The Bahamas Institute of Financial Services

Course Objective

The CFPP has been designed by BIFS, working with Keith Checkley & Associates of London, UK, to help financial services institutions develop and certify competency levels for a group of professional financial planners. They will be capable of giving sound financial advice that meets the expectations of their clients, inspiring confidence in them and building stronger customer relationships for the mutual benefit of the client and the financial institution.


Corporate Members
An invitation is extended to all Banks, Trust Companies and other organisations operating in the Bahamas to join the Bahamas Institute of Financial Services.
ABIFS Members
We currently have 556 ABIFS Certificate holders
Our Partners
Our partners include many financial, educational, and local organizations. We also provide a link to their web sites for more information.

 
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Bahamas Institute of Financial Services
Confidence, Integrity & Loyalty
 

It also allows individual employees to earn a career-based diploma that recognises their aptitude and professional competence in giving financial advice.

  • To develop financial needs analysis skills and relationship management in order to construct an accurate Financial Profile of the client that the client understand and accepts
  • To develop an optimal Financial Plan consistent with the client's goals and personal risk profile

All Exams are prepared and marked by The Chartered Institute of Bankers in Scotland

Schedule

Start date: February 2008
Final Exam: December 2008
Cost: $4,500

Download Schedule >

Assessment
Candidates to this program will be certified after passing all six modules of the program and the successful completion of a comprehensive Final Qualifying Exam. (See diagram).
The student will then be issued a Certificate that will carry International Accreditation.

Module I

Client Relationship Skills

  • The Communication Process
  • Personality Types and their impact on Communication behaviour
  • Cultural Issues in Communication
  • Client Advisory Relationship Models
  • Building Trust and Business Ethics
Module II

Financial Situation Analysis

  • Know Your Customer (KYC)
  • Evaluating the Client's Current Financial Situation
  • Constructing the Personal Financial Profile of the Client
  • Forecasting the Personal Financial Situation of the Client
Module III

Risk Management and Insurance Needs

  • Risk Exposure and Mitigates | Protection
  • Risk Management over Time
  • Personal Risk Insurance-Business Risk/Occupational Risks
  • Property Risk and Mortgage Products
Module IV

Investment Products and Markets

  • Time Value of Money
  • Savings and Investments Products
  • The Fundamentals of Portfolio Management
  • Client Specific Investment Strategies -linking to Products
  • The Development of Capital Markets
Module V

Legal Issues in Financial Planning

  • The Bahamian Legal and Judicial System
  • Bahamian Taxation Policies
  • Investment Business Regulations
  • Products and Services
  • Policies, Procedures and Business practices
Module VI

Asset Values and Estate Planning

  • Writing a Will
  • Pension Planning/Requirements
  • Planning for Value-Review of Valuation Concepts and Techniques
  • Valuation of Personal Assets-Developing the Estate Plan

Final Qualifying Exam
The full day exam will consist of comprehensive cases that the candidate will be asked to analyse, draw conclusions and make recommendations in the form of an integrated financial plan. The exam will require that both the analysis and the plan be presented in written form for evaluation.

Program Prerequisites
Candidates to the Certified Financial Planner Program must fulfil the following requirement:

  • Candidates must have basic knowledge in Computer Skills, Mathematics,
    Principles of Accounting and General Economics.
  • Candidates must have a minimum of a college degree or equivalent.

A team of local and international practitioners will facilitate the programme.