UK body leads world on standards for financial advisers

The achievement of ISO 22222, the international quality standard for providing financial advice, has been made compulsory in some countries yet the UK's Standards International remains the world's only organisation that is dedicated solely to the certification of financial advisers to international standard IS0 22222.

Austria have mandated that to be a financial planner their advisers need to have CFP and ISO 22222, France is following suit and Standards International predict that Italy will shortly announce similar requirements.

Mel Blackmore, Director at Standards International said, "Our attendance at a number of international conferences on standards for financial advisers has proved helpful in understanding how certification bodies from around the world are certifying against ISO 22222.

We are encouraged by the fact we remain the only body dedicated solely to certifying advisers on this standard, which goes some way to demonstrating how seriously we are committed to helping advisers meet these rigorous standards.

Whilst the RDR requires all advisers to eventually gain a level 4 qualification there will inevitably be many advisers who seek to differentiate themselves from the masses by taking the next step.

Anyone who has gained the ifs or CII level 4 qualification is eligible to be certified to ISO 22222."

With regard to increasing numbers of countries making ISO 22222 compulsory, Blackmore added, "The benefits to both advisers and consumers are already very clear, whether compulsory or not. The decision as to whether or not ISO 22222 becomes a compulsory part of the financial advice landscape in the UK is a matter for the FSA and not something we'd wish to comment on."

For further information please visit: www.standardsinternational.co.uk