Tag Archives: cemap qualification

IFS 2016/17 CeMAP Syllabus update delayed

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The IFS University College have just informed us that the Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice (CeMAP®) examination will change on the 1 December 2016, with the new study material for the 2016/17 examination being released on 17 October 2016.

 

“It is usual for ifs­­ ­University College to change the examination on 1 September each year however this year due to our company change of name and other changes to the format of the study material, this date has moved to 1 December 2016.”

This gives students studying the current 2015/16 syllabus a lot longer to prepare themselves  and hopefully there won’t be the typical  lack of exam spaces in July/August.

CeMAP questions from our virtual learning zone (part 4)

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Every month we go through our CeMAP forums at http://www.cemap123.co.uk (which our students have access to as part of their CeMAP Training programme) to see what interesting queries have been cemap discussionposted.

This months CeMAP query is very similar to other queries regarding Share Dividends. As it seems to be a subject that confuses many students we’ve decided to highlight it again.

Haiders Question:

i came across this following question, which i didn’t know how to do the working out for:

Will received a cheque for £300 in respect of share dividends. What was the gross amount upon which this payment was based?

Also if this question was written differently e.g. persons who are in a different tax band etc.. how would it be answered, the working out and how to work out how much tax needs to be paid and also if tax was already paid what was the original amount of dividends gross.

Does it make any difference if person is a tax payer or not? and what percentages and how is it worked out how much each person pays depending on if they are BRT, HRT or ART or even non-tax payer.

David’s answer:

Good morning Haidar,

Answer to your query is quite straight forward.

As you are probably aware, dividends are paid net of the 10% dividend tax.

Therefore as the client has received £300 dividend, this represents 90% of the dividend (because the tax has already been deducted)

Therefore divide by 90 x 100 = 333.33 – or even easier divide by 0.9. This calculation then gives the gross amount of the dividend.

Taxation:

If the client is a BRT, there is no further tax liability

If the client is a HRT, then they have to pay an additional amount of tax of 22.5% based on the GROSS dividend (this is why we need to know how to calculate the gross amount) – so they are paying 32.5% in total. 333.33 x 22.5% = £75.00. This makes the total tax due on a £300 dividend of 108.33 (75.00 + 33.33). The answer to how much extra tax is due (should you get the question) would be £75. The answer to how much tax is due in TOTAL would be 108.33

If the client is an ART then its 27.5% and 37.5%. So 333.33 x 27.5% = 91.66. Total tax due would be 91.66 + 33.33 = £125

I hope this answers your query. Should you need any further explanation please let us know

Regards

 David Airs (Futuretrend CeMAP Tutor)

CeMAP questions from our virtual learning zone (part 3)

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Every month we go through our CeMAP forums at http://www.cemap123.co.uk (which our students have access to as part of their CeMAP Training programme) to see what interesting queries have been dziners-org-discussionposted.

Here is this months CeMAP query from Daniel A:

Question:

I’m baffled by how  share dividends work. For instance:
Will has received a cheque for £300 in respect of share dividends.

What was the gross amount upon which this payment was based?

Why is the answer £333.33?

Answer:

This about ‘grossing up’. A dividend is always paid net of 10% tax. As £300 was received (net), then we need to gross it up i.e. divide by 0.9. 300/0.9 = 333.33, hence 100%.

Hope this clarifies it. Any other problems, don’t hesitate to ask

David A – Futuretrend CeMAP Trainer

CeMAP questions from our virtual learning zone (Item 2)

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Every month we go through our CeMAP forums at http://www.cemap123.co.uk (which our students have access to as part of their CeMAP Training programme) to see what interesting queries have been dziners-org-discussionposted.

Here is this months CeMAP query from Dave S:

Question:
Hello,
Can anyone please explain top slicing in plain English, perhaps with an example of how it would be calculated in a real life situation?

Dave

 

Hi Dave

Top slicing – The good news is that for CeMap you won’t be required to work out top slicing – it can be too complicated !!!

Essentially, with an Investment Bond, whereas one would think that any gain from the Bond would be subject to Capital Gains tax, it is in fact subject to income Tax!! The capital gain is calculated and then divided by the number of years that you have held the Bond – this is then added to your income over the preceding years. Too complicated – don’t need to know it – just remember that any gain is subject to income tax and not CGT.

Hope this helps

David Airs
CeMAP Trainer

Re: Top slicing
by Dave S

That’s a relief! Thank you David.

cemap questions from our virtual learning zone

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Every month we go through our CeMAP forums at http://www.cemap123.co.uk (which our students have access to as part of their CeMAP Training programme) to see what interesting queries have been dziners-org-discussionposted.

