Category Archives: General Musings

Some helpful info for those studying DipFA FSRE

The summary attached below links the Topics, i.e. chapters, in the IFS FSRE manual with the learning outcomes, and also identifies the potential marking available for that learning outcome.

The way to understand this is that the Learning Outcomes represent the syllabus issued by the FCA, and that is what is tested, not the study manuals!

Obviously all students need to take an holistic approach to the exam; however in terms of prioritising your study and exam technique, the ‘big hitters’ are;

  • Learning Outcome 5 (Topic 13/14)
  • Learning Outcome 6 (Topic 15/16)
  • Learning Outcome 7 (Topic 17/18).
  • Learning Outcome 9, 10,11 (Topic 21/22).

I hope this information helps you prepare for your DipFA FSRE.  You could also consider our 5 day DipFA FSRE Training course if you need further support.

FSRE Learning Outcomes and Topics List

 

 

IFS DipFA Coursework (Due 30/01/15)

IFS DipFA Coursework (Due 30/01/15)

Some pointers…

The IFS Coursework consists mainly of a 4,000 word essay.  The essay is marked according to QCF level 4 relevant academic standards (equivalent to the first year of a degree course).  As part of this, a bibliography meeting the required academic format is mandatory.  There are also three additional short questions on other topics.

The Coursework due for the end of January 2015 focuses on employee benefits.  You are writing a briefing for a company that is considering introducing more employee benefits.

Your essay could consider what such benefits are, the pros and cons of such benefits, and the tax treatment of such.

In preparation for one of our courses, the IFS Study Folders contain an excellent starting point for research on why and how the UK taxation regime operates, plus technical guidance and knowledge around specific potential benefits.  Further reading and research is also required as part of this assignment.

It is essential for students to understand the referencing and bibliography requirements, and focus on a solid and thought-out structure.

Further support can be found by booking attendance at the Lewis Davis Course on 5th December in Central London; or via the Futuretrend Distance Learning Course.

Paul Davis, BA (Hons), Cert Mgmt, Dip. PFS, Futuretrend Tutor.

IFS DipFA Coursework (Due 31/10/14)

IFS DipFA Coursework (Due 31/10/14)

Some pointers…

The IFS Coursework consists mainly of a 4,000 word essay.
The essay is marked according to
QCF level 4 relevant academic standards (equivalent to the first year of a degree course).  As part of this, a bibliography meeting the required academic format is mandatory.  There are also three additional short questions on other topics.

The Coursework due for the end of October focuses on the use of discretionary fund management, covering the types of investment available, the tax treatment of such investments, how such investments can be beneficial or inadvisable for clients, specific compliance issues, and the potential for such investment by High Net Worth clients.

As investment into discretionary services appears to be becoming more popular, this is an important area, and thus the IFS have provided students with a relevant topic for this submission.

In preparation for one of our courses, the IFS Study Folders contain an excellent starting point for research on why and how the UK taxation regime operates, and the effects on higher earners.  By combining this information with relevant product and investment theory knowledge that shows the reader the pros and cons of such investments, students will make a start to providing a well researched essay.  Further reading and research is also required as part of this assignment.

It is essential for students to understand the referencing and bibliography requirements, and focus on a solid and thought-out structure.

Further support can be found by booking attendance at one of Futuretrend’s DipFA courses, either via the remote support option  or one-to-one tuition.

Paul Davis, BA (Hons), Cert Mgmt, Dip. PFS, Futuretrend Tutor.

Win a FREE Training course at Futuretrend

 Do you fancy winning  a FREE Training course at Futuretrend?

 Be one of Five lucky winners to win a FREE instructor-led training course of your choice.
Simply enter by visiting our Special offers page on the main Futuretrend website.

Courses available:

Adobe Dreamweaver: Introduction, Adobe Dreamweaver : Intermediate, Adobe Photoshop: Introduction, Adobe Photoshop Intermediate, Adobe Illustrator: Introduction, Adobe InDesign: Introduction, HTML & CSS, WordPress Essentials, HTML5 & CSS3, PHP & MySQL,CeMAP 1, CeMAP 2 & 3

How to enter:

  1. First See the selected course list to identify which course you would like to win.
  2. Next, use the Widget to make your entry. You will be asked which course you would most like to win.
  3. You can also gain additional entries to the competition by tweeting, liking on Facebook etc

Closing date: 12.am on Friday 12th July 2013

Winner announced: 5pm Monday 15th July 2013

Enter the competition here!

