Institute of Banking

Who is this programme for?

The Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning, awarded by University College Dublin (UCD), is a highly regarded postgraduate qualification (level 9), designed for those working in, or who would like to develop a career in, financial planning and wealth management. It is designed for those who wish to develop their financial planning knowledge and skills to the highest international standards.

The programme is specifically designed to provide financial planners with the knowledge and understanding of the applicable regulatory requirements, the mechanisms and purpose of the main investment products and the ability to satisfy their individual clients’ financial planning and investment portfolio needs.

The Graduate Diploma seeks to deepen your technical knowledge in areas such as asset, finance and risk management and retirement planning. Each area provides the building blocks for the integrated personal financial planning module which provides the basis for developing client solutions and building long-term mutually beneficial relationships.

Through the College of Professional Finance, the programme is a joint initiative of the Life Insurance Association, the Institute of Banking and the Irish Tax Institute.

How you will benefit

This programme will provide you with the knowledge and skills required for a career as a professional financial planner.

It will:
•Enhance your knowledge of the constituent disciplines underpinning financial planning including investments, pensions, taxation and estate planning.

•Develop your analytical, problem solving and decision-making skills to produce comprehensive financial planning solutions.

•Evaluate economic, financial and other relevant data to create integrated financial plans.

•Promote a deep understanding of professional values and ethical issues in financial planning execution.

•Prepare you for the Certified Financial Planner designation qualifying examination.

Gateway to the prestigious international designation - Certified Financial Planner professional

Certified Financial Planner professional or CFP certification is the world’s most widely respected financial planning designation and it marks the Certified Financial Planner as being professional, competent, ethical and professional to the highest global standards.

At the end of 2016, there were 170,101 CFP professionals in 26 countries around the globe, including all of the main developed and developing economies. Global numbers have increased by almost 10% over the last two years.

The first cohort of candidates in Ireland were CFP certified (with the Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning) in early June 2011. There are now 471 CFP professionals in Ireland.