Paraplanner & Financial Planner – Level 4

Standard Overview

The broad purpose of the occupations is to deliver a holistic financial planning service to corporate or individual clients and create personalised solutions designed to deliver their financial needs and objectives. This involves financial planners and paraplanners collaborating to gain a clear understanding of each client’s circumstances and needs, in order to create a financial plan to help them achieve their goals.

A paraplanner supports the financial planner in the provision of regulated advice. They use their technical knowledge, expertise and capability to interpret client needs and objectives and undertake extensive research to examine potential financial options whilst utilising a variety of software applications and tools. 

A financial planner is responsible for the client relationship and uses their knowledge, skills and expertise to understand their client’s circumstances, needs and objectives, in order to provide regulated financial advice. They design, deliver and maintain appropriate financial solutions for the client whilst building trusting and enduring relationships with them.

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, Proficient, 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 assessment journey.

Resources

We provide a range of recourses to support the apprentice, training provider and employer prepare for apprenticeship assessment:

• Toolkit available upon partnering with us
• Service overview
• Relevant webinars

Benefits and Support

DSW is a leading AAO trusted by some of the UK’s largest employers and apprenticeship training providers to assess apprentices across a portfolio of more than 45 standards.

We combine first-class customer support, leading assessment technology and assessment expertise to deliver an assessment experience which our clients tell us is unequalled.

Our key 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 assessment efficient and easy
• Engaged with other AAOs and sector bodies to lead the standardisation of assessment methods and raise professional standards