Financial Advisor

This qualification is ideal for individuals who:

• Aspire to become professional financial advisors
• Are currently working in financial services and want to formalise their skills
• Seek to specialise in insurance, investments, retirement or healthcare benefits
• Want to contribute to the financial wellbeing of clients and communities

With this qualification, you can kickstart your career as:

• A Financial Advisor in insurance, investment or retirement planning
• A Personal Financial Planner helping individuals manage their wealth
• A Broker or Broker Consultant advising on financial products
• A Retirement Fund Consultant or Administrator
• A Medical Scheme Consultant supporting healthcare benefit decisions
• A Compliance Officer ensuring regulatory adherence
• A Client Service Provider in financial services
• A Product Developer or Consultant in financial product structuring
• A Trust Fund Officer or Account Executive

A Collective Investment Scheme Manager

Download our comprehensive fact sheet for full details.

• Financial Advisory Foundations introduces students to the dynamic world of financial advice, starting with the evolution of the investment advisory industry and the economic principles that shape it. You’ll explore how current affairs influence financial services and gain a solid grasp of the legal and ethical frameworks—like FAIS, FICA, and POPIA—that guide professional conduct in advising clients on insurance and investments . This subject lays the groundwork for becoming a trusted financial advisor in South Africa’s regulated environment.
• Insurance and Wealth Protection equips students with the skills to guide clients through life’s financial uncertainties—from long-term insurance and savings to retirement planning and wealth preservation. You’ll learn to assess client needs, evaluate financial products, and implement tailored solutions that protect and grow wealth across life stages. With hands-on workplace experience, this subject prepares you to confidently navigate real-world advisory scenarios and deliver impactful financial strategies.
• Employee Benefits and Retirement Funds empowers students to advise organisations and individuals on structuring retirement and employee benefit solutions that are both compliant and impactful. You’ll explore fund types, actuarial models, and legal frameworks while gaining hands-on experience in analysing benefit structures, evaluating options, and implementing tailored strategies. This subject prepares you to confidently support corporate clients and trustees in navigating the complexities of retirement planning and benefit design.
• Health Care Benefits Advisory prepares students to confidently advise clients on healthcare benefit programmes that balance cost, compliance, and care. You’ll explore medical scheme structures, risk management, and regulatory frameworks while gaining hands-on experience in analysing client needs and implementing tailored health care solutions. This subject equips you with the practical and strategic skills to support individuals and organisations in navigating South Africa’s evolving healthcare landscape.
• Investment Advisory is your gateway to mastering the art of wealth creation through smart investing. You’ll explore everything from the fundamentals of asset classes and portfolio construction to advanced strategies involving alternative investments, global trends, and structured financial instruments. With hands-on experience in research, client profiling, and implementation, this subject empowers you to confidently advise clients and execute tailored investment solutions in real-world financial environments.

This Occupational Certificate is accredited by the Quality Council for Trades & Occupations (QCTO).

Successful students will achieve a nationally recognised Occupational Certificate: Financial Advisor (SAQA ID 105026 at NQF Level 6)

• Grade 12 with English Communication (NQF Level 4)
• All classes and assessments are conducted in English

Knowledge Modules - Theory

• Overview of the Investment Advisory Industry
• Regulatory requirements for advising clients regarding insurance and investments
• Health Care benefits advisory services
• Principles of Providing advice to clients regarding the use of Employee and Pension Fund Benefits
• Fundamentals of Investments
• Principles of Providing advice to clients regarding Insurance, Savings and Retirement Planning
• Principles of Providing Advice to clients regarding Investments

Practical Modules - Hands-on Learning

• Analyse clients long term wealth creation/protection needs
• Evaluate available long-term wealth creation/protection options
• Recommend and implement the most appropriate wealth creation/protection options
• Analyse the client organisations needs relating to retirement funds and employee benefits
• Evaluate the availability of various employee benefit and retirement fund options and structures
• Advise client on the most appropriate structuring of retirement funds and employee benefits
• Analyse Client needs regarding Health Care Benefits
• Provide advice on the introduction of Health Care Benefit Programmes
• Research, analyse and conduct due-diligence of investment opportunities
• Advise clients regarding potential investment opportunities
• Facilitate the implementation of agreed investment decisions

Workplace Experience Modules - Real World Practice

• Participate in the processes of wealth creation
• Support the provisioning of advice to clients on employee benefits and retirement structures for a period of three to six months
• Participate in the processes of providing advice regarding the implementation of Health Care Benefit Programmes
• Participate in the processes of advising on investment decisions over a period of six months