BECOME A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® PRACTITIONER

Financial Planning is the process of meeting an individual’s life goals through the proper management of his finances. Life goals can include creating wealth, buying a house, going for vacations, saving for a child’s education or planning for retirement.

OVERVIEW of KMDC PROGRAM – ESSENTIAL INFORMATION 2009

The CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and CFP^{CERT TM} certification marks identify what a financial planner is, establishes a standard of professional practice and creates a “mark of quality” that consumers can recognize and for which practitioners may aspire to attain. The financial planner who uses this mark is recognized as having met the highest standards for the practice of financial planning. The international CFP^{CERT TM} Council works to ensure that a well-defined six-step process used by a financial planner will place the client’s interest and needs first. As of September 2008, there are more than 111,000 CFP certified practitioners worldwide and the number is growing.

In Malaysia, CFP^{CERT TM} certification programme has becoming more and more popular. The Financial Planning Association of Malaysia (FPAM) currently enjoys with more than 11,000 members and over 4000 of them are CFP certified practitioners with another 7000 of them still pursuing CFP^{CERT TM} certification programme. Majority of Malaysia's CFP^{CERT TM} holders are mainly from financial industry: about 65% of them are attached to banks, unit trust, insurance, financial advisory and stock broking companies, with another 18% are accountants. About 16% of CFP^{CERT TM} holders in Malaysia are from non financial corporations.

Everyone Ought to Learn Financial Planning

, Who Is This For?

The CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® qualification is for those wishing to practice the profession of financial planning and who wish to master a certain level of theoretical knowledge and practical application of financial planning in such areas as:

General principles of financial planning
Risk management & insurance planning
Taxation planning
Investment planning
Retirement planning
Estate planning
Financial plan construction and professional responsibilities

The Financial Planning Process

The financial planning process is defined by the CFP^{CERT TM} Board involves the following six key steps:

A Professional Certification Recognised Globally and Locally

The CFP^{CERT TM} program is recognized globally and locally by Bank Negara and Securities Commission.

Benefits of becoming a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Practitioner :

Entry Requirements & Exemptions

Option A: Full CFP Certification Program
Candidates without any relevant qualifications are required to undergo the full CFP^{CERT TM} certification course, which comprises 6 modules (Module 1 to 6).

Course duration: The shortest possible time frame to complete the program is 18 months.

Minimum academic requirements: SPM or equivalent

Option B: Partial Exemption on Modules
FPAM - Financial Planner Association of Malaysia recognizes that certain professional qualifications cover some of the components in financial planning and has decided to waive certain modules for eligible members.

Holders of these degrees and/or credentials are exempted from the following modules:

* X denotes exemption
Click here for more information about partial exemption and to download application forms: http://www.kmdc.com.my/html/programmes/cfp_Exemptions.html#cfpme

Option C – CFP Challenge Status- skip Modules 1-5 and go straight to the last paper, Module 6
Candidates having the following qualification and/or professional credentials and have gained 3 years of personal finance related experience are eligible to apply for the CFP Challenge Status. This CFP Challenge Status is only open for Malaysians.

1. Qualifications:
· Professional Accountants (MIA, CPA (M), CPA (Aust.), AICPA, CA, ACCA, CIMA and AIA)
· Chartered Secretaries (ICSA & Fellow of MACS)
· Chartered Financial Consultants (CHFC)
· Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA)
· Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA)
· PhD (Business, Accounting & Economics)
· Masters (Business Administration/Finance/Economics/Accounting) from accredited universities

2. Members must have 3 years of personal finance related experience which can be in any or all the following areas: Insurance, mutual funds, securities, asset management, accounting, estate planning, banking, taxation, trusts, retirement planning and financial planning. (For definition of relevant financial planning experience, please click here)

3. There will be three (3) consecutive examination attempts only for the Challenge Status commencing immediately after obtaining approval from FPAM. After the 3 attempts or non-attempts, they must enroll for the normal CFP^{CERT TM} certification examinations.

Click here for more information about Challenge Status and to download documents:  http://www.kmdc.com.my/html/programmes/cfp_Exemptions.html#cfpcs

*Corporate Discount (Premium Fee)
* You are eligible for the Corporate Rate (@about 20% discount) if you are attached to any financial institution, for example, banks, units trusts, insurance, financial planning, wills & trusts and finance company.

**FPAM Membership
Charter Members are corporations that play an active role to support the development of the financial planning industry.  If you are attached to a company or institution that is a Charter Member of FPAM, then you only need to pay RM200 examination fee per examination sitting instead of RM300.

Corporate Members are corporations that are interested in financial planning and subscribe as a member of FPAM. If you are attached to a company that is a corporate member of FPAM, then your examination fee is RM250 per examination sitting.

Trade Member – must be involved in financial product distribution, advisory and or education. All candidates who enrolled for CFP Module 1 or Challenge Status must apply to become FPAM Trade member. Associate member: must have passed CFP Module 1 course.

