Prepare for the three CII AF8 Retirement Income Planning assignments with source-grounded study tools, client fact-find analysis and scenario-based coursework-planning practice.
Built around the current published CII syllabus and official assessment requirements. Exams Academy is an independent education provider and is not affiliated with the CII.
AF8 coursework-planning practice
Your exam preparation path
AF8 develops the ability to advise clients on income planning when approaching and during retirement, including later-life planning.
Listen to course modules on the go. Perfect for studying while driving or commuting.
* This is a chapter sample. All audio is available in the full version.
Explore our interactive learning tools below
A client wants essential costs met reliably but also wants flexible travel spending and a legacy. Which planning structure best addresses the competing objectives?
AF8 is assessed through three written coursework assignments rather than a multiple-choice examination. Strong submissions must apply retirement-income knowledge to a client fact-find, show calculations and assumptions, follow the command word, evaluate trade-offs and support conclusions with coherent evidence.
This course organises the eight official 2025/26 study-text chapters into detailed summaries, 110 active-recall flashcards, an 88-item reference sheet and a source-grounded AI tutor. Coverage runs from retirement objectives, financial-position analysis and cash-flow tools through pension and non-pension withdrawals, later-life funding and estate planning.
The five platform drills contain 50 client scenarios. They ask you to choose the strongest analytical step, calculation, evidence base, structure or recommendation approach. They are coursework-planning exercises, not replicas of the three official written assignments.
Use the tools to identify gaps in your analysis, then complete your official work in your own words using the English legislative position and tax year that applies when you submit.
| Assessment | Three written coursework assignments, each typically 2,000–3,000 words |
| Duration | 12-month enrolment; assignments due at approximately months 3, 6 and 9 |
| Standard Pass Mark | 50% |
| Level | CII Level 6 |
| Recommended Study Time | 150 hours |
| CII Credits | 30 |
| 2025 Published Pass Rate | 83.9% |
| Feature | Exams Academy | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Access Period | Lifetime Access | One-time enrollment with no recurring fee |
| Practice Exams | Unlimited Retakes | Five ten-question scenario drills at the official 50% pass threshold |
| Study Support | Instant 24/7 AI Tutor | Self-service AI support; live instructor support is not included |
| Cost | $189 (One-Time) | One-time payment with no recurring subscription |
Practise applying the fact-find, command word and evidence to retirement-planning decisions.
Work through all eight official study-text chapters in their exact order.
Strengthen recall with 110 flashcards and an 88-item reference sheet.
Clarify source concepts and compare planning approaches inside the course.
Use the same question bank in two different ways: build understanding with instant feedback, then switch to a realistic simulation when you are ready.
Choose an answer, see immediately whether it is right or wrong, and read the explanation before moving on.
Complete the practice set without revealing answers, then review your result and every explanation at the end.
Retirement and estate objectives plus income, expenditure, assets, liabilities, taxation and estate position.
Cash-flow planning, risk profiling, asset allocation, assumptions, stress tests and interpretation of results.
Pension-fund withdrawals, savings and investment withdrawals, tax sequencing and management of investment risk.
Estate planning, care funding, legal authority, capacity, vulnerability and protection of client outcomes.
Preparation centre
Use these connected guides for the syllabus, exam format, booking and revision strategy.
AF8 is assessed by three written coursework assignments. Each is typically 2,000–3,000 words, with submissions due at approximately months 3, 6 and 9 during a 12-month enrolment.
No. The official AF8 assessment is coursework. The platform's scenario questions are planning drills that help you practise analysis, calculations and structured decisions.
The standard overall pass mark is 50%. CII lists AF8 as a Level 6 unit worth 30 credits.
CII recommends 150 study hours and assumes knowledge of R04 Pensions and Retirement Planning or an equivalent foundation.
The course is grounded in the supplied 2025/26 AF8 study text and syllabus, valid from 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2026.
Use the English legislative position and tax year applicable when you submit, state the basis clearly and verify time-sensitive figures against current official sources.
No. It helps you study the source, analyse fact-finds and plan a well-supported response. Your official assignment must be your own work and follow CII submission requirements.
You receive lifetime access to the course tools with no recurring subscription fee.
Yes. Try the free CII AF8: Retirement Income Planning coursework practice set. It contains 15 applied scenarios with detailed explanations and does not replace any official written assignment.
From finance professionals who prepared for and passed their CII exams.
Feedback shared by learners across our CII exam-preparation courses.
The flashcards for the Trustee Act 2000 provisions are brilliant. Helps you memorize the exact powers and duties required for the exam.
