Financial Adviser – Level 4
Standard Number
ST0374 – Version 1.0
Maximum Funding
£9,000
Pricing from: £855
(Discounts available based on volume).
Standard Overview
Financial advisers provide their clients with specialist advice on how to manage their money. They may be employed in large companies such as banks or within small specialist advice businesses.
The role involves building long term valued relationships with client, researching the marketplace and recommending the most appropriate products and services available.
Financial advisers may specialise in particular products, depending on their clients, such as selling employee pension schemes to companies or offering mortgage, pension or investment advice to private clients.
Financial advisers operate in a highly regulated environment and in order to give financial advice, they must have professional qualifications and demonstrate a high degree of integrity, adherence to a code of ethics and be committed to maintaining their professional development and knowledge.
Facilitation of Assessment
DSW has always had a ‘digital by default’ approach to end-point assessment; this allows us to provide greater flexibility for all stakeholders while reducing fees and our carbon footprint.
- Interviews and presentations are conducted using web conferencing platforms and we’re flexible enough to use a platform of the employer’s choosing when required.
- Written exams, MCQs and Case Studies are carried out online using an invigilated assessment platform
- Portfolios and Projects are submitted to DSW in digital format for assessment
- Our assessments are also administered using an online platform, epaPRO, which provides training providers with access to results, reports and dashboards.
This is all supported by named account managers and operations contacts who are here to support you at each step of the EPA journey.
Assessment Methods
Case Study Test
- Duration of the case study will be 2 hours
- Requires a case file to be reviewed
- A set of written questions needed to be answered
Viva Based on a Portfolio of Evidence
- Portfolio gathered during the last 6 months on programme and during the EPA period
- A showcase, displaying the best work-based examples of how the apprentice has demonstrated the learning outcomes
- Duration of the viva will be 60 minutes (+/-10%)
- Will consist of 14 questions
For more details, visit the IfATE website.
Grading
There are two graded assessment methods:
- Case Study Test
- Viva based on Portfolio Evidence
Each Assessment method is graded either a Fail, Pass or Distinction.
| Case Study | Viva | Overall Grade |
| Pass | Pass | Pass |
| Distinction | Pass | Pass |
| Pass | Distinction | Distinction |
Resources
We provide a range of recourses to support the apprentice, training provider and employer prepare for end-point assessment:
- Toolkit
- Overview video
- Service overview
- Relevant webinars
Benefits and Support
DSW is a leading EPAO trusted by some of the UK’s largest employers and apprenticeship training providers to assess apprentices across a portfolio of more than 35 standards.
We combine first-class customer support, leading assessment technology and assessment expertise to deliver an EPA experience which our clients tell us is unequalled.
Benefits include:
- Assessor allocated ahead of gateway to guarantee availability and fast turnaround
- Planning meeting scheduled within 1 working day of Gateway
- Results issued within 5 working days
- Competitive pricing, reduced resit fees and no registration fees
- Dedicated account manager and operations contact
- Quality-assured assessors with extensive sector and assessment experience
- Truly collaborative, partnership approach and dedicated DSW human touch support team
- Delivery of a great learner experience with flexibility to accommodate varied learner environments
- Support materials – Guides, toolkits, webinars and use of digital platforms make EPA efficient and easy
- Engaged with other EPAOs and sector bodies to lead the standardisation of assessment methods and raise professional standards