The FSA’s Retail Distribution Review (RDR) intends to improve public trust and confidence in the financial advice sector by bringing about a step-change in professional standards for financial advisers.

This includes an increase in the minimum level of benchmark qualification to be held by advisers, requiring the holding of a QCF Level 4 qualification, and, if appropriate, completion of qualification gap-fill activity, by the end of 2012. To demonstrate compliance with the RDR rules, advisers then need to hold a Statement of Professional Standing (SPS) from 1 January 2013.   

This section provides full details of the support available to help advisers meet these targets.

Not a member? Gap fill and SPS services are available to PFS/CII members only. Non-members can
join the PFS online
.

RDR qualifications Outlining the options and identifying your most appropriate route. Select your most appropriate qualification route  New Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning New Diploma at a glance Full details & brochure Sample multiple-choice questions View our FAQs  Existing Diploma in Financial Planning Existing Diploma at a glance Full details & brochure View our FAQs  Alternative Assessment Alternative Assessment at a glance Full details View our FAQs	Gap fill programme How we're helping transitional qualification holders bridge RDR knowledge gaps. 4 steps to success Get your gap fill on track by using our 4 step guide  Help and support FAQs Online tool user guide Logging your own activity  Access the gap fill tool
Statement of professional standing How to get your FREE SPS once you've met the RDR exam standards in full. SPS made simple Watch our animation for the facts on how to obtain a CII SPS Visit the SPS application centre	Access the latest CII group briefings, position papers & press releases, as well as FSA policy documents.  PFS/CII papers & publications  FSA papers  CII/PFS press releases Retail Distribution Review Update - June 2011 CII/PFS Response to FSA CP10/14 RDR & Professionalism CII/PFS Response to FSA CP10/12 Competence & Ethics FSA Consultation Paper 10/14 Delivering the RDR: Professionalism - An Overview This briefing provides a high level overview of the FSA's latest RDR proposals, including the final list of approved qualifications. J.P. Morgan report shows professionals value Chartered status, May 2010 Our briefing on a report analysing professionals' attitudes towards advisers with Chartered status. A Closer Look at the FSA RDR Papers, April 2010 Our briefing on the implications of the FSA’s March RDR, platforms and pure protection policy documents. CII/PFS Response to RDR Consultation CP09/31, March 2010 CII/PFS RDR Membership Survey number 6, March 2010 Click here to see our previous RDR member surveys. CII/PFS Response to RDR Consultation CP09/18, October 2009 RDR: A Background An updated briefing on the development of the RDR since 2007 and our views on it. RDR: Redefining Professionalism Various position papers, briefings and other documents the CII/PFS have published on the RDR since 2007. Consultation Paper CP 10/14: Delivering the RDR Professionalism, June 2010 Professional standards supervision, ethics, CPD, appropriate qualifications. Policy Statement PS10/6: Distribution of Retail Investments, March 2010 Delivering the RDR – Feedback to CP09/18 and final rules Discussion Paper DP10/2: Platforms, March 2010 Delivering the RDR and other issues for discussion Consultation Paper CP10/8: Pure Protection sales by retail investment firms, March 2010 Remuneration, transparency and the COBS/ICOBS election Consultation Paper CP09/31: Delivering the RDR – Professionalism, December 2009 Professional standards proposals, and corporate pensions and pure protection Consultation Paper CP09/18: Distribution of Retail Investments, June 2009 Delivering the RDR: market segmentation, professional standards, etc. RDR: A Background Our briefing with links to previous FSA documents in the history of the RDR process. 07/06/11 CII expects 11 million additional consumers to seek financial advice following the RDR. 28/04/2010 CII outlines proposals for new post-RDR Diploma 01/04/2010 Chartered Insurance Institute outlines its alternative assessment for RDR 08/03/2011 CII launches FSA-approved Alternative Assessment 01/12/2010 CII introduces additional online exam capacity

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