Click here for more information on FPAM membership:  http://www.fpam.org.my/fpam/membership/types-of-members/

Examination

FPAM conducts two examination sittings per year: mid June and mid December. Examinations will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor Baru, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu.

For CFP Module 1 to Module 5, a 2-hour examination with 60 multiple choice questions each. For CFP Module 6 examination, Paper 1 (3-hour) consists of 60 multiple choice questions, and Paper 2 (3-hour) consists of essay questions on financial plan construction and case study.

For more information about CFP Examination: http://www.kmdc.com.my/html/programmes/cfp_examination.html

Mode of Study, Duration of Program and Venue

For each CFP module, students need to fulfill a minimum of 40 contact hours. This financial planning program is designed for working professionals, thus most classes are held during weekends.

Besides face-to-face workshop with the facilitators, there will be online support, and study manual, lecture notes, sample examination papers and reference materials will be provided.

Complete CFP^{CERT TM} program in 3 Stages: There are 3 stages. Unless exemption is granted, for most people, they have to begin with Module 1. Once passed Module 1, then you will move on to Stage 2, i.e. Modules 2-5. In this stage, you may choose to study all four modules or any module(s) in any sequence in one semester. Once you have passed all four modules in Stage 2, then you will take up the last paper, that is Module 6.

KMDC provides 54-63 hours of workshop for each CFP module. Classes are held mostly on weekends, some on weekdays, usually from 9:00am till 5:00pm. You may choose Saturday Class or Sunday Class or Weekday Class. For each module, you only need to attend a total of 6-7 days of workshop.  Each module can be completed in 7 – 15 weeks.

3 Venues: Kuala Lumpur (next to Central Market), Petaling Jaya (Damansara Uptown 5, opposite Standard Chartered Bank) and Penang (KDU College).  Outstation and in-house classes available on demand.
Besides CFP workshops, KMDC also provides additional training workshops, mock examination and revision seminars at no extra cost.

Shortest Time frame to complete the program: 1.5 years; most people requires 2 years to complete. For Challenge Status students who were exempted 5 modules, it is possible to complete in 6 months.

For CFP Timetable, click here: http://www.kmdc.com.my/html/programmes/cfp_KL&PJ_Schedule.html

Registration and Payments

1.     Registration: Submit by hand or fax KMDC Admission Form to KMDC business office at Damansara Uptown, Petaling Jaya. Fax numbers: 03-7712 3366 or 03-7726 9559. Tel: 03-7712 3388 Email: start@kmdc.com.my

2.      Payments: 
First of all, determine how much you need to pay.
Suppose you are a new candidate and applying to start CFP Module 1 with KMDC:

Corporate rate (Premium fee @ about 20% discount - if you are attached to any financial institution or if you are fresh graduate or full time student):
Tuition Fee: RM1300 + Application Fee: RM100 = RM1400

Standard Rate:
Tuition Fee: RM1650 + Application Fee: RM150 = RM1750

Please note: you only pay for the module(s) that you plan to study for the coming semester, not the whole program. Application fee is one-time only and only applies to new candidates.

a.      Credit Card: authorize KMDC to charge your credit card by filling up your credit card details on the KMDC Admission form.

b.      Deposit cheque or cash into KMDC's Maybank account:

Name: KDU Management Development Centre Sdn. Bhd.
Account No.:514196 – 326142
Bank: Maybank Damansara Utama Branch

Once payment is made, write your name onto the bank-in slip, and then fax this slip together with KMDC Admission Form to KMDC, fax number: 03-7712 3366 or 03-7726 9559

c.       Cheque Payment via mail or Cash: send the cheque together with KMDC Admission Form to KMDC Business Office via mail or make a visit to our office and pay cash:

KDU Management Development Centre Sdn. Bhd.
Level 8, Uptown 1, No. 1 Jalan SS 21/58, Damansara Uptown
47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.

3.      FPAM’s Fees: For fees payable to FPAM, i.e. FPAM Trade membership fee, please authorize FPAM to charge your credit card by filling up the details in FPAM Trade Member Application Form or issue cheque payable to Financial Planning Association of Malaysia. KMDC will not accept cash on FPAM’s behalf. FPAM Examination Fee can be settled at a latter stage.

For more information about Registration and Payment Options: http://www.kmdc.com.my/html/programmes/cfp_how_to_enrol.html

CFP^{CERT TM} Course Description

Module 1: Foundation in Financial Planning
CFP^{CERT TM} course provides a comprehensive examination of the entire financial planning process, along with an overview of the specific areas of personal income tax planning, risk management and insurance, investment planning, retirement planning, and estate planning.

Module 2: Risk Management & Insurance Planning
This CFP^{CERT TM} module covers various aspects of fundamental concepts in risk management and insurance, including how insurance rates are developed, what types of contracts are available, how to read insurance proposals, and how life insurance is used in financial planning. Other topics include health insurance plan and legal aspects of insurance.

Module 3: Tax Planning
Participants in this course study Malaysian taxation for tax aspects of investments, EPF and unit trusts. The course also introduces other special tax considerations.

