Exchange and CII combine to help IFA compliance

Under the terms of the agreement, The Exchange will give intermediaries quick and easy access to ed.LEARN and financial ASSESS, the CII’s online training and competency systems, via its market-leading Exweb portal.

ed.LEARN provides those studying for CII qualifications with access to the market's leading range of financial services and insurance revision material. It covers the Financial Planning Certificate (FPC), Advanced Financial Planning Certificate (AFPC) and Mortgage Advice Qualification (MAQ) and contains fully-interactive learning and testing courseware to enhance the user experience and boost the potential for exam success.

financial ASSESS is a comprehensive range of technical training and assessment tools which keep staff up-to-date with regulatory, legislative and market changes. It enables intermediaries to demonstrate compliance with the regulator’s training and competence rules while, at the same time, enhancing their skill-set and increasing the potential for improved performance. Developed by the CII in partnership with the Life Insurance Association (LIA) and Society of Financial Advisers (SOFA), it is the industry solution for the intermediary market.

This deal demonstrates The Exchange’s commitment to ensure that Exweb remains at the forefront of the financial services industry. Further value-added services will be introduced throughout 2004 to complement the core product offering of comparative quotation and new business services.

David Child, chief operating officer at The Exchange, said:

“IFAs are operating in a complex and challenging compliance environment and it is vital that they have access to the right support services to survive this period of regulatory change. The CII’s expertise in higher standards of competence strengthens Exweb’s support services while The Exchange’s distribution capabilities will see ed.LEARN and ed.ASSESS cast widely across the IFA community.”

Keith Trower, director corporate relations at the CII, said:

“In a fully-regulated market, firms and individuals need cost-effective solutions that support the drive to maintain and enhance levels of competency and assist compliance activity. We designed ed.LEARN and financial ASSESS as comprehensive and powerful systems that can help firms meet their regulatory obligations while improving their own performance. Our partnership with The Exchange will play an important role in driving up standards across the industry. “