CISI Financial Planning and Advice Exam Preparation
Structured preparation for the CISI Level 4 Financial Planning and Advice unit, aligned to Version 9 for exams through 30 September 2026.
Course syllabus information reviewed for 2026. Always check the awarding body’s latest official syllabus and candidate updates before booking or sitting your exam.
Prepare for CISI Financial Planning and Advice
Financial Planning and Advice is a Level 4 technical-unit option in the CISI Investment Advice Diploma. Candidates following this route combine it with the two IAD core units: UK Regulation and Professional Integrity, and Investment, Risk and Taxation. The same unit also combines with Investment, Risk and Taxation in the CISI Certificate in Paraplanning.
The syllabus moves from the financial-planning process and client analysis through protection, pensions, retirement-income strategies and the development, implementation and review of suitable recommendations. This page follows the current Version 9 syllabus, maps all 80 questions across its five official elements and records the applicable CISI Candidate Update posted in March 2026.
Exam Format & Details
| Assessment | Multiple-choice examination |
| Duration | 120 Minutes |
| Level | CISI Level 4 |
| Total Qualification Time | 140 hours |
Key Benefits
Financial-planning pathway
Understand where this technical unit fits within the Investment Advice Diploma and Certificate in Paraplanning routes.
- ✓ IAD technical-unit option
- ✓ Certificate in Paraplanning unit
- ✓ Level 4 assessment
Official weighting plan
Allocate revision time using the exact five-element distribution across all 80 examination questions.
- ✓ Retirement Planning: 24 questions
- ✓ Financial Protection: 19 questions
- ✓ Financial Planning: 17 questions
Advice from fact-find to review
Connect client analysis with protection, retirement solutions and the development of suitable recommendations.
- ✓ Client information and priorities
- ✓ Protection and retirement
- ✓ Implementation and review
Syllabus
Module 1: Financial Planning 21.25% syllabus weight
Planning fundamentals, professional relationships, client information, streamlined advice, financial analysis, priorities and existing arrangements.
- • Financial-planning process
- • Client information and analysis
- • Priorities and existing provision
Module 2: Financial Protection 23.75% syllabus weight
Protection needs, life assurance, income protection, critical illness, long-term care and the selection of appropriate solutions.
- • Protection planning
- • Life and health policies
- • Selecting suitable solutions
Module 3: Retirement Planning 30% syllabus weight
Pension provision, scheme taxation and regulation, DB and DC arrangements, State benefits and retirement-income choices.
- • Pension structures and taxation
- • Pensions law and regulation
- • Retirement benefits and income
Module 4: Retirement Solutions 15% syllabus weight
Advice before and after retirement, investment and drawdown strategies, sequencing risk, income sustainability and later-life needs.
- • Retirement objectives
- • Post-retirement investment
- • Income sustainability and risk
Module 5: Financial Planning Recommendations 10% syllabus weight
Developing, justifying, implementing, communicating and reviewing suitable client recommendations.
- • Developing recommendations
- • Implementation and communication
- • Reviewing the client's situation
Who Is This For?
Frequently Asked Questions
The Level 4 assessment contains 80 multiple-choice questions and lasts 120 minutes. Computer-based tests may include up to 10% additional unscored trial questions with proportionately more time.
The page follows Version 9, effective from 1 October 2025, and records the applicable CISI Candidate Update posted on 12 March 2026.
It is one of three technical-unit options. The IAD route combines it with UK Regulation and Professional Integrity and Investment, Risk and Taxation.
Yes. The Certificate in Paraplanning combines Financial Planning and Advice with Investment, Risk and Taxation.
Retirement Planning carries 24 of the 80 questions, followed by Financial Protection with 19 and Financial Planning with 17.
The storefront and checkout are open while the latest Version 9 exams, flashcards, summaries and revision resources are being completed. Purchasers see the current two-hour completion notice on their dashboard.
Always confirm the latest official CISI syllabus and Candidate Updates for your 2026 sitting. This page records Version 9 and the applicable update verified on 10 August 2026.
CISI Financial Planning and Advice
Course Features
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