Module 4: Investments
This course explores the securities market, sources of information, risk/return, equities, stocks, bonds, derivatives, unit trusts, real estate and culminates in portfolio construction and analysis.

Module 5: Estate Planning and Retirement Planning
This course is taught in two sections; the estate planning and retirement planning.

Module 6: Financial Plan Construction and Professional Responsibilities
This course is for students who have completed Module 1 to 5 or preparing to attempt the CFP^{CERT TM} Challenge Status. The course introduces methods of gathering client data and teaches students how to work with clients to set goals. Students learn how to process and analyze information, construct personal financial statements, and understand a written comprehensive financial plan, including implementing, monitoring, and reviewing the plan.

For more information about the course outline: http://www.kmdc.com.my/html/programmes/cfp_outline.html

Why KMDC?

• KMDC is the Malaysian market leader in CFP^{CERT TM} education: In Klang Valley, we have over 50% market share and in whole Malaysia, 43%.
• Good reputation: High quality education assured. KMDC provides high quality education and continue to seek improvement.
• Best performer in CFP^{CERT TM} examination – over 85% pass rate: KMDC has constantly achieved over 85% total average pass rate in the past 3 examinations.
• Best value: KMDC provides extra training, mock exam/revision seminar, financial planning software and additional contact hours – about 14–23 hours more than the required 40 hours.
• Best facilitators: a strong team of facilitators who are highly qualified industry practitioners.
• Administrative support and service: KMDC is known for providing fast, hassle-free and efficient support and services to our learning community.
• Flexibility and more choices: KMDC CFP timetable is specially tailored and designed for busy professionals, you have the choices of Saturday and or Sunday and or Weekday sessions, and  you may choose to attend classes at KMDC PJ or KL centre or both; and we provide replacement, repeat and re-sit (must be within 2 years from 1st sitting) opportunities.
• Up-to-date study manual, lecture notes, sample examination papers and reference materials are provided.

  

KMDC CFP New Timetable for 2010 March – June Intakes:

New CFP Intakes for 2010 will commence in March, 2010. The NEW TIMETABLE for March-June is NOW Available. For registration, please contact 03-7712 3388 or email: start@kmdc.com.my or download KMDC Application Form from HERE and fax it to 03-7712 3366 or 03-7726 9559

Below is the table that highlights the commencement date of the all the CFP classes offered in PJ and KL:

KMDC CFP Module 1: Foundation in Financial Planning

KMDC CFP Module 2: Risk Management and Insurance Planning

KMDC CFP Module 3: Taxation Planning

KMDC CFP Module 4: Investment Planning

KMDC CFP Module 5: Retirement Planning and Estate Planning

KMDC CFP Module 6: Financial Plan Construction and Professional Responsibilities

Contact Us

KDU Management Development Centre Sdn. Bhd.  (KMDC)

• KMDC BUSINES OFFICE @ Damansara Uptown 1, PJ:

Level 8, Uptown 1, No. 1 Jalan SS 21/58, Damansara Uptown, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.

Tel: +603-7712 3388, +6012-398 9030; Fax: +603-7712 3366, 7726 9559; Email: start@kmdc.com.my

Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9.00 a.m. - 6.00 p.m

KMDC Business Office @ Uptown 1: Location Map Click HERE

More information about Malaysia's CFP^{CERT TM} programme and about KMDC CFP facilitators, exam results & etc; and to download documents and forms, here are the links:

1. About KMDC CFP Facilitators: http://www.kmdc.com.my/html/programmes/CFP_Facilitators.html 

2. About KMDC CFP Exam results (we always deliver the best results among CFP education providers): http://www.kmdc.com.my/html/programmes/CFP_Results&Awards.html

3. About: Malaysia's CFP requirements & options: exemptions and Challenge Status: http://www.kmdc.com.my/html/programmes/cfp_requirements.html 

4. Instructions on enrolment & payment: http://www.kmdc.com.my/html/programmes/cfp_how_to_enrol.html

5. KMDC CFP Timetable: http://www.kmdc.com.my/html/programmes/cfp_KL&PJ_Schedule.html

6. Contact KMDC: Addresses, Locations and Maps: http://www.kmdc.com.my/html/programmes/cfp_contact_us.html 

7. Malaysia's CFP Fee: http://www.kmdc.com.my/html/programmes/cfp_fee_structure.html 

Corporate rate available for all employees (both full time and part time) of financial institutions and media companies: enjoy about 20% off the standard fee.  

8. Malaysia's CFP Course outlines: http://www.kmdc.com.my/html/programmes/cfp_outline.html 

9. Frequently Asked Questions about CFP: http://www.kmdc.com.my/html/programmes/prog_04cfp_faq.html

10. Why choosing KMDC? Advantages and Benefits: http://www.kmdc.com.my/html/programmes/cfp_28_reasons.html

go to Top

Select one or more mail lists to subscribe to: CFP/Personal Financial Planning Course Finance/Accounting/CPA/CFA Course Human Resource/In-House/Corporate Training programme Project Management Programme Sales, Social Media & Marketing Programme Executive/Management Development Programme Email address