CPD · Financial and insurance services

Identifying conflicts of interest

Spotting and declaring conflicts before they cause harm.

about this course

What you will be able to do

L4 PractitionerAbout 3 hours (180 minutes) of CPDSelf-study plus role-playFinancial and insurance services

Spotting and declaring conflicts before they cause harm.

Recognise a conflict, given 8 short cases, with at least 7 correct.
Declare a conflict, given your policy, using the right form and person.
Manage a conflict, given a scenario, choosing an action that protects the client.
Record the decision, given a template, with reasons and date.

Task, condition and standard

Task

Recognise conflicts of interest in short cases, declare them with the firm's wording before advice, and record the decision and named approver in the register.

Condition

Given eight short cases, the firm's disclosure wording, a conflicts register template and a named approver, working in a three-hour supervised session.

Standard

Classify at least 7 of 8 cases correctly, declare in writing before any advice, and record the conflict, action and approver so the decision can be traced.

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 What a conflict is, with everyday examples 20 min

A conflict is a clash between your interest and the client's
Spot it, then declare it
A conflict is not always a breach

Worked example. Worked-example figures: an adviser earns a bonus of 150 if a client picks product P. Personal gain could affect the duty to the client, so it is a conflict. Everyday match: choosing a supplier owned by your cousin.

Practise: Practise with a case card or template for "what a conflict is, with everyday examples": recognise a conflict, given 8 short cases, with at least 7 correct.

Standard to meet. Define a conflict of interest in plain words and recognise it in everyday examples where personal or firm gain could affect your duty to the client.

Module 2 Eight short cases 30 min

Mark conflict or not conflict
Name the action: declare, avoid or ask
Give a reason in one line

Worked example. Case 3: adviser holds shares in fund F and is about to suggest fund F. Conflict: declare. Case 5: adviser has lunch with a client at the client's own cost. Not a conflict by itself. Target: 7 of 8 correct is 87.5 percent.

Practise: Practise with a case card or template for "eight short cases": declare a conflict, given your policy, using the right form and person.

Standard to meet. Judge eight short cases, marking each as a conflict or not a conflict and naming the action that fits, such as declaring, avoiding or asking.

Module 3 Disclosure wording 20 min

Plain words
Written, before advice
Approved wording only

Worked example. Sample wording (use your firm's approved text): "Before I advise you, I must tell you that I receive a bonus if you choose product P. You may ask about other options." Given in writing, before advice.

Practise: Practise with a case card or template for "disclosure wording": manage a conflict, given a scenario, choosing an action that protects the client.

Standard to meet. Use the firm's approved disclosure wording to tell a client about a conflict before giving any advice, in writing.

Module 4 Recording the decision and approver 15 min

Date, conflict, action, approver
Approver is named, not the adviser
So it can be traced later

Worked example. Register line: 12 May | Conflict: bonus of 150 on product P | Action: disclosed in writing, alternatives offered | Approver: team manager | Decision: proceed with disclosure.

Practise: Practise with a case card or template for "recording the decision and approver": record the decision, given a template, with reasons and date.

Standard to meet. Record each conflict, the action taken and the named approver in the register, so the decision can be traced later.

Module 5 Practice 10 min

Decide, disclose, record
Use a new case
Correct the missed step

Worked example. Practice case: a fund run by your relative. Step 1 decide: conflict. Step 2 declare to client and approver. Step 3 record. A learner who forgot step 3 adds the register line and ticks all 3 steps.

Practise: Run one full practice round for "identifying conflicts of interest" on a case card or template: work through each outcome in turn (recognise a conflict; declare a conflict; manage a conflict; record the decision).

Standard to meet. Practise deciding, disclosing and recording on a new case, such as a fund run by a relative, and correct any step you missed.

Module 6 Check 5 min

Short and written
Three points
Say it in your own words

Worked example. Check: define a conflict (when personal or firm gain could affect duty to the client); first step (declare); record (conflict, action, approver). 3 of 3 required.

Practise: Take the end check for "identifying conflicts of interest": show that you can record the decision, given a template, with reasons and date, and meet every outcome standard above.

Standard to meet. Show in a short check that you can define a conflict, take the first step of declaring it and record it with the approver.

Module 7 Second case: a gift and a relative 45 min

Work case card 2 and a gift case
Apply the three steps
Check the register line

Worked example. Case card 2: you are asked to recommend a fund managed by a company your cousin runs. Decide: conflict. Disclose to client and approver before advice. Record. Gift case: a client offers a gift worth 80 and the firm limit is 50, so 30 over the limit; declare it to the approver, decline or log it.

Practise: Practise with a case card or template for "second case: a gift and a relative": record the decision, given a template, with reasons and date. Use a new case this time (round 2).

Standard to meet. Decide, disclose and record the decision for the cousin case and a gift case, then check each register line for the conflict, action and named approver.

