Professional Financial Services
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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
2023 September
London
Open
2024 January
London
Open
Part Time Offerings
Start Dates
Locations
Availability
Full Time Offerings
2024 January
London
Open
2022 September
London
Closed
2023 January
London
Closed
2023 September
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:
- Qualified Associate Financial Planner (QAFP™)
- Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) Note: an approved degree is a requirement in 2022
- Personal Financial Planner (PFP®)
- Registered Retirement Consultant (RRC)
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:
- Evaluate the Canadian financial services industry, capital markets efficiency, regulatory issues and global integration.
- Evaluate Canadian statute law as it applies to the formulation of financial planning strategy.
- Analyse client information to formulate financial planning strategies.
- Develop a financial services business plan to build long term relationships, maintain efficient client communication and ensure accurate client records management.
- Analyse compliance cases to reconcile planner advice and conduct, against accepted industry conduct and practice standards that reflect the industry code of ethics.
- Analyse customer credit capacity and select loan instruments to meet customer needs.
- Evaluate client risk tolerance, net worth and wealth creation potential to select appropriate investments most likely to achieve client goals and objectives.
- Evaluate financial products and recommend asset allocation strategies in a constantly changing economic and political environment.
- Analyse client or business risk management needs and recommend appropriate insurance product strategies.
- Plan tax minimization strategies for clients.
- Evaluate client estate and personal care needs in order to recommend strategies to ensure efficient estate distribution and continuity of personal care.
- Create a comprehensive financial plan.
Academic School
Program Coordinator:
Brad Bishop, MBA, CFP, CIM
Academic Advisor:
Ingrid Amezquita Montoya
Admission Requirements
A Two- or Three-Year College Diploma, or a Degree
(Note: minimum 'C+' average or cumulative 2.5 GPA)
OR
Acceptable combination of related work
experience and post-secondary education as judged by the
College*
OR
Five years of work experience in the Financial Services Industry as
judged by the College to be equivalent*
Note:
- *Applicants may be required to submit a resume and cover letter that includes details of work experience.
English Language Requirements
English Language Requirements
| Test | Score |
|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT | 88 |
| IELTS Academic | Overall score of 6.5 with no score less than 6.0 in any of the four bands |
| CAEL | Overall score of 70 with no score less than 60 in any of the four bands |
| PTE Academic | 59 |
| Cambridge English | Overall score of 176 with no language skill less than 169 |
| ESL4/GAP5 | Minimum grade of 80% in Level 9, 75% in Level 10 |
| Duolingo | Overall score of 115, with no score lower than 95 |
Recommended Academic Preparation
Recommended Academic Preparation
It is highly recommended that students be proficient in the following areas before entry into the program:- Mathematics
- Business Communication
- Computer applications, particularly Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint
Advanced Standing
Advanced Standing
- Applicants may apply for advanced standing on the basis of previous academic achievement at another institution and/or Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR). Advanced standing qualifies the applicant for direct entry to a second or higher level of the program.
Applicant Selection Criteria
Applicant Selection Criteria
Where the number of eligible applicants exceeds the available spaces in the program, the Applicant Selection Criteria will be:
- Preference for Permanent Residents of Ontario
- Receipt of Application by February 1st (After this date, Fanshawe College will consider applicants on a first-come, first-served basis until the program is full)
- Achievement in the Admission Requirements
Courses
| Level 1 | ||||
| Take all of the following Mandatory Courses: | ||||
| FINA-6012 | Canadian Securities 1 | 4 | ||
| 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-6026 | Professional Financial Planning | 4 | ||
| 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-6001 | Insurance Planning | 4 | ||
| 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-6010 | Financial Business Development | 3 | ||
| 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-6008 | Professional Retirement Planning | 3 | ||
| 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-6003 | Consumer Credit | 3 | ||
| 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. | ||||
Tuition Summary
London
Online
*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.