I didn't have time to read the whole workbook. The mock exams showed me exactly where my knowledge gaps were. Highly recommend for the CF8.
Pension tax limits change constantly, but this course was perfectly updated for the current tax year. The mock exams are very realistic.
Defined Benefit transfers and TVAS reports are heavily tested. This platform ensures you know exactly what the FCA requires. Passed comfortably.
The legal sections of CF8 are dry, but the cheat sheets on powers of attorney and the Mental Capacity Act are fantastic. Passed on my first attempt.
The breakdowns of POAT, nil rate bands, and trust taxation are the best I've seen. Essential revision tool for anyone sitting the J02.
Long term care funding rules change so often, but this material was perfectly up to date. The care home fee top-up arrangements were explained beautifully.
The complexities of UK pensions—LTA, annual allowances, and segmented drawdown—are explained beautifully. The cheat sheets are gold for J05.
Trust law and IHT calculations are a nightmare, but the diagrams and flowcharts in this course made everything digestible. Passed with a 76%.
Contingent charging ban and DB transfers are a huge part of J05. Content was super up to date. Recommend for advisors.
Trust taxation is such a brain drain but the cheat sheets here are literal lifesavers. Passed my exam yesterday!! Great value if you are struggling w/ J02.
Transfer value analysis and the charging ban are a huge part of J05. All covered well here. Vital for the pensions module. Pass secured finally.
Nil rate band trusts and POAT stuff finally makes sense now. Common planning tools are well explained for the test center. Pass mark achieved!!
Hi Takeshi, thanks for the candid review. We take this seriously and have been making updates based on feedback like yours.
Tax planning is complex but the trust diagrams here helped a ton really. Helped me visualize where the tax hits for different set ups. Pass with 76%!
Hi Nneka, thanks for the candid review. We take this seriously and have been making updates based on feedback like yours.
Investment powers and the Trustee Act 2000 stuff is dry but explained very clearly here. Finally passed my J02 exam on 2nd attempt.
Crystallisation and segmented drawdown strategies were always a total mess in my head before this. This helped a ton. Passed J05 finally!!
Thank you! Wishing you all the best in your finance career.
Mandatory course for my current role. Made the care home funding regs actually digestible. Decent price too compared to some other providers out there.
Absoluteley saved my life with the IHT calcs for trusts. J02 is no joke but this made it manageable. Scored 76%.
DB transfers and annuities made easy... All the retirement options are covered properly w/ the tax implications too. Passed J05 today!
Phased retirement and tax implications were covered very well. This is vital for any IFA. Finally passed J05! Really worth it.
Lifetime mortgages explained so clearly... The care funding rules are great too. Passed cf8 with 82%.
Nil rate bands and RNRB trusts finally make sense now. This was helpful for my daily work and the exam. Passed!
The three certainties and trust law basics are explained so well here. Good for getting the foundation right before moving to the harder stuff.
The section on top-up arrangements was so helpfull... They seem to test this literally every time. Pass with 80% first attempt.
The section on top-up arrangements was super helpful... They test this literally every time in the center. Passed easily. Thanks!
Thanks for taking the time to write this, Yousef. We've noted your feedback and are working on improvements.
Im an IFA doing later life planning... CF8 is mandatory and this course covered every single thing I needed. Way easier than self-study.
CF8 is mandatory for my role and this was absolutely the easiest way to prep. Much better than just regular self-study. Helpful content.
Honestly, the official workbook is terrible for exam technique. The mocks here actually show you how to think about the answers. Passed first time!!
Finally get what protectors do!! Letter of wishes and trustee powers are usually so confusing but not here. It finally clicked.
Thanks for sharing your experience! We'll keep improving the platform based on feedback like yours.
Legal topics can be dry, but the diagrams for J02 made everything so much easier to digest. Passed today with 76%. Thanks for the help!
Pensions are a total nightmare in the UK but J05 is manageable with these notes. Drawdown rules are super up to date which was my main concern. Smashed it!
J02 is super broad but these notes make it concise and easy to digest. Specifically the bits on tax treatments of different trusts... That always comes up in the paper.
Do retirement planning every day for work but J05 is still a total beast. Super impressed with how up to date these modules are, specially the lifetime allowance bits. Huge help for my scores.
GAAR and POAT are actually readable here. I used to dread trust planning but it finally makes sense now. Pass marks achieved!
Review the CII syllabus efficiently with structured study notes, active practice, flashcards and an AI tutor available when you need it.
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