Luiza Todd FPFS CFP’s Post

I recently revamped the Bespoke Training Solutions Ltd AF8 Retirement Income Planning eLearning module. The main reason was that the CII rules on what was taken into account and what was not in terms of the tight assignment word counts had changed, something that as far as we could see had not been widely shared or communicated. AF8 is a tough advanced unit for a variety of reasons. 👉 Candidates don't have a clear picture of what good looks like. We have a few CII exemplars but that is about it. 👉 If a candidate 'defers success' in an assignment the initial feedback is not that helpful. A candidate does not know which sections to leave in as they were good, and which to change as they were not so good. As a result they run the risk of taking out some of the good stuff 🤦♀️ 👉 A remark is the way to go as this provides much more in depth feedback, so it's worth paying the fee for, as long as you have sufficient time left in the 12 month enrolment period. But that costs additional monies, and not everyone has such deep pockets, especially if self funding. 👉 Providers such as BTS have to be so careful in the support they provide. I saw an email from a candidate this week asking if our eLearning module includes a BTS tutor checking their assignment before they submitted it. Er, that will be a no...😱 👉 The Turnitin plagiarism software will spot any similarities in wording styles, so if I trained 12 candidates on how to build their assignment the likelihood is that they would fall foul of this. The assignment has to be all your own work, and rightly so. So what does the BTS AF8 eLearning contain to help candidates? ⭐Lots of hints and tips on what to do and what not to do. ⭐Tools out there that candidates can use for asset allocation models, risk profiling etc...with links so candidates can easily find them. ⭐FAQs with answers and guidance taken from real life experiences. ⭐ Lots of knowledge refreshers including the relatively new pension allowances introduced. The really key thing though, is we don't just design a module and then leave it alone. As I made this change I went through the entire eLearning and made some other improvements. I then got one of our BTS Associates to check my work, and she came up with other suggestions. So one planned change led to 4 days worth of work. Why? Because our candidates are worth it (just like L'Oréal's tagline).... Monty Todd was very invested in the entire process 😻

How is asking employers to pay national insurance contributions on pension contributions 'pro business' as Sir Keir mentioned yesterday? Am I missing something really obvious?? Cos as far as I can see this is just another tax burden on already struggling small to medium employers, which will affect future hires, company revenue and ultimately the health and growth of the economy. And whilst I am ranting if I hear one more time the phrase being parroted out about not raising taxes on working people I will 😡🤮. Who the heck do the Labour government think I am (and others like me - directors of small firms)?? Contrary to popular belief I don't spend my time lounging in warmer climates sipping champagne 🥂. I work like a 🐶, have risked my own monies building up the company, put so much money back into the economy through various taxes (and by employing people). This phrase and attitude really does tick me off...🤣 All of you small business owners out there, especially with employees, will know exactly why I am having another rant 🤣🤣 Here is Monty Todd considering his economic strategy for the UK. Personally I think he could do a far better job that Sir Keir and Rachel, whilst looking way cuter 😻🐱

Having reached aged 60 (I know, scary huh??😱) should I be thinking of retirement? Big D retired earlier this year when we sold the hotel he has owned and run for the last 20 years, so he has more time on his hands (though I do fill it with lots of jobs 👍. My only issues with retirement include: 👉 the fact that I still have so much passion and love for the FS industry. 👉 and so many opinions on what we are doing right and where we can improve 🤣. 👉 that the thought of just stopping fills me with horror. 👉 the real danger that Big D and I would kill each other if we were together 24/7. The prospect of retirement has definitely changed over the years. These days it is much less about one day you work full time, the next day you are 100% retired, and for some of us more about gradually reducing our working hours. I also find that prospect much less scary 🤣 How do you see your retirement panning out? Are you in the camp that you will 100% stop work, or like me thinking it will be more of a gentle descent? The cats are already retired - Monty Todd has this relaxing lark down to a T 😻😹 #worklifebalance

It's well know in the L&D market that Bespoke Training Solutions Ltd have designed their own versions of some of the CII study guide (16 so far and counting 😬). Every time I finish one off (I have designed 11 of them with Jeff Scholes DipPFS and Howard Pass checking my work) I say 'that's it, never again'🤣. And every time I then pick up the next one and push on (👀ing up FA2 currently and wondering if I have the enthusiasm). Howard was teasing me gently about this the other day (well that's one word for it - I wont print my reply to him 🤣🤣 as not sure it would be in any HR handbook 🤦♀️). We regularly look at stats of how well the guide are selling (we are a commercial business after all). The take up on R01- R05 is high - not surprising as our guides combine the required knowledge with loads of exam style practice, plus a hefty dose of humour (if you can have a giggle with some of the learning, then you can forget it 🤣). The one that is less popular, and this always surprises me, is the R06 Integrated Financial Planning guide. What is it about this unit that makes candidates think they don't need to work through a study guide? After all: 👉 the question answers are not in front of you, just a lovely blank screen to type your answers in to. 👉 the fall back, tried and tested exam technique of ip, dip, sky, blue aint going to work here. You have to get some quality answers out of your grey calls with no options to discount. 👉 many candidates (don't let pass rates be your guide here) stumble with this unit, as it is so different from the other exams. Some of this I am sure is because they look through a past paper, think there is nothing that difficult with the answers given, and think it will be a shoe-in (good luck with that approach 😱)... Our own Natalie Dawes DipPFS, Certs CII (MP/ER), Cert CII (FS) is running a R06 kick start webinar on 31st October via the Careers Zone. As part of this presentation she talks about the study guide, and the need for candidates to work through it way before their actual exam case studies are released. Even Monty Todd is getting geared up by practicing his reading, albeit it I think that is the Daily Mail (he can't manage anything more intellectual 😻😹). Please, please don't assume you don't need this part of your study plan. Waiting until the last few weeks up to an exam sitting is a very risky strategy... #R06support #getourR06studyguide #itsnotaneasyexam

