Program Overview

This one-year post-grad program is designed for university and college graduates looking for a career in financial services. You'll learn about personal financial management, tax and retirement planning, insurance, investment and estate planning. You’ll also study the importance of people skills - critical for working with clients, evaluating their needs and offering financial advice.

Program Details

Program Code
FSP1
Credential:
Ontario College Graduate Certificate
Duration
30 weeks
Start Dates
Locations
Availability

Full Time Offerings

2024 January
London
Open
2024 September
London
Open
2024 September
Fully Online
Open
2025 January
London
Open
2023 September
London
Closed
2023 September
Fully Online
Closed

Part Time Offerings

2024 January
Fully Online
Open
2024 September
Fully Online
Open
2025 January
Fully Online
Open
2023 September
Fully Online
Closed
Start Dates
Locations
Availability

Full Time Offerings

2024 September
London
Open
2025 January
London
Open
2023 September
London
Closed
2024 January
London
Closed

Your Learning Experience

Professional Financial Services is a one-year Ontario College Graduate Certificate program designed to leverage a university or college credential in any discipline by providing a fast track to a career as a professional financial planner. An intensive curriculum prepares graduates to provide clients with professional advice to build wealth and ensure financial security through setting goals, managing finances, minimizing tax, managing life's risks, and building investment portfolios, as well as customer relations and providing products to clients. This program offers a part-time version.

 

The program will also provide the opportunity to complete educational components of industry designations including:

 

You’ll also complete the Canadian Securities Course (CSC) and Life License Qualification Program (LLQP) courses related to industry licensing.

 

Career Information ​​​​​​

Graduates of Fanshawe’s Professional Financial Services program are prepared to enter the financial services sector in a variety of fields, including customer service, banking, wealth management, life insurance, investments and credit financial planning. Graduates are self-motivated, goal-oriented and are suited to a variety of junior- to intermediate-level positions, including:

  • sales representative
  • customer service supervisor
  • call centre supervisor
  • loan officer
  • mortgage specialist
  • bank supervisor
  • insurance advisor
  • investment advisor
  • tax advisor
  • credit counsellor
  • financial planner
  • wealth manager
  • retirement planners
  • estate planner
  • securities dealer

 

Did you know Fanshawe consistently ranks high in graduate employment rates among large colleges in Ontario? 

Here are some examples of career opportunities for graduates of Fanshawe’s Professional Financial Services program:

Client Associate 

Help manage portfolios and develop new business while engaging with private clients to offer support, uncover business opportunities and proactively improve the client experience.

Financial Advisor

Provide personalized financial advice to clients to assist with important financial decisions.

Financial Planning Associate

Start your career in the financial services sector by providing administrative support to financial planners and their clients.

Financial Planner

Develop comprehensive financial plans to help clients achieve their long-term financial goals.

 

Learning Outcomes

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

  1. Evaluate the Canadian financial services industry, capital markets efficiency, regulatory issues and global integration.
  2. Evaluate Canadian statute law as it applies to the formulation of financial planning strategy.
  3. Analyse client information to formulate financial planning strategies.
  4. Develop a financial services business plan to build long term relationships, maintain efficient client communication and ensure accurate client records management.
  5. Analyse compliance cases to reconcile planner advice and conduct, against accepted industry conduct and practice standards that reflect the industry code of ethics.
  6. Analyse customer credit capacity and select loan instruments to meet customer needs.
  7. Evaluate client risk tolerance, net worth and wealth creation potential to select appropriate investments most likely to achieve client goals and objectives.
  8. Evaluate financial products and recommend asset allocation strategies in a constantly changing economic and political environment.
  9. Analyse client or business risk management needs and recommend appropriate insurance product strategies.
  10. Plan tax minimization strategies for clients.
  11. Evaluate client estate and personal care needs in order to recommend strategies to ensure efficient estate distribution and continuity of personal care.
  12. Create a comprehensive financial plan.

 

Program Coordinator:

Brad Bishop, MBA, CFP, CIM

 

Academic Advisor:
Ingrid Amezquita Montoya

Courses

Level 1
Take all of the following Mandatory Courses:
FINA-6012Canadian Securities 14
Canadian residents wishing to sell securities or advise clients on securities must be licensed and the Canadian Securities Course is the first step toward obtaining a license. FINA-6012 has the same content as Volume I of the Canadian Securities Course and covers the Canadian economy and investment marketplace, fixed income securities, equity securities, managed products, structured products, derivatives and corporations and their financial statements.
FINA-6026Professional Financial Planning4
This course looks at the financial planning profession and role of a financial planner working with clients to make financial decisions and work towards achieving their financial goals. Aspects of measuring personal financial situation, goal-setting. decision-making process, and communication and trust are considered.
INSR-6001Insurance Planning4
This course is a preparatory course for provincial licensing requirements for those who wish to sell life insurance and other life insurance products in Ontario. Topics discussed in this course include individual and group life insurance, disability insurance, insurance investment products, underwriting and claims processes, the risk management process and legal and professional standards.
FINA-6010Financial Business Development3
This course covers the critical issues of building, growing and managing a financial services business. Topics include Emotional Intelligence Quotient and your career, client development and service, marketing to clients, and the development of a framework for an individual business plan, specific to you and your future.
FINA-6008Professional Retirement Planning3
This course provides a detailed look at the many sources of retirement income available to Canadians and how individuals can plan for their retirement, considering income needs, alternative savings/retirement income vehicles and taxation issues. The course discusses how the financial planner can provide assistance to clients in retirement planning.
FINA-6003Consumer Credit3
This course provides students with an in-depth knowledge of consumer and mortgage lending from a lender's perspective. Topics include: the types of credit available to match consumers' needs, the application and assessment process, investigation, documentation and collection methods.
View all courses

Tuition Summary

London

Canadian Costs
$3,505.32
Total Cost of Program
International Costs
$15,688.70
Total Cost of Program

Online

Canadian Costs
$3,237.46
Total Cost of Program

*Total program costs are approximate, subject to change and do not include the health and dental plan fee, bus pass fee or program general expenses.

 

Contact/Questions