Alternative RDR exam sparks fresh grandfathering row

The Diploma in Investment Planning, developed by the National Skills Academy for Financial Services (NSAFS) and targeted at experienced advisers, includes an on-the-job assessment of candidates’ advice procedures plus a review of their CPD records and suitability reports. It is the third ‘alternative’ qualification to make it onto the FSA’s approved list after the regulator pledged a year ago to consider exams offering work-based assessment methods, provided they meet the same learning criteria as written qualifications. Some advisers are critical of the FSA’s willingness to cater for...