Mar 02

Why Are NISM Exams So Important?

NISM, also known as the National Institute of Securities Markets, is known for improving the level of education that professionals in finance receive. Professionals who pass National Institute of Securities Markets exams are certified to perform finance-related tasks, and without NISM certification, it’s quite possible that you will be unable to get a job in the finance and securities industries. Why? Because National Institute of Securities Markets designed their tests to set the standard for the very minimum that each finance professional should know in order to be able to work in the field.

There is a very distinct need for consumers, government officials, and other professionals to be able to tell who actually is legitimately educated in the world of securities. There have been cases where thieves posed as investment professionals, made off with others’ money, and were unable to be found. By creating NISM certifications, consumers are protected against fraud. Moreover, these exams also help set a national standard in terms of the education level that people can expect from the finance professionals that are handling their money.

Without these exams, there really is no national benchmark for professional knowledge in securities. This means that people who want to work with professionals that actually are knowledgeable would have little means to distinguish the qualified professionals from those who might just be trying to make a quick buck. Employers and investors are more comfortable hiring people who have passed NISM exams, simply because it shows that they know what they are talking about and that they are actually serious about their careers.

Unlike many other certifications that you could get, NISM exams have the distinct difference of being backed by government sponsorship. It is one of the few organizations that were actually put forth at the recommendation of the Finance Minister, and it also has the added benefit of being established for several years. Passing NISM exams is soon, if it isn’t already, going to become a legal prerequisite for people who want to work in the finance field.

Another reason why NISM exams are so important is because they are the first certification exams to focus on securities in an objective manner. If you are concerned about passing your NISM exams, don’t be. NISM has developed easy to read study guides, courses, and help kits for those who want to get certified through one of their many tests. Since NISM exams are designed to be a series of cut-and-dry, easy to score standardized tests, you don’t have to worry about subjective scoring.

Make no mistake about it; passing your NISM exams is an important step to becoming a well-rounded professional. Having a NISM certification shows consumers that you know what you are talking about, and that you will handle their financial needs in a professional manner. If you want to work in securities, start studying! With a little effort, you will be able to pass your NISM exams in no time flat.

Jan 30

Route to Chartered : The FOUR Key Investment Exams

AF4 is the CII’s level 6 investment planning exam. It is a three-hour, case study-based written paper. It builds on the technical knowledge gained from the R02 and J10 diploma exams, and requires a much more in-depth understanding of private client investment planning considerations, and an advanced knowledge of the technical aspects which underpin it. It is a pillar of the CII’s Level 6 Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning, providing 30 level 6 credits towards Chartered status upon successful completion of the unit. AF4 is examined twice a year; in April and October.

We firmly believe in double-bubbling your credits, so if you’re going to sit AF4, we also recommend you sit R02, J10, and the CISI’s PCIAM exam alongside it. Obviously, this only applies where the qualifications have not already been attained!

I’m willing to bet you’ve heard of R02 and J10 – they’re both diploma-level CII exams, providing 20 level 4 credits apiece towards your Advanced Diploma and Chartered status. What you might not be as familiar with is PCIAM.

The Level 6 Certificate in Private Client Investment Advice and Management (PCIAM, pronounced “P-cam”) is a single-unit qualification offered by the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI). Upon successful completion, candidates can apply to the CII for 30 non-specific Level 6 credits. Similar to AF4, PCIAM is a three-hour, investment-focused, level 6 written exam.

At Expert Pensions, we strongly advocate taking AF4 in April/October, followed by the CISI PCIAM exam in June/December. If you have AF4, R02, J10, and PCIAM, this is a total 100 credits towards your qualification goals, including 60 of the 120 you require at Level 6 for your Advanced Diploma and Chartered status.

R02 J10 AF4 PCIAM
Exam Provider CII CII CII CISI
Title Investment Principles and Risk Discretionary Investment Management Investment Planning Private Client Investment Advice and Management
RQF Level 4 4 6 6
Subject matter 100% Investment 100% Investment 100% Investment 80% Investment, 20% other financial planning areas
Recommended study hours 60 60 150 200
Pass mark 65% 65% 55% 50%
Exam Length 2 hours 2 hours 3 hours 3 hours
Structure Online multiple choice Online multiple choice Written Written
Availability Year-round Year-round April/October June/December
CII credits awarded 20 (level 4) 20 (level 4) 30 (level 6) 30 (non-specific level 6)
Recent pass rate 62.79% (2017) 86.24% (2017) 48.96% (2017) 57% (June 2018)
Designation N/A CertPFS(DM) N/A MCSI/Chartered MCSI

May 25

Daily Market Commentary : 25th may 2017

Nifty 50 forms Long White Day; be alert on midcaps
The Nifty 50 soared nearly 150 points on Thursday to close above the crucial level of 9,500. In the process, the index formed a ‘long bullish candle’ or ‘long white day’ kind of pattern on the daily candlestick charts.

Indian share markets continued to witness strong buying momentum in the afternoon trade tracking a firm trend in international markets. Fresh spell of buying by foreign investors and further recovery in the rupee.

At the closing bell, the BSE Sensex stood higher by 448 points, while the NSE Nifty finished up by 149 points. Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Mid Cap and the S&P BSE Small Cap finished up by 1.4% and 2% respectively.

China stocks rose sharply, as market appeared to have shrugged off Moody’s downgrade of China’s credit rating. The rating cut was followed by criticism from senior government officials in Beijing. Other Asian markets also rose after Fed signaled that interest rates could be raised soon and oil prices rallied ahead of an OPEC meeting. The Shanghai Composite is up 1.43% while Japan’s Nikkei 225 is up 0.98% and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng is up 0.86%. European markets too are higher today. The CAC 40 is up 0.23% while the FTSE 100 and DAX are up 0.1%.

State oil companies have planned a capex of Rs 870 billion, or US$13 billion, in 2017-18 to develop oil and gas fields, expand refining capacity, and build pipelines.

Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) plans to invest Rs 300 billion, the maximum among all state oil firms. This is slightly higher than the company’s spending of about Rs 280 billion in 2016-17.

GAIL, HPCL, Mangalore Refinery and Numaligarh Refinery have also planned to spend more this year than they did last year, but others will spend less, making the total capex nearly a fifth less than the last fiscal year’s Rs 1.06 trillion.

Also, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) is reportedly planning to invest around Rs 200 billion in 2017-18 to augment their marketing and distribution infrastructure, including storage, pipeline and retail outlets. This is lower than the company’s spending of about Rs 220 billion in 2016-17.

The rupee was trading at 64.50 per US dollar.

Top 5 Nifty Gainers: L&T(4.69%), HDFC BANK(3.10%), ICICI BANK(3.06%), INFOSYS LTD (2.84%) and TCS (2.59%).

Top 5 Nifty Losers:  LUPIN LTD (-7.49 %), DR. REDDYS LAB (-3.63%), CIPLA (-3.33%),  SUN PHARMA (-1.51%), and BHARTI AIRTEL(-0.39%).

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