Frequently asked questions

Academy FAQs

Q: How do I find out which Academy events I am registered for?

A: To see what events you are registered for, or amend your registration, select the relevant event below:

Manage registration for Gap filling sessions


Q: Are Academy presentations available to download from your site?

A: We do not have our presentations available to download. However, if you attend one of our presentations you can request a hard-copy after the event. Gap filling session attendees will receive a hard copy at the event, and a soft copy afterwards.

Q: Do I get a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) certificate for each session I attend?

A: Currently, all our Gap filling session attendees will receive a CPD certificate. Some Academy workshops for IFAs and Paraplanner sessions will receive CPD points if attended. The exact sessions are still to be confirmed.

Q: Do you run any sessions that discuss market updates which I can attend?

A: J.P. Morgan Asset Management Academy sessions are intended to enhance relationship management skills and professionalism and to create product and brand awareness through the use of educational tools. While we do refer to the market, you may be interested in our Guide to the Markets events. Alternatively, we run both market and fund updates in our fortnightly webconferences.

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Academy workshops for IFAs and Paraplanner FAQs

Q: For the Academy workshop sessions, I’ve noticed that you offer subjects that aren’t available in Q1. For example, when will you be running ‘Introduction to macroeconomics’?

A: Over the course of each year we will attempt to run almost all of the Academy workshops listed – both for IFAs and Paraplanners. Academy is a constantly evolving educational tool and we would welcome your input as to which workshops you would like to attend. To do so, please email us using the link down the side.

Q: I’ve noticed that you run IFA and Paraplanner Academy workshops. If I’m a Paraplanner, can I attend the IFA sessions?

A: You are more than welcome to attend – as Paraplanner workshops run in the mornings and IFA workshops in the afternoon, we are offering a unique networking opportunity between IFAs and Paraplanners during lunch. However, for regulatory reasons, you must be a ‘Professional Adviser or Paraplanner who is employed by FSA authorised investment firms’

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Gap filling sessions FAQs

Q: What is covered in each of the three Academy Gap filling sessions?

A: Sessions will cover the following topics; (click on session for more information).

Session one:	•  100% of Financial Services Regulation & Ethics   •  33% of Investment Principles & Risk
Session two:	•  Remaining 67% of Investment Principles & Risk
Session three:	•  Divided into two parts, session three is necessary for all members of the CII and the IFP

Read more about Gap filling sessions, or register to attend an event near you

Q: I don’t use the CII or IFP Gap Filling Tools. What gaps do you cover that have been identified by the Financial Services Authority (FSA)?

A: We cover an extensive list of gaps identified by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) within Financial Services, Regulation & Ethics and Investment Principles & Risk. See which gaps we cover that have been identified by the FSA, Policy Statement 11/1.

Q: What if I am unable to attend one of the Gap filling sessions? Will you be offering them again at a later date?

A: New dates have been announced for early 2012.

Read more about Gap filling sessions, or register to attend an event near you

Q: Is there a test at the end of the workshop?

A: There is a short evaluation at the end of each session which is crucial to ensure that the knowledge gaps are filled. You will not be required to do any revision prior to the session as all areas will be covered on the day itself.

Having an evaluation is critical to the Gap filling process; without it, we do not believe the process would not stand up to an audit by the Regulator.

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Q: Do I have to attend a whole session?

A: For the workshop to count as Gap filling, you would need to participate in an entire session and the evaluation at the end. Continuous Professional Development (CPD) is given for the entire session and cannot be split into parts.

Q. Do I have to attend all three Gap filling sessions?

A. You do not have to attend all three sessions. The number you will need to attend will depend upon how many gaps you need to fill. By attending three, you can be sure to cover 100% of ‘Financial Services Regulation & Ethics’ and 100% of ‘Investment Principles & Risk’ – gaps identified by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) Gap Filling Tool and Institute of Financial Planning (IFP).

Discover what gaps are filled by each session

Q: Do you provide an audit trail?

A: All participants will be provided with Structured CPD Points, together with a hard and soft copy of the presentation. In addition, we will record your attendance at the beginning and end of the individual events, and this will be provided to an authorised agency conducting Gap filling audits on behalf of the Regulator. On the day of event, make sure you enter the correct information when completing your details, if you are not on our attendance list your Gap filling session/s will not count!

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Q: I attended the Personal Finance Society (PFS) Gap filling session in Q4 2010, do you cover the same ground in your 2011/2012 presentations?

A: We were asked to conduct a pilot by the PFS in Q4 2010 which covered the following four gaps identified by The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) gap filling tool:

• Efficient Market Hypothesis
• Basics of Behavioural Finance
• Capital Asset Pricing Model
• Portfolio Theory, Diversification, correlation between asset classes, awareness of Alpha and Beta (please note that Total Return and Hedging are not included in this presentation).

Under Investment Principles & Risk, there are a total of 67 gaps which will be covered in our Gap filling sessions throughout 2011/2012, including those listed above.

Q. Do you do any Gap filling workshops outside of the ‘Financial Services Regulation & Ethics’ or the ‘Investment Principles & Risk’?

A. No. We see the Financial Services, Regulation, Ethics, Investment Principles and Risk as our core business. It is in these areas that we believe we can add real insight, value and understanding. We would not think it appropriate to talk on areas outside of our core business.

Q. How do I know you are covering the gaps in enough detail?

A. Gap filling sessions will cover the differences in syllabus between qualifications that are currently RDR compliant and those that are not (such as the R0 papers versus the J0 papers).

There are still changes, clarifications and possible additions that the FSA is yet to make, and we will aim to capture these updates throughout the year.

To ensure you cover 100% of ‘Financial Services Regulation & Ethics’ and 100% of ‘Investment Principles & Risk’, you will need to register for Gap filling: session three. This session will be used to cover any FSA changes and additions made throughout the year.

Read more about Gap filling sessions, or register to attend an event near you

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Q: What is the UCITS IV Directive in your Gap filling sessions?

A: The UCITS IV directive introduces a new client document called the ‘Key Investor Information Document’ that aims to standardise the way clients receive key info about a fund before making their purchase. By July 2012 it will be compulsory for all intermediaries to be current and competent on the ‘Key Investor Information Document’. UCITS IV will be covered in Gap filling: session three.

Read more about Gap filling sessions, or register to attend an event near you

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