Introduction

RSC has successfully provided training programs since 2000, offering blended learning programs, skills programs and the development of qualifications.

We offer all of our programs ONLINE with only the summative exam for formal qualifications completed under exam conditions.

We have successfully provided formal qualifications to financial advisers and have achieved a 100% INSETA verification record, since 2010.

We have had a long relationship with the FPI, in that our company is focused on the development of financial advisers and planners, we have recently become an accredited CPD training provider with them.

Our main focus is on developing professional financial advisers to eventually become financial planners.

We believe we are well-paced to provide programs and solutions that are tailored to meet the specific skills development needs of our learners while being able to assist financial service providers to achieve their development, compliance and business goals.

The new Occupational Certificate: Financial Advisers at level 6 is our next step in the pathway to becoming a professional financial adviser and eventually planner

RSC Blended Learning Approach

RSC is accredited to provide blended learning by INSETA, and our programs are a blend of the following elements which ensure our learners develop competence in the outcomes of the various programs.

Our Blended Learning programs include:

• RPL Recognition of prior learning to ascertain existing levels of competence and to never retrain when it is not required.
• Self-study and focused reading
• Research to develop a context for the knowledge being gained through self-study and reading.
• Online Lectures to provide practical application of these skills and knowledge gained in practical exercises, case studies and assignments. These are usually done using online video lectures but classroom facilitated workshops can be provided.
• Practical application of the skills, knowledge and attitudes, or competencies learned, and to apply these in a safe environment using exercises, practice and skills sessions, assignments and always making use of realistic case study scenarios.
• Explore the workplace application of these competencies in the real world environment using case studies and exercises which depend on provided case studies for those learners who are not yet allowed to practice on real clients, use of naturally occurring evidence from the workplace for learners who do interact with clients, under supervision, or to complete observation exercises of their mentors, competent advisers or practitioners in the workplace.
• Online supported learning using MS Teams, YouTube for lecture videos, E-books, OneDrive for submission of electronic assignments and support documents from their research.
• Group discussions online using MS Teams
• Assessment of the work done during the formative assessment process which includes assessment of:
  • Knowledge and basic understanding
  • Research is done, relevance and comments on findings
  • Practical assignments to apply knowledge and skills learned
  • Workplace assignments to investigate application in the workplace.
• Feedback on the above is provided by MS teams meetings, email and reports provided through the OneDrive system.
• Final integrated summative assessment on all of the above outcomes, the exit levels outcomes and critical cross-field outcomes for the skills programs or qualifications completed through an invigilated, closed books examination.
• External Integrated Summative Assessment – learners who are found competent in the FISA above will be released to write this external exam run by INSETA as the AQP for the QCTO, who will issue your occupational certificate.

For Learners with existing NC Wealth Management for 136 credits through RSC which will be subject to RPL due to this qualification when completing the occupational qualification. This will reduce the amount of work and the cost for the full qualification.

 

This new Level 6 occupational certificate is controlled by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) using Insurance Sector Education and Training Authority (INSETA) as the Assessment Quality Partner (APQ)

These Occupational Certificates have a very specific structure, procedure and assessment process. This is designed to ensure that the program creates true competence in the required outcomes of the program.

This level 6 qualification of 515 credits is made up of 4 part qualifications:

1. OC Long Term Adviser level 5
2. OC Pensions and Employee benefits Adviser, level 5
3. OC Health Adviser, level 5
4. OC Investment Adviser, level 6

Requirements to do this program

This level 6 program is 100% online, follows the rules for Outcomes-Based Education & Training and the QCTO and requires:

• RPL Recognition of Prior Learning is available for learners with a relevant NQF 5 qualification and an acceptable score in the pre-assessment.
• Having an existing NC Wealth Management SAQA ID 57608 will allow RPL(Recognition of Prior Learning) which will reduce the time required to complete the program as they have already been found competent in the following areas:
  • Overview of the industry Economics, the Financial Services Industry and current affairs
  • Regulatory Environment
  • Risk and mitigating risk
  • Tax planning
  • Protection Planning
  • Savings and investments
  • Pensions and retirement
  • Estate Planning
  • Wealth Management

This 3-year program will be reduced to 24 months depending on the units completed on the above qualification and subject to RPL process. This will also result in a reduction in cost.

• PC or Laptop ir required to read study materials, watch video lectures and patriciate in online workshops and coaching sessions.
• Access to the internet to do the above and complete required assignments
• Access to MC Office 365 to be able to use e-mail, complete assignments using MS Word, attend online meetings using MS Teams and to Access reading material and assignments using MS OneDrive.
• Access to a financial calculator – HP 10bii / HP12 / Sharp EL 738. A smartphone or PC emulator for these calculators are available from iStore or Play Store will be accepted during the program, but an actual calculator will be required for the external examination.
• The WORKPLACE component is very important in this program so the employer must be prepared to give learners an opportunity to practice content learned in the knowledge and practical modules in the workplace with real clients or to observe qualified accredited advisers in the workplace.
• Access to opportunities to practice and observe the skills covered in this program, during the workplace component is an important requirement. This workplace requires a QCTO requirement to complete this qualification and access to the final exam will not be provided unless this is done.
• A mentor is required for the workplace component and needs to be a qualified and accredited staff member who can provide guidance, advice and mentorship during the workplace module. They would also provide the learner with options to observe real client interactions and applications in the workplace when the learner is not allowed to do so due to compliance requirements and regulations. This could be an experienced adviser or SME or the KI who is conducting the learner’s supervision.

