Professional Financial Services
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Program Overview
This one-year post-grad program is designed for university and college graduates looking for a career in financial services. You'll learn about personal financial management, tax and retirement planning, insurance, investment and estate planning. You’ll also study the importance of people skills - critical for working with clients, evaluating their needs and offering financial advice.
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Program Details
Program Code
FSP1
Credential:
Ontario College Graduate Certificate
Duration
30 weeks
Canadian Students
Start Dates
Locations
Availability
Full Time Offerings
2025 January
London
Open
2025 September
London
Open
2024 September
London
Closed
Part Time Offerings
Show More (2)International Students
Start Dates
Locations
Availability
Full Time Offerings
2025 January
London
Open
2025 September
London
Open
2024 September
London
Closed
Your Learning Experience
A part-time, online (asynchronous) version of this program is available.
Professional Financial Services is a one-year Ontario College Graduate Certificate program designed to leverage a university or college credential in any discipline by providing a fast track to a career as a professional financial planner. An intensive curriculum prepares graduates to provide clients with professional advice to build wealth and ensure financial security through setting goals, managing finances, minimizing tax, managing life's risks, and building investment portfolios, as well as customer relations and providing products to clients.
The program will also provide the opportunity to complete educational components of industry designations including:
- Qualified Associate Financial Planner (QAFP™)
- Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) Note: an approved degree is a requirement beginning in 2022
- Personal Financial Planner (PFP®)
- Registered Retirement Consultant (RRC)
You’ll also complete the Canadian Securities Course (CSC) and Life License Qualification Program (LLQP) courses related to industry licensing.
Career Information
Graduates of Fanshawe’s Professional Financial Services program are prepared to enter the financial services sector in a variety of fields, including customer service, banking, wealth management, life insurance, investments and credit financial planning. Graduates are self-motivated, goal-oriented and are suited to a variety of junior- to intermediate-level positions, including:
- sales representative
- customer service supervisor
- call centre supervisor
- loan officer
- mortgage specialist
- bank supervisor
- insurance advisor
- investment advisor
- tax advisor
- credit counsellor
- financial planner
- wealth manager
- retirement planners
- estate planner
- securities dealer
Did you know Fanshawe consistently ranks high in graduate employment rates among large colleges in Ontario?
Here are some examples of career opportunities for graduates of Fanshawe’s Professional Financial Services program:
Client Associate
Help manage portfolios and develop new business while engaging with private clients to offer support, uncover business opportunities and proactively improve the client experience.
Financial Advisor
Provide personalized financial advice to clients to assist with important financial decisions.
Financial Planning Associate
Start your career in the financial services sector by providing administrative support to financial planners and their clients.
Financial Planner
Develop comprehensive financial plans to help clients achieve their long-term financial goals.
Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
- Evaluate the Canadian financial services industry, capital markets efficiency, regulatory issues and global integration.
- Evaluate Canadian statute law as it applies to the formulation of financial planning strategy.
- Analyse client information to formulate financial planning strategies.
- Develop a financial services business plan to build long term relationships, maintain efficient client communication and ensure accurate client records management.
- Analyse compliance cases to reconcile planner advice and conduct, against accepted industry conduct and practice standards that reflect the industry code of ethics.
- Analyse customer credit capacity and select loan instruments to meet customer needs.
- Evaluate client risk tolerance, net worth and wealth creation potential to select appropriate investments most likely to achieve client goals and objectives.
- Evaluate financial products and recommend asset allocation strategies in a constantly changing economic and political environment.
- Analyse client or business risk management needs and recommend appropriate insurance product strategies.
- Plan tax minimization strategies for clients.
- Evaluate client estate and personal care needs in order to recommend strategies to ensure efficient estate distribution and continuity of personal care.
- Create a comprehensive financial plan.
Related Programs
Academic School
Program Coordinator:
Brad Bishop, MBA, CFP, CIM
Academic Advisor:
Ingrid Amezquita Montoya
Admission Requirements
One of:
A Two- or Three-Year College Diploma, or a
Degree
(Note: minimum 'C+' average or cumulative 2.5 GPA)
- OR -
Acceptable combination of related work experience and
post-secondary education as judged by the
College*
- OR -
Five years of work experience in the financial services
industry as judged by the College to be equivalent*
NOTE:
*Applicants may be required to submit a resume and cover
letter that includes details of work experience.
