How to become an Approved Associate Consultant

What is an Approved Associate Consultant?

Due to the unprecedented demand from financial planners for the certification of ISO 22222, we have seen an increase in demand for consultants competent to implement the requirements of ISO 22222 for financial planners.

As a direct result, the Approved Associate Consultant Programme was created which provides training and approval for eligible consultants. The majority of applications for the AAC come from Compliance Consultants as they wish provide ISO 22222 implementation as a value-added service to their clients.

Once a consultant has met the eligibility criteria, attended the ISO 22222 ‘How to implement Best Practice’ course training course, they will then be certified as an Approved Associate Consultant by Standards International.

This will then provide financial planners with the confidence that those Approved Associate Consultants on the Standards International AAC register have been trained and are competent to implement the requirements of the standard and to assist their clients to successfully pass their ISO 22222 assessment.

What is the process involved with becoming an Approved Associate Consultant?

There are five simple steps to becoming an AAC:

1. Request and complete an AAC booking form and return it to enquiries@standardsinternational.co.uk.
2. Submit a copy of a Curriculum Vitae and records of Continual Professional Development for the last two years.
3. Attend the AAC ISO 22222 ‘How to implement Best Practice’ one day course.
4. Complete the AAC Terms and Conditions.
5. Implementing the financial planning recommendations.
6. Standards International will send you documentation including AAC Code of Conduct, AAC Certificate, Commitment Form (for the commission referral scheme), Terms and Conditions of use of the AAC logo, a copy of the AAC logo.

What does the Training cover?

The key objective of the training is to educate consultants with the knowledge of ISO 22222 and how to implement the standard for financial planners. The training day will cover the following aspects:-

• ISO 22222 - Personal Financial Planning - Requirements for Personal Financial Planners.
• BS 9222 - Personal Financial Planning - Guidance on the application of BS ISO 22222 and assessment of compliance.
• Continual Professional Development and Education.
• Continual Improvement.
• Risk Management.
• Best Practice in the six steps of financial planning.
• Ethics in financial planning.
• The assessment and recertification process.

What are the benefits of being an Approved Associate Consultant?

• Improved skills and knowledge to guide and support financial advisers in ‘Best Practice’.
• Knowledge and ability to implement the requirements of ISO 22222.
• Discounts on Standards International training schemes.
• Quarterly newsletter on ‘Best Practice’.
• Referral scheme, whereby a commission is paid to AAC’s that prepare financial advisers for certification to ISO 22222 with Standards International.
• Use of the AAC logo.

What costs are associated with being an AAC?

There are no application costs or ongoing costs to be an AAC member. The only cost incurred is to attend the ‘ISO 22222 AAC How to implement Best Practice’ course. The cost for this is £527.50. You will be expected to attend a refresher training course every three years to ensure satisfactory competency levels are maintained.

Is funding available for the training course?

Yes. Depending on your geographical location and number of staff within your organisation, government funding maybe available to cover £513.75 of the cost of the course. Therefore if you meet the eligibility criteria you will only pay £13.75 to attend the course.

Are you a financial planner looking for an Approved Associate Consultant?

Need assistance with the implementation of ISO 22222, then contact Standards International for a list of qualified Approved Associate Consultants in your area to support you with the successful implementation of ISO 22222.

For more information call 01462 790894 today!