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CISI Investment Advice Diploma
CISI Financial Planning and Advice Exam Preparation (UK)
Structured preparation for the CISI Level 4 Financial Planning and Advice unit, for exams from 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2027.
400 Practice Questions Detailed Study Notes Realistic mock exams
Course syllabus information reviewed for 2026. Always check the awarding body’s latest official syllabus and candidate updates before booking or sitting your exam.
Exactly what is included
- 400 practice questions across 5 mock exams · unlimited retakes
- Focus Learn · key areas, pitfalls, exam traps & key numbers
- Flashcards · fun, fast and effective recall
- Planning references, formulas and worked calculations
- Audio Learning · every chapter in audio
- AI Analyzer & Mentor · pinpoints your weak areas
- Study Mode Exams · learn while you train
- AI Chat trained specifically for this exam
- Study material organised by syllabus
AI Audio Summaries New
Listen to course modules on the go. Perfect for studying while driving or commuting.
🎧 Audio
* This is a chapter sample. All audio is available in the full version.
Syllabus
Module 1: Financial Planning 21.25% syllabus weight
🎧 Audio
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
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The official CISI text is incredibly dry. This interactive dashboard actually made studying enjoyable. Highly recommend for the IISI certificate.
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VERIFIED · Nov 2, 2024
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Passed with 82% exceeded my target
My target was 75% and I ended up with 82%. The cheat sheet and flashcard combination is what made the difference in the final week. Everything is presented at exactly the right level detailed enough to understand, concise enough to retain.
Interactive preview
Free CISI Financial Planning and Advice Practice Questions & Exam Preview
Try 15 CISI Financial Planning and Advice practice questions from Retirement Planning
Practice CISI Financial Planning and Advice exam questions with answers and explanations. The full course includes 5 mock exams and chapter study tools.
Exam Preview
Retirement Planning
Why does increasing longevity create a pension-policy challenge?
1 / 15
Flashcards
Card 1 of 10Financial Planning
Question
Why can a financial plan be useful without buying a financial product?
Tap to reveal answer
Focus Learn
- 1.1.1–1.1.3: planning purpose, FPSB sequence and plan components
- 1.2.1–1.2.2: permissions, engagement, ethics and competence
- 1.3.1–1.3.4: fact-finding, KYC, suitability and inconsistencies
- 1.4.1–1.4.2: streamlined advice and third-party evidence
- 1.5.1–1.5.4: financial status, scenario net worth, surplus and cash flow
- 1.6.1: agreed SMART priorities and investment objectives
- 1.7.1–1.7.5: gaps, performance, objectives, risk and tax review
Chapter 1: Financial Planning
1.1.1 — Purpose, roles and the continuing relationship
Financial planning connects present resources with future needs: budgeting, emergency liquidity, protection against illness and death, suitable investment, retirement and tax efficiency. It is a continuing process, while an individual piece of financial advice is a recommendation at a particular time. A useful plan may rearrange existing affairs without recommending any product. The planner remains responsible for the client relationship and delivery even when a paraplanner researches products, analyses information or drafts the document. The client supplies information, helps define priorities and makes informed decisions; agreed third-party responsibilities should be clear.
1.1.2 — The six-step FPSB cycle
Follow the sequence:…
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Preparation Package at a Glance
| Feature | Exams Academy | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Access Period | Lifetime Access | One-time enrollment with no recurring fee |
| Practice Exams | Unlimited Retakes | |
| Study Support | Instant 24/7 AI Tutor | Self-service AI support; live instructor support is not included |
| Cost | $151 (One-Time) | One-time payment with no recurring subscription |
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 course is designed for exams from 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2027. Candidates sitting before 1 October should use the preceding official syllabus and its applicable updates.
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.
Five chapters, recall cards, searchable references, worked calculations, an AI tutor and five full 80-question papers. The five papers include 400 practice questions. Five English chapter revision summaries are available in male and female voices.
Check CISI Candidate Updates for your exam date. The source and current-rule corrections were checked on 20 September 2026; examples identify the relevant dates and assumptions.
Yes! Test your knowledge and review detailed explanations with the free CISI Financial Planning and Advice Mock Exam Preview below. It contains 15 exam-style questions from one named topic; the full course provides complete mock exams and syllabus coverage.
No. For UK regulated activities, the firm must map the role to the FCA Training and Competence sourcebook and its appropriate-qualification tables. A CISI course title alone does not establish authorisation for every activity. Confirm the requirement with the employer and regulator before booking.
Use the official CISI booking flow to check remote-invigilation or test-centre availability for CISI Financial Planning and Advice. Confirm the current workbook edition and read Candidate Updates before booking.
Exams Academy checkout is displayed in US dollars and the card provider converts it to GBP. The official CISI exam and required workbook are booked and paid for separately at the current CISI price.
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 nominal five-element distribution across 80 questions; official papers may vary by up to two per element.
- ✓ 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
Exam Format & Details
| Assessment | Multiple-choice examination |
| Duration | 120 Minutes |
| Standard Pass Mark | 70% |
| Level | CISI Level 4 |
| Total Qualification Time | 140 hours |
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. The course covers all five elements for exams from 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2027, with detailed teaching, recall cards, worked calculations, searchable references and a syllabus-grounded tutor. Five mock exams contain 400 practice questions. Every paper has 80 questions in 120 minutes. The official pass mark is 70%, equivalent to 56 correct answers out of 80. Dated rule notes distinguish current requirements from future changes.
Who Is This For?
✓ Candidates selecting Financial Planning and Advice as their technical IAD unit
✓ Candidates combining this unit with Investment, Risk and Taxation for the Certificate in Paraplanning
✓ Financial advisers, paraplanners and retirement-planning professionals
✓ Practitioners who need Level 4 knowledge of protection, pensions and suitable client recommendations
Preparation centre
CISI Financial Planning and Advice Exam Guides
Use these connected guides for the syllabus, exam format, booking and revision strategy.
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CISI Financial Planning and Advice
Course Features
🇬🇧 Local market guide
CISI Financial Planning and Advice in the United Kingdom: pathway, booking and careers
Review how CISI Financial Planning and Advice connects to regulation, qualification pathways, booking, currency and careers in the United Kingdom before paying the official exam fee.
Regulator and qualification pathway
Financial Planning and Advice is a Level 4 technical-unit option in the CISI Investment Advice Diploma. To complete this IAD route, combine it with UK Regulation and Professional Integrity and Investment, Risk and Taxation. The unit also combines with Investment, Risk and Taxation in the Certificate in Paraplanning.
Financial Conduct AuthorityBooking and official examination
Use the official CISI booking flow to check remote-invigilation or test-centre availability for CISI Financial Planning and Advice. Confirm the current workbook edition and read Candidate Updates before booking.
Find a CISI test centreCareer and employer context
This unit supports financial-advice and paraplanning roles through client-needs analysis, protection, pensions, retirement solutions and suitable recommendations. It is part of wider qualifications, not a standalone licence for every regulated activity; the employer and FCA Training and Competence tables determine the requirements for each role.
Price and currency
Exams Academy checkout is displayed in US dollars and the card provider converts it to GBP. The official CISI exam and required workbook are booked and paid for separately at the current CISI price.
Market-specific reading
Understand the pathway before booking
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CISI Financial Planning and Advice
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