Author Archives: Jsade Stephenson

Reasons to learn adobe Illustrator

adobe illustrator training in north londonAs an avid Adobe illustrator user and tutor I have recently had a few people contact me wanting to know if they should consider learning illustrator.

Graphic designers use different programs or software to generate their graphics. Most people agree that Adobe Illustrator ranks as one of the most popular vector graphic design software packages.

However, popularity alone wouldn’t convince an aspiring graphic designer to select illustrator as their preferred software package. Below are some top reasons why you should consider learning illustrator especially if you are into web design, logo design or any other profession which calls for creating graphics from scratch.

It allows you to freely express your ideas

One of the things a graphics specialist wants to do when designing an advert or poster is freely express an idea which connects with their targeted audience. Illustrator allows you to create your designs from scratch which implies that you can create virtually anything as long as you have the skill and knowledge.

Easily create logos

Illustrator is a vector graphic editor which implies that one can easily use it to do their art work which places the programs among the best in logo design. The pen tool allows you to create shapes while the isolated background feature enhances your work. You should however note that logo design requires adept skill and therefore obliges to go through viable illustrator training if they wish to create captivating logos.

Draw your own icons

Illustrator has a powerful grid system which allows you to draw attractive icons using different shapes which are fitted into the grid. After arranging the shapes, it is relatively easy to color them using tools made available in Illustrator. If you are in the process of developing a website, software package or anything else which requires icons for navigation, you will certainly need to familiarize with adobe illustrator.

Come up with great infographics

As the name suggests, infographics are used to represent information on a graphical chart. In most cases, they are used on newspapers and magazines to support the content written in text. Of late, internet marketers now use infographics to capture the attention of their audience on blogs and informational pages on their websites. With illustrator, you can either choose to create an infographic from scratch or you can use the programs templates and create equally appealing charts by just entering data. Remember, how good your info graphic looks depends on your skills which gives another reason why it would it would be worthwhile to take an illustrator course.

Draw maps

With Adobe Illustrator, you realize that you can draw actual maps using the pen and line tool. At first it might prove difficult to use the pen tool but as time advances and with more practice, it becomes easier as you perfect on accuracy.

Finally,
Always bear in mind that graphic design can be a well paid profession. As a budding graphic designer or web developer, agencies and companies are looking for people with a wide range of skills. You need to develop these to become more marketable. This will probably make you appreciate the importance of learning  Adobe illustrator or enrolling on an Adobe Illustrator course that will help you acquire the necessary skills..

IFS DipFA Exam (date 16/0513)

IFS DipFA Exam (date 16/0513)

Some pointers…

The Fact Find presents us with a scenario for a Mr & Mrs Atkinson.  The scenario presented provides a number of challenges for students across a diverse range of advice areas.  Students must remember that the scenario presented is there to test your knowledge, and crucially, the application of that knowledge to the client’s circumstances and the suitability of your advice.

This blog summarises some of the key issues students will need to consider for this exam, and some pointers about specific parts of the IFS DipFA Study Folders that students may find useful to review and refresh themselves of in addition to other study – this blog is not a comprehensive guide to the exam but should get you started.

Anyone not fully clued up on taxation basics should immediately head to the IFS Study Folders (issued by the IFS when they started the DipFA course), and look up Topic 2 and Topic 3 in the Taxation folder.

Additionally, in preparation for one of our courses, some specific areas to consider for further study are;

  • Defined Benefit (final salary) schemes, in Retirement Topic 5.3.2
  • Tax efficient saving and investing, in Investments Topic 12
  • Protection Planning, in Protection Topic 9
  • Clients attitude to Risk, in Investments Topic 14.2.1
  • Retirement Planning Topic 7

This is most definitely not a comprehensive list, and of course don’t forget, anything in the syllabus can be considered relevant for the exam.

You will be presented with amendments to the Fact Find on the day.  The amendments on the day can cover any issue covered in the Study Folders, or related to these areas.  Students would be well advised to at least review the sections of the Study Folders for areas of advice they are not familiar with prior to the exam itself.

Further support can be found by booking attendance at one of Futuretrend’s DipFA Fact find courses, or on the remote support option.

Paul Davis, Dip. PFS, Futuretrend Tutor.

 

Some pointers for IFS DipFA Exam (07/03/13)

IFS DipFA Exam (date 07/03/13)

Some pointers…

The Fact Find presents us with a scenario for a Mr and Mrs Franey.  In my opinion the scenario in this exam is not a million miles removed from any number of real life cases that many Advisers may have seen during their career.

