"Valuable Financial Planning Advice "

Straightforward and insightful. Exactly what I needed to understand the basics of planning.

"Financial Advisor Certification (FAC) "

Engaging and well-structured. Feel prepared to tackle financial planning challenges confidently.

"Essential for AML Compliance "

Clear, detailed, and necessary. AML guidelines are so much easier to apply after this course!

"Digital Marketing Essentials"

Perfect for beginners! Covers all basics of digital marketing in an engaging format.

"Commendable "

My experience was positive. The program was well structured with detailed and comprehensive study materials that helped me to prepare for the exams.

"Mortgage Advisor Certification (MAC) "

Detailed and easy to follow. Covers all essentials for mortgage advising. Ideal for career advancement.

"Investment Advisor Certification (IAC) "

Thorough, practical, and engaging! Gained confidence in investment advising skills. Highly recommend.

"Introduction to FCA/PRA & Investment Risks"

Perfect for finance pros! This course enhanced my understanding of UK regulations and investment risks.

"Do your research first!"

If a recruitment agency has suggested that you take a course on this website, I would recommend that you do some research first! After doing a little research I was able to make an informed decision about whether to purchase a course from this company.

Here is what happened to me, if you are reading this perhaps you find yourself in a similar situation: I was told by a recruitment agency that I was an excellent candidate for a role but would need to strengthen my application with an "official certification" in finance. They told me to sign up for the "Introduction to UK Financial Regulation & Professional Integrity" course at CIFA, which costs £358. I was suspicious so I searched the name of this particular course on Reddit and discovered that others have had the same experience – they had all been told by a recruiter to take a course at CIFA. I did not sign up for the course, and I never heard from the recruiter again.

If you are in a similar situation and you are considering purchasing a course at CIFA, I would recommend doing some research into CIFA and the recruitment company you have been in touch with. I’m not sure if I would put much trust in all the 5-star reviews on this page that seem to all come from accounts that have only ever posted one review. If you want to see what people on Reddit have to say I would avoid the “r/CIFA_REVIEWS” subreddit which appears to just be posts from the same few accounts that were mostly created in March 2023 who don’t have any interests on Reddit besides talking about the benefits of online financial courses. I would also recommend searching on Reddit and Trustpilot for recruitment companies such as "Recruitment Central", "City Jobs UK", “My Financial Careers”, and "Recruit Direct" – the name CIFA comes up often when reading about these companies and you may find that others have had an experience that sounds a lot like yours.

"Risk & Compliance Clarity"

A well-rounded course that simplified complex compliance details. Useful for everyday work.