Occupational Certificate Program Structure

The OC program and assessment process must ensure that knowledge, skills and attitudes learned in the program can be applied in the workplace, and these programs are structured as follows to ensure real “competency” is achieved:

• Knowledge and research modules to teach the basic and advanced knowledge for each module; they then learn the context of this knowledge, update the knowledge and ensure the knowledge is current by conducting research into this knowledge. The learner is assessed as competent in this foundation knowledge, understanding and context of this knowledge in a formative assessment with a minimum pass rate of 70% before moving to the next part of the program. Learners with an existing NC Wealth Management with relevant credits will be able to complete some sections through RPL. Pass mark must exceed 70% to move on to the practical assignments.
• Practical Modules to introduce the learner to the practical application of the knowledge learned in the knowledge and research module. Practical exercises and case studies in a simulated environment are used to introduce practical skills and techniques that are used in the workplace when providing advice in the various sections of the program. These are assessed during the formative assessment process and learners need to achieve at least 70% in, before moving onto the next part of the program. Learners with an existing NC Wealth Management with relevant credits will be able to complete some sections through RPL. Pass mark must exceed 70% to move on to the work assignments.
• Work Place Module is designed to create an opportunity for the learner to practice, or at least observe, the above knowledge, skills, and practical application learned in the previous two modules. This section requires a committed and involved mentor who can assess learners performance against the inhouse requirements in the workplace, and the assessor will then assess this workplace assignment and again at least 70% is required to do the FISA. As existing NC Wealth Management did not have a workplace component, learners will not be able to complete this through RPL. . Pass mark must exceed 70%.
• Formative Assessment of knowledge, practical and workplace assignments required a pass mark of 70% to be released to write the FISA.
• FISA – Practice Exam or Final Integrated Summative Assessment based on the exit level outcomes for the qualification and will be used by RSC to ascertain readiness for the final step in this process, the EISA or External Interrelated Summative Assessment. Learners found NYC will need to revisit weak areas before being allowed to write the EISA. Learners MUST achieve at least 70% in this exam to be released to write EISA.
• EISA – External Integrated Summative Assessment – INSETA is the quality assurance partner for the QCTO, and INSETA will administer this final exam which is based on the EFO for the qualification. The pass mark for this external exam and
• If you do not pass this EISA the QCTO allows ONE rewrite at the next scheduled exam, and if the learner is found NYC a second time, the candidate would be sent back to re visit the program and would only allow the candidate to write again after remedial study in knowledge, practical, workplace modules and FISA before attempting the EISA.
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For this reason, the RSC process is designed to ensure that the learner achieves the minimum standard of 70% for knowledge, before moving onto the practical module, 70% for Practical module before starting on the workplace assignment, 70% for the workplace assignment, 70% for the FISA, before we will release the learner to be a candidate for the External Integrated Assessment.

 

Program Content

This program will cover the following Knowledge Modules (KM), Practical Modules (PM) and Workplace Modules (WM), then a Final Integrated Summative Assessment (FISA) to prepare the learner to be a candidate for the External Integrated Summative (EISA) administered by INSETA as the assessment quality partner for the QCTO.

• Knowledge Modules
  • Overview of Investment Advisory and Financial Services Industry
  • Regulatory requirements for advising clients on insurance and investments
  • Health Care Benefits advisory services
  • Employee Benefits and Pensions
  • Regulatory requirements for advising clients regarding insurance and investments
  • Employee Benefits and Pensions
  • Health Care Benefits
  • Fundamentals of Investments
  • Principles of providing advice to clients regarding investments
• Practical Modules
  • Long term and wealth creation needs
  • Long term options research, analyse and conduct due diligence of investment opportunities
  • Advise clients regarding potential investment opportunities
  • Wealth creation and protection options
  • Facilitate the implementation of agreed investment decisions
  • Management, sales and marketing of CIS and investments
  • Risk Profiling
  • Calculate the present and future financial position of a client
  • Apply micro and Macroeconomic trends to evaluate the potential effect on a portfolio
  • Evaluate the performance of fund managers
  • Needs-based investment advice
  • Advice on the composition of a portfolio based on clients’ needs
  • Retirement funds and employee benefits portfolios, options and structures
  • Retirement fund structures
  • Health care benefits
  • Provide guidance on health care benefits

• Work-Place Module – using logbook and collection of evidence from the workplace.
  • Participate in the wealth creation process
  • Provide advice on employee benefits and pensions adviser
  • Provide guidance on health care
  • Provide support and participate in the processes of advising on investment decisions over a period of six months
• FISA – Final Integrated Summative Assessment will be written for each module to ascertain if the learner is ready for the EISA:
  • OC Long term adviser – L5
  • OC Employee and pensions benefits adviser -L5
  • OC Health Adviser – L5
  • OC Investment Adviser – L6
• EISA – External Integrated Summative Assessment is based on the following exit level outcomes
  • Provide advice on the use of long term products
  • Provide advice on employee benefits and pensions
  • Provide advice on Health care benefits and funds
  • Provide advice to clients to grow and protect wealth through appropriate Investments and related methods.
  • All relevant regulatory requirements are correctly identified and complied with.
  • The consequences of non-compliance with regulatory requirements are explained in terms of the impact on clients, the company and the representative.
  • Appropriate client information is collected and captured in a format required for analysing it relevant to the specific product being sold
  • Client information is analysed and interpreted to reflect the real client needs.
  • Appropriate recommendations are developed and communicated to clients ensuring full disclosure.
  • Records of advice given, instructions received, and actions taken are accurate and according to legal requirements.
• On completion of these 4 modules and the EISA for each, the learner will be awarded the OC Financial Adviser qualification at NQF level 6 through the QCTO and INSETA, this is a SAQA qualification and is recognised by the FSCA for CAT 1 advisers in all of the sub categories.