However, regardless of how life-like or not Students may feel the scenario is; it is of course actually there to test your knowledge, and crucially, the application of that knowledge to the client’s circumstances and the suitability of your advice.

This blog summarises some of the key issues students will need to consider for this exam, and some pointers about specific parts of the IFS DipFA Study Folders that students may find useful to review and refresh themselves of in addition to other study – this blog is not a comprehensive guide to the exam but should get you started.

In this scenario, the clients have exposure to income tax and national insurance as both an employee and as a sole trader.  A solid understanding of the rules relating to Income Tax and National Insurance (N.I.) is essential.  Anyone not fully clued up on these basics for both employed and self employed clients should immediately head to the IFS Study Folders (issued by the IFS when they started the DipFA course), and look up Topic 2 and Topic 3 in the Taxation folder.  Also be aware of N.I. Contributions once over State Retirement Age.

Additionally, in preparation for one of our courses, some of the required subject specific areas to consider for further study are;

  • Defined Benefit (Final Salary) pensions.  See Retirement Topic 5.3.2
  • Needs Based Protection Planning.  See Protection Topic 9
  • Investment Advice.  See Investments Topic 14

This is most definitely not a comprehensive list, and of course don’t forget, anything in the syllabus can be considered relevant for the exam.  The amendments on the day can cover any issue covered in the Study Folders, or related to these areas.  Students would be well advised to at least review the sections of the Study Folders for areas of advice they are not familiar with prior to the exam itself.  According to recent Examiner’s reports, many students are missing out on marks as a result of not sufficiently addressing the amendments on the day.  If there are gaps in your knowledge compared to the syllabus, you run the risk of being caught out!

Further support can be found by booking attendance at one of Futuretrend’s DipFA Exam Workshops, or on the remote support option.

Good Luck!

Paul Davis, Dip. PFS, Futuretrend Tutor.

IFS DipFA Coursework (Due 01/03/13)

IFS DipFA Coursework (Due 01/03/13)

Some pointers…

The Coursework due for the beginning of March has taken a topical regulatory issue from the last couple of years, that is, the assessment of risk that involved in saving and investing, and the assessment of the level of risk a client is able or chooses to take.

As such, there is actually a wide range of material out there for enterprising students to discover and read.  This is an important area for any existing or aspiring Investment Adviser, and thus the IFS have provided students with a highly relevant topic for this submission.

This blog summarises some of the key background research students will need to consider for this Coursework, and some pointers about specific parts of the IFS DipFA Study Folders that students may find useful to review and refresh themselves of in addition to other study – this blog is not a comprehensive guide to the Coursework but should get you started.

In preparation for one of our courses, some specific areas to consider for further study are;

  • Investments Topic 7 on Risk
  • Investment Topic 13 on Assessing Performance
  • Investments Topic 14 on Advice

 

Additionally, the FSA have issued guidance on this subject in the last couple of years and students would do well to be aware of the Regulators thinking in this area.

 

This is most definitely not a comprehensive list, and of course don’t forget, the Coursework submitted must be a comprehensive and concise piece of work that fully covers this area.  There are also the three additional questions to cover.

Further support can be found by booking attendance at one of Futuretrend’s DipFA courses, or on the remote support option.

Paul Davis, Dip. PFS, Futuretrend Tutor.

Some pointers for IFS DipFA Exam (14/02/13)

IFS DipFA Exam (date 14/02/13)

Some pointers…

The Fact Find presents us with a scenario for a Mr Teague.  As usual, the IFS Exam Fact Find details a client scenario that stretches the imagination…the client is 28 years old with a child to provide for and yet has somehow managed to accumulate some £129,000 in liquid assets in his own name!

However, the scenario is of course not necessarily meant to be representative of real life, it is actually there to test your knowledge, and crucially, the application of that knowledge to the client’s circumstances and the suitability of your advice.  So, as usual, let’s not get hung up over how realistic or not the scenario is.

This blog summarises some of the key issues students will need to consider for this exam, and some pointers about specific parts of the IFS DipFA Study Folders that students may find useful to review and refresh themselves of in addition to other study – this blog is not a comprehensive guide to the exam but should get you started.