Ok Wednesday morning rant on its way 😡 Is it rocket science to leave pensions alone in the October 30th Budget??? What is so difficult to understand around the real need to get people to take responsibility and fund their own retirement? This means encouraging them to do so. We have an ageing population, people are living longer, there is huge strain on the NHS and public services. It does not mean: 👉 shifting the goal posts again when to comes to pension rules ⚽🥅. Pension simplification, as we all agree, is the biggest oxymoron on the planet (even for those of us that ❤❤❤pensions eh Rhoda Mortimer DipPFS, Cert CII(MP)🥰). 👉 putting more burden on employers (proposed NI introduction on pension contributions). We already bear a big tax burden, thanks very much. 👉 capping tax advantages (not if you want UK individuals to use pensions as their main form of retirement planning). Talk of reducing the PCLS amount is just stoopid. And just think of the transitional protection that would have to be introduced as a result 🤦♀️I am going pale at the thought of all the changes to the Bespoke Training Solutions Ltd materials that we would have to make (like it feels we do every single flipping year!) We need pensions to stop constantly being changed (btw the Tories were just as much to blame for this, more as they have been in power for the last 14 years). Stop using it as a political football, this has serious repercussions. Pensions need to be simple, the public need to be confident in them to use them. These shifting rules do the exact opposite of this. So STOP DOING IT...🙏 Who advises governments on this subject?? Cos they obviously know nothing 🤣. I could do it for a modest fee 😜. And lets face it, could I do a worse job??? Imagine LT in the halls of power??? Admit it, its a scary but somehow appealing prospect eh? It just beggars belief - lets start a campaign LEAVE PENSIONS ALONE RACH! p.s. This is as excited as Peenie Todd gets on the subject of pensions 😻 #leavepensionsalone #bunchofmuppets #ilovepensions

News for today 📰 is that I sat the CF8 Long Term Care CII unit on Saturday. Bespoke Training Solutions Ltd are currently working on our CF8 study guide and other candidate support so I thought I had better get a bit closer to the exam standard, as its been years since I last took this exam. First off, the good news is that I passed 🏆. Which is no mean feat as my LTC knowledge is a bit rusty to say the least. However yet again I found this Level 3 unit far from easy 😓 despite the fact that it has no multi-choice questions in it. 👉 Some of the questions stems are hard to get your head around, and understand exactly what the examiner is actually asking you. I had to read a few multiple times, and there were at least a couple I still had no real idea what the examiner was asking me. How someone where English is not their first language copes with this is beyond me. 👉 I had a couple of questions examining me on Scottish law; in my naivety I thought, like some other CII exams, I would have questions on English law. But then thinking about this afterwards there are questions on Scottish law and practices in the CF6 mortgage exam, so why should it different with this unit. Note to self - check next time before you sit the exam 🤣🤦♀️. 👉 The syllabus was pretty wide ranging again, and the case studies were quite in depth (there are five of them in this paper). However the case study questions I found ok, nothing too 🦊there. 👉 The two hour timeframe was ok, I finished with 40 minutes to spare which included going over my flagged questions. I did not really feel any time pressure, not like the pesky R03 tax exam! So, watch out for the BTS CF8 study guide and some practice questions. We are about a quarter of the way through the guide design so it will be at least a couple more months before this is finished. We will of course keep you posted...And we will do our best to try and get it finished earlier. Here is Monty laid on Big D's legs trying to contain his feline excitement at yet more BTS exam support materials...😻😹. Apologies for the hairy human legs folks 🤣. #CF8support #BTSmaterials

