CPD · Financial and insurance services

Completing a suitability record

Recording what a client needs and why a product fits. Process only: no financial advice.

about this course

What you will be able to do

L4 PractitionerAbout 4 hours (240 minutes) of CPDSelf-study plus role-playFinancial and insurance services

Recording what a client needs and why a product fits. Process only: no financial advice.

Collect client facts, given a fact-find form, with every required field complete.
Calculate simple affordability figures, given income and costs, with correct arithmetic and currency shown.
Match needs to options, given a product list, giving one reason per match.
Record the reasoning, given a template, so another person can follow it.

Task, condition and standard

Task

Gather the required facts from a client card, match the client's needs to a product type, write the reason in plain words and complete the advice record to the checklist.

Condition

Given an invented client card, a fact-find form, a product type list and the advice record checklist, working in a four-hour supervised session; process only, no financial advice.

Standard

Complete every required field, give one written reason per match with correct arithmetic and currency shown, list alternatives, and meet every checklist item including signatures.

These courses teach process, communication and recording. They give no clinical, legal, tax, financial or engineering sign-off. A named subject expert must review every line, and you must check your own professional body's current CPD rules, before you rely on a certificate.

sessions

8 modules

Module 1 Why a review exists 20 min

The record shows the thought behind the match
It protects the client and the firm
A checker reads it later

Worked example. Record snippet: Goal: money back in 3 years. Match: short-term savings type. Reason: "The client needs the money soon and has little time to recover from a fall." Another person can read this and see why it fits.

Practise: Practise with a case card or template for "why a review exists": collect client facts, given a fact-find form, with every required field complete.

Standard to meet. Explain why an advice review exists and why a written record of the match between client and product must show the thought behind the advice.

Module 2 Facts to collect from the client card 40 min

Four essential facts
Record the client's own words on risk
Stop if facts are missing

Worked example. Client card: goal, growth; time horizon, 3 years; comfort with loss, "no more than 2,000 of my 20,000"; income band 30,000 to 40,000. If the horizon is blank, stop and gather it. Do not proceed with a missing fact.

Practise: Practise with a case card or template for "facts to collect from the client card": calculate simple affordability figures, given income and costs, with correct arithmetic and currency shown.

Standard to meet. Collect the essential facts from a client card, goals, time horizon, comfort with loss and financial position, and refuse to proceed while facts are missing.

Module 3 Matching needs to a product type 45 min

List needs first
Consider alternatives
One reason per match

Worked example. Needs: access in 3 years, loss limit 10 percent (2,000 of 20,000). Options: A short-term savings type, B mixed fund type, C do nothing. A fits the horizon and loss limit; B could fall below the limit; C leaves the money idle.

Practise: Practise with a case card or template for "matching needs to a product type": match needs to options, given a product list, giving one reason per match.

Standard to meet. Match a client's needs to a suitable product type, considering alternatives, using the facts gathered and the client's own words on risk comfort.

Module 4 Writing the reason in plain words 30 min

Plain words
Use the client's numbers
State alternatives considered

Worked example. Reason: "Type A because the client needs 20,000 in 3 years and said a loss over 2,000 (10 percent) is too much. Type B was considered but may fall further in 3 years." Plain words, with the numbers.

Practise: Practise with a case card or template for "writing the reason in plain words": record the reasoning, given a template, so another person can follow it.

Standard to meet. Write the reason for the match in plain words so that another person can see why the product fitted the client.

Module 5 The advice record checklist 30 min

Tick every item
Adviser and client sign
Alternatives and confirmation are required
Keep the advice record as long as your local rule and firm policy require; check them.

Worked example. Checklist has 8 items. A draft ticks 6: missing alternatives considered and client confirmation. Not complete. After fixing it, 8 of 8 and both signatures present.

Practise: Practise with a case card or template for "the advice record checklist": record the reasoning, given a template, so another person can follow it. Use a new case this time (round 2).

Standard to meet. Complete the advice record to the checklist, including alternatives considered, client confirmation, and the signatures required of the adviser and client.

Module 6 Practice file 25 min

Do the simple affordability sum
Show currency and units
Record facts, match, reason

Worked example. Practice client (amounts in the local currency): spare money 2,400 income - 1,900 costs = 500 a month. Goal 15,000 in 60 months needs 15,000 / 60 = 250 a month, which is half of the spare money. Record the figure with its currency.

Practise: Run one full practice round for "completing a suitability record" on a case card or template: work through each outcome in turn (collect client facts; calculate simple affordability figures; match needs to options; record the reasoning).