  • In this scenario, the client has exposure to income tax and national insurance as both an employee and as a self employed freelancer.  A solid understanding of the rules relating to Income Tax and National Insurance is essential

Anyone not fully clued up on these basics for both employed and self employed clients should immediately head to the IFS Study Folders (issued by the IFS when they started the DipFA course), and look up Topic 2 and Topic 3 in the Taxation folder.

Additionally, in preparation for one of our courses, some specific areas to consider for further study are;

  • Investments including Investment (Stocks & Shares) ISA accounts see Investment Topics 12.1 for ISAs; and 10.2 for Unit Trusts as well as 11.2 for With Profits Investments
  • Student Loan repayments and liabilities
  • Enterprise Investment Schemes see Investments 12.5
  • Warrants see Investment Topic 5.1

This is most definitely not a comprehensive list, and of course don’t forget, anything in the syllabus can be considered relevant for the exam.  The amendments on the day can cover any issue covered in the Study Folders, or related to these areas.  Students would be well advised to at least review the sections of the Study Folders for areas of advice they are not familiar with prior to the exam itself.

Further support can be found by booking attendance at one of Futuretrend’s DipFA Factfind Course, or on the remote support option.

Paul Davis, Dip. PFS, Futuretrend Tutor.

Some pointers for IFS DipFA Exam (date 17/01/13)

IFS DipFA Exam (date 17/01/13)

Some pointers…

The Fact Find presents us with a scenario for a Mr & Mrs Barlow.  As usual, the IFS Exam Fact Find details a client scenario most practising advisers would find hard to recognise…a young family with significant equity, decent liquid assets, and a high income to boot!  Most advisers can only dream of having working clients able to afford to pay regular premiums of £1,000 per month gross into their personal pension (Mr Barlow)!

However, the scenario is of course not necessarily meant to be representative of real life, it is actually there to test your knowledge, and crucially, the application of that knowledge to the client’s circumstances and the suitability of your advice.  So, as usual, let’s not get hung up over how realistic or not the scenario is.

This blog summarises some of the key issues students will need to consider for this exam, and some pointers about specific parts of the IFS DipFA Study Folders that students may find useful to review and refresh themselves of in addition to other study – this blog is not a comprehensive guide to the exam but should get you started.

In this scenario, students of course need to understand the basics around taxation – Income Tax, National Insurance, and Capital Gains Tax.  Anyone not fully clued up on these basics for both employed and self employed clients should immediately head to the IFS Study Folders (issued by the IFS when they started the DipFA course), and look up Topic 2 and Topic 3 in the Taxation folder.

Additionally, in preparation for one of our courses, some specific areas to consider for further study are;

  • Defined Benefit (final salary) schemes, in Retirement Topic 5.3.2
  • Tax efficient saving and investing, in Investments Topic 12
  • Interest Only Mortgages, can be found in Section 10 of the CEMAP Module 2 Revision Notes (available from the IFS website under your log in)
  • Protection Planning, in Protection Topic 9
  • Clients attitude to Risk, in Investments Topic 14.2.1
  • Retirement Planning Topic 7

This is most definitely not a comprehensive list, and of course don’t forget, anything in the syllabus can be considered relevant for the exam.  The amendments on the day can cover any issue covered in the Study Folders, or related to these areas.  Students would be well advised to at least review the sections of the Study Folders for areas of advice they are not familiar with prior to the exam itself.

Further support can be found by booking attendance at one of Futuretrend’s DipFA Factfind courses, or on the remote support option.

Paul Davis, Dip. PFS, Futuretrend Tutor.

Let’s Love Learning Again

The other day I was filling up the ‘quality family time’ meter by reading a story to my young niece, it was The Man by Raymond Briggs, one of my childhood favourites. There is one particular line in the story where one character says to the other “You stick to your education boy. There’s nothing worse than being uneducated… you miss so much in life… it’s like only being half alive.”

For some reason later that night I found myself pondering upon that line. I am far from the smartest person around but I have been through the English school system so I guess I’m somewhat educated. I was trying to imagine what it would be like if I couldn’t read or write, everything I would miss out on, now I would have to heavily rely upon the people around & mostly how trapped I would feel.