So, the big Bespoke Training Solutions Ltd news of the week (other than big D does not mean big 🍆🤣🤣) is we now have the CF1 study guide and a volume of App questions available 👍. The guide has been designed in our usual fashion, so adults in conversation, lots of colour, some BTS humour and anything else that can bring this unit to life. As it sure as heck is not an easy unit, despite being level 3. I have to be honest, I sat this exam a few months ago and my expectations were very much that this exam would be a walk in the park for an old, seasoned FS professional like myself 👵. yeah, right 🤣🤣... What made it such a challenge included: 👉 how broad the syllabus is, it covers so many different subject areas. 👉 the amount of tax knowledge and calculations included. Now I am not quite like our lovely BTS Associate Dawn Jukes FPFS who only today told me her idea of a good time trainer wise (before I make Jon Dunckley and Toni Haynes DipPFS snigger with any double entendre 🤣🤣) was to run an AF1 taxation session 🤦♀️. I do like tax but the amount in the exam surprised me. 👉 the amount of protection and investment product knowledge required to have a good chance of an exam pass. Again loads of it!! 👉 that the regulation element formed a much smaller part of the key knowledge requirement, much less than is expected for R01 this paper's level 4 equivalent. We have to remember that CF1 is aimed at newer starters in the FS industry. Well blimey, if I were a new starter (if only folks, rather than the old, experienced bantam 🐔 that I am) I would have been scared stiff by this exam 😱. It is a really robust exam challenge. Our materials will really help, that's a promise 💪👍

It is the October R06 exam siting today. I together with the whole Bespoke Training Solutions Ltd team wanted to wish every single candidate the very best of luck with their exam later on today. Cameron and Nancy, Kabir and Emma - let's hope most of the questions are kind to us, and that we only get the odd dodgy little number (such as a question on PIP in the July exam 😱). Remember all the question answering techniques you hopefully have practiced ad nauseam, and put these into practice as much as possible. Something will always come up that you are not expecting - the real key is to nail the questions you were, and have practiced for. 🌟 Double check all the key words in your question stem. Make sure you are answering as best you can the question you are being asked. 🌟 The examiner is looking for you to showcase your analysis skills, so make sure you do that 👍. 🌟 Avoid panic! Maximise your marks on the questions you like, do the best you can with those you don't like. 🌟 Manage your time, it's so easy to run out of it. Those three hours can fly by so keep an 👀 on the marks available with each question, and allocate your time accordingly. And finally - good luck, do your best, and go smash that exam 🤞🍀 Monty, Mali and Peenie Todd are right behind you...💪 #R06exam #examtechniques

I had a real giggle yesterday plus a bit of a 😡 moment. Those of you that read my posts will be well aware that I refer to the love of my life as big D. Why? Well he is tall (over six feet) and a bit squidgy in the middle ❤. No other reason... Well, apparently, the phrase 'big D' has a different meaning to some of our younger readers. According to Urban Dictionary (!) it can also mean someone with a big 🍆😜🤣. Which one of my lovely BTS candidates let me know yesterday....just in case I offended anyone with my postings... When I told big D his initial response was 'tell them that's true'! 🤣🤣Honestly folks is anyone else in a relationship with a grown man that is aged 65 but going on 15 when it comes to such a delicate subject? 🤣🤦♀️ Fellas, wonderfully predictable, it's us ladies that are a bit more 🦊y... My thoughts were: 🌟 are my connections really going to think I would use this sort of reference on a professional network when describing my life partner? 🌟 people can be so easily offended in this day and age. 🌟 that I am a complete innocent in the ways of social media, and a champion obviously at inadvertently offending people 🏆. 🌟 that this says more about your mind and where it goes, than mine 😜. 🌟 that anyone that knows me will 100% know I am not really worried about offending any sensitive wallflowers out there 💐 - 'horse bolting', and 'shutting the stable door' springs to mind. 🌟 that finding out we have something called Urban Dictionary means I am so old and past it 🤣, and to be honest I am not really that bothered, I then went online and found some brilliant examples of dodgy names out there, which again got me tittering like a five year old 🤣🤣. Cup of Urinal tea anyone ☕?? What about getting stuck into My Dadz Nuts?? My favourite though has to be Shitto spiced pepper sauce...🤦♀️Though My Dadz Nuts comes a close 2nd 🥈. Can you believe yesterday was a manic day, with all this merriment...?? Apologies for anyone I have offended (yeah, right 👍)... #notenoughtodo #dirtyminds #sorrynotsorry

Big D and I went down to the big smoke a couple of WEs ago to see Elvis Costello in concert, from our home in North Yorkshire 🎙🎸. First off the concert was not great (a lot of the singing was out of tune) and the seats at the London Palladium were the most uncomfortable I have ever sat in (and the set lasted over two hours with no break!) We still had a lovely time but that was more about the meal we had pre concert, the laughs and the conversations ❤. One thing I did notice though (and is it just me?) was how generally unfriendly Londoners are. Up North everyone talks to you. Initially I found it really strange that someone I did not know would just strike up a conversation with me. 20 years later I find I do the same and really like it. There a genuine warmth and interest in others here. If I try and have a conversation with someone I don't know down south I get some right funny looks 🤣. People think I am a bit odd for being friendly, or so it seems 🤦♀️. I remember offering someone a polo on a train into London when staying with a friend in Bucks - it was as if I had offered them crack cocaine. And smiling, making eye contact, striking up a conversation were all big no nos... Is it just me, or have you experienced some regional behavioural variations? #notfriendly #talkingtoomuch