Standard to meet. Complete a practice file for an invented client, recording facts, matching a product type and writing the reason, then correct gaps after feedback.

Module 7 Assessment 10 min

Timed
Work from the card only
Reason in plain words

Worked example. Assessment sample: new client card with facts, goal and horizon given. Pass needs every checklist item and a clear written reason. A reason such as "it seemed good" fails; "needs the money in 4 years, low loss comfort" passes.

Practise: Practise with a case card or template for "assessment": record the reasoning, given a template, so another person can follow it. Use a new case this time (round 2).

Standard to meet. Complete a timed assessment record for a new client card that meets every checklist item and shows a clear written reason for the match.

Module 8 Second client card: a 3-year horizon 40 min

Work case card 2
Record facts, match and reason
Peer checks the record

Worked example. Case card 2: client aged 62 wants growth but needs the money in 3 years. Facts: 20,000 available, loss comfort 10 percent (2,000). Match: a lower-swing type, because a short horizon leaves little time to recover. Record that the growth wish and the horizon pull in different directions, and that the client confirmed it.

Practise: Practise with a case card or template for "second client card: a 3-year horizon": record the reasoning, given a template, so another person can follow it. Use a new case this time (round 2).

Standard to meet. Complete the advice record for the 62-year-old client card, recording facts, matching a type, explaining the reason and noting the conflict between growth wish and short horizon.

practice

Worked example and case cards

Worked example record

client goals; risk comfort in the client's words; facts (income band, time horizon); need matched to a product type with a written reason; alternatives considered; client confirmation.

Case card

an invented client card; learners complete the record to the checklist.

Case card 2

A client aged 62 wants growth but needs the money in 3 years. Learners record facts, match, and explain the reason.

checks

10 check questions with model answers

Why record the reason?

Model answer: To show the match was thought through. (Covered in module 4: Writing the reason in plain words. To pass that module: Write the reason for the match in plain words so that another person can see why the product fitted the client.)

What facts are essential?

Model answer: Goals, time horizon, comfort with loss, financial position. (Covered in module 2: Facts to collect from the client card. To pass that module: Collect the essential facts from a client card, goals, time horizon, comfort with loss and financial position, and refuse to proceed while facts are missing.)

What if facts are missing?

Model answer: Do not proceed until gathered. (Covered in module 2: Facts to collect from the client card. To pass that module: Collect the essential facts from a client card, goals, time horizon, comfort with loss and financial position, and refuse to proceed while facts are missing.)

Who signs?

Model answer: The adviser and the client, as the checklist requires. (Covered in module 5: The advice record checklist. To pass that module: Complete the advice record to the checklist, including alternatives considered, client confirmation, and the signatures required of the adviser and client.)

Name the four facts always needed.

Model answer: Goal, time horizon, comfort with loss, financial position. (Covered in module 2: Facts to collect from the client card. To pass that module: Collect the essential facts from a client card, goals, time horizon, comfort with loss and financial position, and refuse to proceed while facts are missing.)

What if the client declines to answer?

Model answer: Record it, do not guess the answer, and ask the checker before going further. (Covered in module 2: Facts to collect from the client card. To pass that module: Collect the essential facts from a client card, goals, time horizon, comfort with loss and financial position, and refuse to proceed while facts are missing.)

Why write a reason?

Model answer: So another person can see why this fit. (Covered in module 4: Writing the reason in plain words. To pass that module: Write the reason for the match in plain words so that another person can see why the product fitted the client.)

How long are records kept?

Model answer: As long as your local rule and firm policy require; check them. (Covered in module 5: The advice record checklist. To pass that module: Complete the advice record to the checklist, including alternatives considered, client confirmation, and the signatures required of the adviser and client.)

Who reviews the record?

Model answer: A second checker as per policy. (Covered in module 1: Why a review exists. To pass that module: Explain why an advice review exists and why a written record of the match between client and product must show the thought behind the advice.)

A client can save 250 a month and wants 15,000 in 5 years. Does saving alone reach it?