Unfortunately the classic saying ‘You learn something new every day’ doesn’t ring true for most of us. Too many of us take our ability to learn for advantage, only using it to learn what ‘so & so’ did in our favourite soap or to learn of the latest football results & gossip.
Learning new things can always be beneficial & in most cases will give you a great sense of achievement, think about it;
– When babies first learn how to walk they try to explore as many places as possible as they are no longer confined to the cradle (not that many people use cradles these days, but you know what I mean).
– When toddlers first learn to talk, they want to talk all the time, because their new communication method is a vast improvement from their old one of ‘cry or smile’.
– When people learn how to drive they tend to find that they can fit a lot more into a day purely because their travel time has been vastly reduced (depending on traffic of course) & in many occasions it opens up a lot more opportunities.

Car On Rd

For example you can learn InDesign to create personal birthday cards using your own designs to give to your family & friends. This will be a lot more impressive than buying a ready-made card & will no doubt mean a lot more to the recipient. So whatever the subject may be just get out there & love learning again.

Family enjoying a birthday card.

SEO Tip

Google are intent on making the web faster.

The speed your page loads has become an important part of their ranking criteria. So it is a good idea to optimise your site as best as you possibly can.

Key things to concentrate on will be optimising images, minimising the amount of JavaScript, HTML & CSS

You can test your web page’s speed using Googles free page speed analyser here: https://developers.google.com/speed/pagespeed/insights

Ultimately, you should be aiming for the feedback after the test to say ” this page already follows these best practices. Good job!”

If your not getting this result you may want to consider our web design courses which will be of great help.  If you need help with SEO one of our senior consultants can provide you a customised 1-2-1 SEO  course.

It’s been quite a while!

Yes. It’s been a while since our last blog.
This always happens at this time of the year.
The new academic year means new syllabuses.
New courses added to the portfolio.
New material to be written.
New trainers to induct.
And so we have had our hands completely full.
Pressure is beginning to ease so you can expect that normal blogging duty will resume soon.

New things to look out for…

CeMAP 2012/13 Academic year material now completed. So for those looking to do CeMAP distance learning can rest assured we will only be sending them current material.

DipFA Coursework and FactFind Training has been going very well. We’ve been closely monitoring the success rates of our students and can only recollect a few that have not passed! We have our new tutor , Paul, to thank for that! He really cares about the students and provides them with a lot of aftercare support. The rave reviews he has been getting are extremely well deserved.

Stocks, Shares and Investments courses and our Day Trading Forex programme has been running smoothly under the management of Umar. He has brought a very practical slant to the courses and his post course mentoring is just first class. It’s no wonder people are queueing up to join his classes.

We’ve also been working hard on a Business Analysis course which is scheduled to kick off October 28th. For this we have recruited the services of a very senior Business Analyst at Amazon. We get so many Software Testing Analysts looking for a career progression route…and for most – this is it!

Our Software Testing Essentials course has had some new additions to it. We’ve added an extra day on to the course thereby incorporating Test automation into the programme.

We now have beginners to advanced WordPress courses ranging from the basics (using WordPress.com) to intermediate and advanced levels using wordpress.org and all the benefits of flexibility to looking at how to build your own themes and understanding the php code that allows you to customise your wordpress site even more.

We are also trialling the ACA qualification for those looking to gain Adobe accreditation in either Photoshop or Dreamweaver.
A goal for the Adobe Certified Associate certification is to address the real world, entry-level skill expectations for web communication, rich media communication, and visual communication.

This certification is a credential that validates entry-level skills needed to plan, design, build, and maintain effective communications by using different forms of digital media.

The qualification is open to anyone who takes our Adobe Photoshop Next Step Course and Adobe Dreamweaver Next Step course.

So as you can see there’s lot’s to look forward to at Futuretrend this academic year.

Free IT Classes for beginners in Enfield

Free ICT Classes in Enfield

If you are based in Enfield and know someone that could do with getting to grips with ICT then let them know about this exciting opportunity. Free ICT classes for beginners. This will be taking place in the libraries over August 2012.

Tthe sessions are for four weeks.

These are the dates.

Ridge Library
Tuesday 7th August 9.15-11.15am Inci Mehmet

John Jackson
Tuesday 7th August 4.30- 6.30pm Inci

Bullsmoor Library
Thursday 9th August 9.30 -11.30am Inci

Thursday 9th August
Palmers Green Library 9-11 am Ann Byrne

interested?

Contact:

Elina Kumpina
Curriculum and Quality Co-ordinator
Enfield Community Learning Service
Enfield Council
1st Floor Marsh House
500 Montagu Road
Edmonton
N9 0UR

Tel: 020 8379 3861
Mobile: 07931911935
Email: elina.kumpina@enfield.gov.uk