Entry into the competition is free and you can earn bonus entries by liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter too.

5 winners will be selected at random. Good luck!

Reasons to learn adobe Illustrator

As 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..

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.

What’s going on here at FutureTrend Training Academy

We are Educating People on Making Money with Dividends

          part of our Stocks, Shares and Investments Training 
 

One of the ways you make money with stocks is by investing in companies that pay dividends.

Dividends are profits the company distributes to shareholders. The companies don’t do this out of the kindness of their hearts – this is what a company is all about; making money for the owners. Dividends usually don’t represent all of a company’s profits. The company retains some portion for future use – in acquisitions or to retire debt, for example.

Most companies pay dividends in the form of cash, although you may hear of occasions when a company uses stock instead. Many investors are attracted to stocks with a good history of paying dividends.

The company’s board of directors sets the dividend at a quarterly meeting. It is important to note that they are under no obligation to pay a dividend. If the company is hurting financially or the board is concerned about future prospects, it can forego the dividend.

The board sets the dividend rate at a per share basis. For example, the board may declare a quarterly dividend of $0.50 per share. This means if you own 100 shares of stock, you will get a check for $50 for that quarter.

Dividends come is two types: fixed and variable. Dividends that pay at a fixed rate go to owners of preferred stock, while variable dividends go to common stock holders.

Dividends offer investors another way to make money, especially if your goal is current income. Many investors find that buying and holding companies with a good history of paying dividends makes good sense for financial goals.

If you would like to learn more in detail then sign up for our new Stock, Shares & Investments course today. Course starts on Saturday 29th March 2014 and now offers a complete practical guided training into trading Spread Betting or CFD’s

Welcome to the world of 21st century Financial Trading Technology

Most people who begin learning Forex & Commodities or Stock & Shares usually have one question on their mind: what’s the difference between trading strategies and is there a way to learn just one strategy and apply that?

While there are many reasons, today I will only touch upon a basic factor – one that is common between most individual traders. Since markets evolve from time to time, similarly circumstances also vary from trader to trader based upon his/her unique personal preferences. These different factors may be in terms of risk, time, capital, knowledge & education, experience and sometimes even technology.  While I was browsing TE, I came across a simple description of what I’m discussing here, Day Trading vs Swing Trading Click to View. These are one of few trading techniques you will learn in our course.  Hope you enjoy this!

Do not forget to click on the picture below for a future announcement….

Learn Trading Strategies and Trading SystemEveryday our students learn more and more from our advance trading courses (Forex & Commodities Trading) and gain considerable knowledge and expertise on how to trade markets systematically and consistently. The Second part of Forex and Commodities course emphasizes on trading strategies and trading systems to help establish trading rules, methodical approach, risks over rewards, technical and fundamental discipline, old-school(wall street) trading techniques and learning industries latest innovations and getting hands on experience on most advance trading technologies.

A backdrop to what I am discussing here is best illustrated in my upcoming webinar on Trading Financial Markets with 21st century style.  Many of you may or may not be aware of the phenomenon called High Frequency Trading(HFT)- for those who do not know about HFT may also be unaware of Cross Atlantic Fiber-optic cables stretching from Long Island to the UK aka ‘QuanTA‘.

HFT aka Algorithmic or Automated Trading involves the use of computer software which is instructed by a set of configurable algorithms as and when to buy and/or sell products in an electronic marketplace. Considerations can include price, quantities, timing etc. Presently Financial Markets and all its application are evolving; however the question is whether many of us in future will like these changes? Frankly, I’m still not sure myself! But I must admit I do seek its benefits and at the same time recognize it as a potential threat at the minimal capital investor. I will be demonstrating a Two-part webinar on trading GOLD & SILVER using automated trading system. I will be presenting Algorithmic based strategies that my trading system promptly captures and informs me about.  These trading alerts can be traded manually or can be automated to be executed on their own.

The World Money Show London 2012 @ Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre

Invite

Priority Code for FREE Registration: 029045
REGISTER FREE HERE

 

This is great opportunity for all our successful students who have completed their training with us here at FutureTrend to meet top industry participants and join in discussion with some of its panels speakers.

Also, dates for our upcoming November/December classes are now finalized. Please refer to FutureTrend website for Forex & Commodities and Stocks and Share course dates