SWIP Academy IFA Updates
Scottish Widows have recently announced the adoption of the SWIP Multi-Manager Diversity fund into their guided Pension Product with immediate effect.
SWIP's Multi-Manager team are AAA (Citywire rated) making them the highest rated multi-manager team in the UK. They were also recently rated No 1Active Management Team. For further details on the SWIP Multi-Manager service click here
or visit the SWIP Adviser Website at : SWIP Adviser
Adviser Education :
The SWIP Intelligence Centre, a series of 20 Investment Modules which each give Financial Advisers CPD Accreditation, has been running for over 6 months now.
The key Product Manager, Adele Welsh has answered some of our frequently asked questions below :
Q: Does the SWIP Intelligence Centre fit into my wider qualification aims with the CII. (I.e. do I achieve CPD credits alone, or is there a longer term qualification that I can achieve by working with SWIP?) Is there a qualification available for completing all the modules or taking examinations at the end of the process, via CII?
A: The SWIP Intelligence Centre is an investment based training program designed to provide advisers with useful education and information on asset classes and investment strategies. The CII have approved the program for CPD accreditation and each of the modules is equivalent to 20 CII continuous professional development credits. To maintain CII status advisers need to accrue 100 CPD credits each year and this program allows advisers to easily achieve this.
There are academies developed specifically to aid advisers in passing CII qualifications and SWIP wanted to develop a unique program that focused on providing advisers with investment knowledge that would benefit both their professional and business development.
Whilst the program does not specifically give advisers a qualification, the various modules in the SWIP Intelligence Centre provide information on many of the topics covered in the CII’s J06 exam. This allows advisers to brush up their knowledge on these topics in a more interactive way and a short quiz at the end helps advisers gauge their understanding of the topics. Educational guides featured within the modules provide additional information on some of the topics. Many advisers have indicated to us that it has been a valuable study aid in addition to the CII’s own exam coursework.
Q: I've missed the earlier modules. Will they be repeated in the future? Is there a list of all 20 modules available to advisers?
A: A new module is released fortnightly but all modules are stored in a library so that advisers can view them at any time. The program gives you the flexibility to view modules when you want and they don't have to be completed in any particular order. A list of modules that are coming soon are featured on the home page of the Intelligence Centre to give advisers an indication of topics that will be released over the coming months. There is not currently a full list of all 20 modules as we have tried to remain flexible with the topics covered based on feedback from our users to ensure we tailor our program to suit adviser's information requirements.
Q: I've been recommending Investment Solutions for my clients over the past 20 years. Won't the Academy be too basic for me?
A: There may be some modules that will be more basic but the program is designed to provide information to suit a wide range of knowledge levels. As the program progresses more technical modules such as derivatives and short selling will be featured. More experienced advisers have indicated that even some of the introductory modules have been a good refresher on the topic. Plus all modules count towards your CPD hours and earn CII credits. We are always interested in feedback from advisers on the Intelligence Centre, if you were interested in seeing a more technical topic covered simply email us at intelligencecentre@swip.com.
Q: I have tried to use online academies before. Is there a service where I can ask specific questions on points that I find difficult to understand?
A: We have a feedback function where any questions on the modules can be raised. Alternatively the SWIP Sales Support Team can respond to any queries on the investment topics that you may have.
We are currently looking at enhancing the services offered through the Intelligence Centre and providing a technical helpline is something we are considering as well as an online forum where advisers can discuss the module topics in more detail with their peers.
Q : Does the Academy give me practical understandings of how to build client portfolios and manage investments, e.g. investment administration, performance reporting etc.. or is this strictly theoretical?
A: As SWIP is an investment house and investments are our area of expertise we have initially focused on these topics. However, we are keen to ensure that the service remains valuable to advisers and have conducted research with users to understand the types of topics they would like information on. The topics you mention were flagged as topics of interest for advisers and we are looking at performance reporting and risk management, as well as constructing client portfolios as potential module topics for the coming months.
If you would like to learn more about, register for, or gain access to the SWIP Intelligence Centre then click here.
Interview conducted as part of the Defaqto Review of Services for Advisers from Key Product Providers, in the UK Financial Services Industry. For further details on service reports and for provider updates go to our latest Engage Home Page, or see the Provider Updates section.
Defaqto has a Fact Sheet Available for the SWIP AR Bond Fund : click here