Model answer: Yes on saving alone: 250 x 60 months = 15,000. Record the figure and that no growth or loss is assumed. (Covered in module 6: Practice file. To pass that module: Complete a practice file for an invented client, recording facts, matching a product type and writing the reason, then correct gaps after feedback.)

glossary

Words used in this course

suitability, horizon, risk tolerance, advice record, checker.

marking

How the practice and assessment are marked

Level	Meaning	Marks of 4
Secure	Meets the standard in the outcome every time, no prompts	4
Meeting	Meets the standard with one small slip, corrected when prompted	3
Developing	Meets part of the standard; needs a re-attempt	2
Not yet	Standard not met	1

Pass = average 3 or more, and no outcome at 1. You may re-attempt after feedback. The subject expert sets any stricter pass mark.

where next

Ladder L1 to L7, slide by slide with notes

Slide 1: L1 Basic: Why we keep a record. Speaker note: Learners at this level know that advice work is written down so someone else can see what was done and why. They can say what a client record is in one sentence.
Slide 2: L2 Awareness: A client card. Speaker note: Show an invented client card with goal, time horizon, comfort with loss and financial position. Learners can name the four essential facts and know the card is the starting point of every record.
Slide 3: L3 Foundation: Fill the fact-find. Speaker note: With a mentor, learners complete a fact-find form from a short client story, check every required field and say what to do when a fact is missing: stop and ask.
Slide 4: L4 Practitioner: A record another person can follow. Speaker note: This course sits here. The learner gathers the facts, matches needs to a product type, writes the reason in plain words, lists alternatives, and completes the advice record to the checklist with signatures.
Slide 5: L5 Specialist: Complex clients. Speaker note: The specialist handles clients with mixed goals, short horizons or limited answers. They record when a client declines to answer, limit the advice, and prepare notes for the checker.
Slide 6: L6 Advanced: Reviewing records. Speaker note: The advanced worker checks others' records against the checklist, finds weak reasons, gives feedback and reports patterns such as missing alternatives. They keep retention rules in view.
Slide 7: L7 Super expert: Designing the review system. Speaker note: The super expert designs the suitability process: forms, wording, checker rules, sampling and training. They decide what a good reason looks like and prove records are consistent, with no advice given in training.

This course sits at L4 Practitioner. Credits stack; aligned with, not accredited by, any framework.

jobs this leads to

Where this takes you

Client services assistant
Adviser support officer
Financial services administrator
Compliance assistant
Records and checking officer

assessment and certificate

How you are checked

Each outcome is checked against its standard with a checklist or a short test. A digital CPD record shows the hours. Keep evidence in My page. Aligned with common CPD practice; not accredited. Learners check their own body's rules.

ten locations and global

Your place

Use your own body's forms, units and currency. Local professional bodies set the rules for CPD hours; check them first.

India (Bengaluru)

Language: English, Hindi, Kannada. Personal data: Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023. Credit and levels: National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) and the national credit framework.

Netherlands (Eindhoven area)

Language: Dutch, English. Personal data: EU GDPR (Dutch: AVG), supervised by the Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens. Credit and levels: the Dutch qualification framework (NLQF) linked to the European Qualifications Framework.

UAE (Dubai and Abu Dhabi)

Language: Arabic, English. Personal data: Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 (personal data protection). Credit and levels: the emirate education and training regulators (for example KHDA in Dubai) and the national qualifications framework.

Brazil (Sao Paulo)

Language: Portuguese (Spanish and English support). Personal data: LGPD (Lei Geral de Protecao de Dados). Credit and levels: the national technical-education catalogue and the national S-system training bodies.

Canada (Toronto)

Language: English, French. Personal data: PIPEDA, with provincial rules where they apply. Credit and levels: the provincial colleges framework and the national credential-recognition guidance.

United States

Language: English, Spanish. Personal data: state privacy laws (for example California), and COPPA for children under 13. Credit and levels: state and community-college credit systems.

Singapore

Language: English, Mandarin, Malay, Tamil. Personal data: Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA). Credit and levels: the Singapore national skills frameworks and the national credit system.

Australia

Language: English. Personal data: the Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles. Credit and levels: the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) levels.

Hong Kong (Eastern Asia)

Language: Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin), English. Personal data: the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance. Credit and levels: the Hong Kong Qualifications Framework.

Georgia and Israel (Western Asia)

Language: Georgian, Hebrew, Arabic, English. Personal data: the personal data law of the country where the learner lives. Credit and levels: the national qualifications framework of that country.

Cayman Islands (Caribbean)

Language: English. Personal data: the Data Protection Act. Credit and levels: the local education and training framework.

Mexico

Language: Spanish, English. Personal data: the federal law on personal data held by private parties. Credit and levels: the national competency certification system and the education ministry levels.

Draft

Draft CPD course. It opens only after final checks. No fee is shown.

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