can be found on CII or IFS.