International Admission Equivalencies
Admission equivalencies for Fanshawe depends on your country of study. Please enter your location to see the requirements for your country below.
English Language Requirements
English Language Requirements
Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to demonstrate proficiency in English by one of the following methods:
- A Grade 12 College Stream or University Stream English credit from an Ontario Secondary School, or equivalent, depending on the program's Admission Requirements
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) test with a minimum score of 88 for the Internet-based test (iBT), with test results within the last two years
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic test with an overall score of 6.5 with no score less than 6.0 in any of the four bands, with test results within the last two years. SDS Program Requirements.
- Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL) test with an overall score of 70 with no score less than 60 in any of the four bands, with test results within the last two years
- Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE) with a minimum score of 59, with test results within the last two years
- A Cambridge English Test (FCE/CAE/CPE) with an overall score on the Cambridge English Scale of 176 with no language skill less than 169, with test results within the last two years
- An English Language Evaluation (ELE) at Fanshawe College with a minimum score of 75% in all sections of the test, with test results within the last two years
- Fanshawe College ESL4/GAP5 students: Minimum grade of 80% in ESL4/GAP5 Level 9 or 75% in ESL4/GAP5 Level 10
Recommended Academic Preparation
Recommended Academic Preparation
It is highly recommended that students be proficient in the
following areas before entry into the program:
-Mathematics
-Business Communication
-Computer applications, particularly Microsoft Word, Excel and
PowerPoint
Advanced Standing
Advanced Standing
- Applicants may apply for advanced standing on the basis of previous academic achievement at another institution and/or Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR). Advanced standing qualifies the applicant for direct entry to a second or higher level of the program.
Applicant Selection Criteria
Applicant Selection Criteria
Where the number of program eligible applicants exceeds
available spaces, the Applicant Selection Criteria for this program
will be:
Preference for Permanent Residents of Ontario
Receipt of Application by February 1st (After this date,
Fanshawe College will consider applicants on a first-come,
first-served basis until the program is full)
Achievement in the Admission Requirements
Courses
| Level 1 | ||||
| Take all of the following Mandatory Courses: | ||||
| FINA-6012 | Canadian Securities 1 | 4 | ||
| Canadian residents wishing to sell securities or advise clients on securities must be licensed and the Canadian Securities Course is the first step toward obtaining a license. FINA-6012 has the same content as Volume I of the Canadian Securities Course and covers the Canadian economy and investment marketplace, fixed income securities, equity securities, managed products, structured products, derivatives and corporations and their financial statements. | ||||
| FINA-6026 | Professional Financial Planning | 4 | ||
| This course looks at the financial planning profession and role of a financial planner working with clients to make financial decisions and work towards achieving their financial goals. Aspects of measuring personal financial situation, goal-setting. decision-making process, and communication and trust are considered. | ||||
| INSR-6001 | Insurance Planning | 4 | ||
| This course is a preparatory course for provincial licensing requirements for those who wish to sell life insurance and other life insurance products in Ontario. Topics discussed in this course include individual and group life insurance, disability insurance, insurance investment products, underwriting and claims processes, the risk management process and legal and professional standards. | ||||
| FINA-6009 | Trust & Estate Planning | 3 | ||
| This course reviews and discusses the importance of tools such as life insurance, wills, powers of attorney and trusts in estate planning, as well as the preservation and the inter-generational transfer of personal and business assets. This course will show the role risk and estate planning plays in a proper financial plan. You will learn strategies that can be used to transfer assets to beneficiaries in the most efficient manner. | ||||
| FINA-6008 | Professional Retirement Planning | 3 | ||
| This course provides a detailed look at the many sources of retirement income available to Canadians and how individuals can plan for their retirement, considering income needs, alternative savings/retirement income vehicles and taxation issues. The course discusses how the financial planner can provide assistance to clients in retirement planning. | ||||
| FINA-6003 | Consumer Credit | 3 | ||
| This course provides students with an in-depth knowledge of consumer and mortgage lending from a lender's perspective. Topics include: the types of credit available to match consumers' needs, the application and assessment process, investigation, documentation and collection methods. | ||||
Tuition Summary
London
Online
*Total program costs are approximate, subject to change and do not include the health and dental plan fee, bus pass fee or program general expenses.