Here is this months CeMAP query from Holly D:

Question:

When I booked my exams through IFS, you have the option of registering for CeMAP England/Wales or CeMAP Scotland.  In my text book there are still references to Scottish legislation, does that mean we may still be examined on it? I thought that was the idea of choosing the English/Welsh version so you aren’t examined on Scottish Regs

Answer:

HI Holly

Totally ignore the Scottish stuff. If you do CeMap under English and Welsh law then you can do mortgages in Scotland, believe it or not, not vice versa!

David Airs – CeMAP trainer

What to Look for in a Mortgage Advisor

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The purchase of a buying a new house?home represents, by far, the largest single investment that most of us make during our lifetimes. Most of us, similarly, require a mortgage loan in order to make that purchase, and the importance of accurate, impartial mortgage advice cannot, therefore, be underestimated. Individual mortgage brokers, or the companies that they represent, must be authorised by – and therefore bound by the rules and regulations of – the Financial Services Authority (FSA). They must, for example, provide you with so-called `Keyfacts` documents, which clearly illustrate the main points of any service or product that they may offer you.

Types of Mortgage Advisors

Independent mortgage advisors are divided into two categories,  `Independent Mortgage Advisor`and Tied Mortgage Advisor`. These descriptions are, unfortunately, rather similar so, for clarification, the former offers independent advice on the whole of the market, including protection insurance; this can be useful if you need advice on other products relevant to your property purchase. A Tied Mortgage Advisor, on the other hand, offers advice on mortgage products but is  limited in the number of lenders, and products that they can offer. Any such affiliations should be made clear to you in the `Keyfacts` document relating to mortgage services, so make sure that you are aware of the range of products on offer.

Mortgage advice, inevitably, costs money, but there a number of different ways in which you can pay a mortgage advisor, or broker. for example, most will  offer you option of paying him, or her, by fee, rather than commission, in order to avoid bias on his, or her, part towards one mortgage product over another. Commission – a fee paid by a lender in return for selling a specific product – is, of course, another alternative, and a combination of part fee, part fee commission, may also be possible.

Qualifications & Experience

Mortgage advisors should be suitably qualified, in the eyes of the FSA, which means that they should have undertaken recognised qualifications, such as the `Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice` (CeMAP® ) and the `Certificate and Diploma in Financial Planning`, from the `Chartered Insurance Institute` (CII), before being allowed to offer advice. If you need to check the qualifications or a mortgage advisor – and the advice that he, or she, is authorised to offer – the FSA operate a consumer telephone helpline.

In addition to `paper` qualifications, experience in the industry – for example, counselling, or advising, individual consumers on their own, specific, financial needs – is also important. Don`t be afraid to ask an advisor for whom, or for how long, he, or she, has worked in the industry, and how his, or her, experience relates to his, or her, current job. Any mortgage advisor worth their salt will happily discuss these details with you, as well as leading you through the myriad of fixed rate, variable rate and flexible mortgage products available.

Studying CeMAP solo? Here are some questions you need to ask yourself

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So you’ve started out on a new career path and if you get through this first hurdle (CeMAP) then it would be the beginning of a bright future as a mortgage advisor. Yes, times may be hard at the moment but it’s a sector that will see brighter days again. After all, we are a nation of homeowners aren’t we? The desire for owning property is never going away and once the lending criteria eases up or the economy gets better….you’ll be the one smiling.

cemap studies

Lots of cemap books to study

However, CeMAP qualification stands in your way and you’ve got to crack this first. It would really be too embarrassing to tell your family, friends, and colleagues that you failed your CeMAP certification exam.

If you add up your investment in time, money and emotion, it doesn’t make sense to take the exam with any lingering doubts. You need to take the exam with confidence and be ready to pass!

Be honest and ask yourself these questions.

Have you really put in enough study time?

When you were studying did you really “get it” or were you just turning pages?

Do you know your weakest area in the CeMAP syllabus?

Are you consistently scoring over 70% in each unit?

Do you know the answers to the questions before you even see the answers?
Are you guessing at the right answer a lot?

Do you know how it feels to take the actual CeMAP exam?

Are you willing to keep on paying extra to retake the exam?

Are you confident that you will pass on your first try?

If you answered NO to at least one of the questions above, then you may need some help to get you over the line.  It can be very frustrating studying CeMAP on your own. The subject matter is not the most riveting. It helps when you have experienced CeMAP tutors that can help you make imaginative connections to the material.  It’s even better when you have a study group for motivation, support and of course to share your success with!