Module 8 Teach-back and peer check 35 min

Explain the three steps in one minute
Peer checks each case
Give feedback using the list

Worked example. Teach-back: "A conflict is when personal or firm gain could affect my duty to the client. I declare it first, in writing, before advice. I record the conflict, my action and the approver." Peer marks 3 of 3 on the list.

Practise: Practise with a case card or template for "teach-back and peer check": record the decision, given a template, with reasons and date. Use a new case this time (round 2).

Standard to meet. Explain the define, declare and record steps aloud in one minute so that a peer can confirm all three are present and in the right order.

practice

Worked example and case cards

Worked example

an adviser earns extra if a client picks product P. Conflict: personal gain could influence advice. Disclosure wording (approved by your firm) is given before advice; decision and approver are recorded.

Case card

8 short cases; learners mark conflict/not conflict and the action.

Case card 2

You are asked to recommend a fund managed by a company your cousin runs. Learners decide, disclose, and record.

checks

10 check questions with model answers

Define a conflict of interest.

Model answer: When personal or firm gain could affect your duty to the client. (Covered in module 1: What a conflict is, with everyday examples. To pass that module: Define a conflict of interest in plain words and recognise it in everyday examples where personal or firm gain could affect your duty to the client.)

First step?

Model answer: Declare it per policy. (Covered in module 3: Disclosure wording. To pass that module: Use the firm's approved disclosure wording to tell a client about a conflict before giving any advice, in writing.)

What do you record?

Model answer: The conflict, the action and the approver. (Covered in module 4: Recording the decision and approver. To pass that module: Record each conflict, the action taken and the named approver in the register, so the decision can be traced later.)

Is a conflict always a breach?

Model answer: No; unmanaged or undisclosed ones are the problem. (Covered in module 1: What a conflict is, with everyday examples. To pass that module: Define a conflict of interest in plain words and recognise it in everyday examples where personal or firm gain could affect your duty to the client.)

Is a conflict always wrong?

Model answer: No; it must be spotted, disclosed and managed. (Covered in module 1: What a conflict is, with everyday examples. To pass that module: Define a conflict of interest in plain words and recognise it in everyday examples where personal or firm gain could affect your duty to the client.)

When disclose?

Model answer: Before advice, in writing. (Covered in module 3: Disclosure wording. To pass that module: Use the firm's approved disclosure wording to tell a client about a conflict before giving any advice, in writing.)

Who decides?

Model answer: The named approver, not the adviser. (Covered in module 4: Recording the decision and approver. To pass that module: Record each conflict, the action taken and the named approver in the register, so the decision can be traced later.)

What if unsure?

Model answer: Treat as a conflict and ask. (Covered in module 2: Eight short cases. To pass that module: Judge eight short cases, marking each as a conflict or not a conflict and naming the action that fits, such as declaring, avoiding or asking.)

Where is it recorded?

Model answer: The conflicts register. (Covered in module 4: Recording the decision and approver. To pass that module: Record each conflict, the action taken and the named approver in the register, so the decision can be traced later.)

A client offers a gift worth 80 and your firm's limit is 50. What do you do?

Model answer: Treat it as a possible conflict: decline it or declare it to the named approver, and record the decision in the register. (Covered in module 7: Second case: a gift and a relative. To pass that module: Decide, disclose and record the decision for the cousin case and a gift case, then check each register line for the conflict, action and named approver.)

glossary

Words used in this course

conflict, disclosure, approver, register, client interest.

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: What is a conflict of interest. Speaker note: A conflict happens when what is good for you or your firm could pull against what is good for the client. Learners at this level can say this in one sentence and give one everyday example.
Slide 2: L2 Awareness: Spotting the signs. Speaker note: Show everyday examples: a bonus on one product, a relative's company, a gift. Learners know the words declare, avoid and ask and understand that spotting a conflict is not an accusation.
Slide 3: L3 Foundation: Mark the case. Speaker note: Learners mark simple written cases as conflict or not conflict, with a mentor beside them. They read the firm's policy and find who the named approver is.
Slide 4: L4 Practitioner: Decide, declare, record. Speaker note: This course sits here. The learner judges eight cases, uses approved wording to disclose before advice, and records the conflict, action and approver in the register so the decision can be traced.
Slide 5: L5 Specialist: Hard cases. Speaker note: The specialist handles layered cases: several small interests together, interests of colleagues, or gifts over time. They advise colleagues on grey areas and escalate quickly when unsure.
Slide 6: L6 Advanced: Managing the register. Speaker note: The advanced worker reviews the register for patterns, checks that approvers decide on time, reports trends to senior managers and updates the policy when the same case keeps appearing.
Slide 7: L7 Super expert: A culture that speaks up. Speaker note: The super expert designs the firm's conflicts framework: policy, wording, training, review and speaking-up routes. They measure success by early declaration, not by the number of breaches hidden.

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
Compliance assistant
Financial services administrator
Adviser support officer
Trainee compliance 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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