Continuing Education – Practice Matters

Fostering a deep understanding of ethics and practice guidelines is not just a commitment to professional growth; it is a cornerstone of success for financial advisors.

To help you plant firm roots in the industry, whether you’re just starting out or you want to expand or reframe your practice, Advocis has modules that go beyond traditional learning to help you bridge foundational learning with practical skills to set the stage for long-term success.

Investing in the ethical development of your practice is an investment in professional resilience, trust, and sustained success.

Programs

$ 212

+ applicable taxes for Advocis Members.
Non members pay $400 + applicable taxes.

Provide an understanding of how to leverage social media beyond marketing
24/7 access to the Advocis Learning Environment
One-year window for completion

Strategic Selling with Social Media

5 CE Credits

Social media and digital technologies enable sales professionals to find new customers and motivate these customers to take action in more efficient and strategic ways.

This course enables both successful sales people and those new to the sales profession, to leverage powerful social media sales solutions designed to help you save time, save money and make money throughout the sales cycle from prospecting to referrals to closing sales.

Learning Objectives

Provide an understanding of how to leverage social media beyond marketing.
Explore the powerful intelligence gathering opportunities of social networking.
Introduce hidden features of social media tools that make sales success easier.
Explain simple systems to attract new customers to your business.
Demystify technology tools to increase your comfort and confidence.

Overview

Format: Self-study: Online learning & activities

Pre-requisites: None

CE Credits: 5 CE

Additional Material: None

Completion Requirements:

Online Quizzes requiring 60% on each to pass. Candidates are allowed unlimited attempts for each quiz

Features

24/7 access to the Advocis Learning Environment
One-year window for completion
Online Discussion Board

Delivery

Online Self-Study: There are four modules which each have a video, readings and a final quiz

Price

Members: $250.00 plus shipping & taxes

Non-members: $400.00 plus taxes

Administrative Policies:

All purchases are non-refundable
There are no cancellations or extensions
Allow for 1-2 business days to access the program following the registration and payment process

$ 30 + applicable taxes for Advocis Members.
Non members pay $45 + applicable taxes.

Communicate better with your senior clients and assist them with their aging well strategies
Unlimited quiz attempts
One-year window for completion

Working with Senior Clients

2 CE Credits Including 1 Ethics Credit

Given the demographic shift that is taking place, most financial advisors and planners have clients that are in their senior years. Financial advisors and planners who learn more about working effectively with senior clients will have the opportunity to differentiate themselves as the go-to professional with their own clients as well as with their clients’ families, friends and in their community.

This course will help financial advisors and planners develop the practices and processes that will protect and empower their clients and protect their practice. They will learn about their responsibilities and how to recognize issues such as elder abuse and cognitive impairment. The course also includes access to many resources that financial advisors and planners can use in their practice.

Learning Objectives

Communicate better with your senior clients and assist them with their aging well strategies
Learn about the aging process, normal aging and it’s impact on the advisor and client relationship, as well as how to recognize the signs of cognitive impairment, dementia and capacity issues
Better understand how to have effective meetings with senior clients and understand your responsibilities as an advisor
Learn how to recognize the signs of elder abuse and what to do when you suspect elder abuse
Learn about the Power of Attorney and Trusted Contact Person

Overview

Format: Self-study: Online learning & quiz

Pre-requisites: None

CE Credits: 2 CE (including 1 ethics)

Additional Material: Resource Section

Completion Requirements:

Passing mark is 60% overall
Completion of quiz (100% of overall mark)

Features

Additional Resources
Unlimited quiz attempts
One-year window for completion

Delivery

Self-Study: The Advocis online modules are designed as self-study, with success highly dependent on the student’s personal discipline. Students are presented with learning content and quizzes to assess their overall understanding.

Price

Members: $30.00 plus taxes

Non-members: $45.00 plus taxes

Administrative Policies:

All purchases are non-refundable
There are no cancellations or extensions
Allow for 1-2 business days to access the program following the registration and payment process

$ 15 + applicable taxes for Advocis Members.
Non members pay $30 + applicable taxes.

Understand the impact of clients’ mental health on the financial decision-making process
Unlimited quiz attempts
120-day window for completion

Mental Health and the Financial Advice Relationship

1 Ethics CE Credit

Several years ago, Bridgehouse Asset Managers felt that the investment industry was several steps behind when it came to mental health awareness. Bridgehouse then partnered with CMHA Toronto, as well as with advisors and stakeholders in the industry and experts outside our industry, and conducted research to poll advisors on their experiences with the mental health of their clients. In 2020, this research included a COVID-19 focus.

In this course, Carol Lynde, President and CEO, Bridgehouse Asset Managers, discusses the findings of this research with Greg Pollock. Lynde and Pollock also review how mental health affects clients’ financial decision making and provide advice for advisors on having courageous conversations. Financial advisors and planners will learn how to assist clients in maintaining their mental health as well as their own, and how to implement the Trusted Contact Person (TCP) into their practice.

Learning Objectives

Understand the impact of clients’ mental health on the financial decision-making process
Understand the current state of clients’ mental health
Learn how to ask courageous questions
Learn how to assist clients in maintaining their mental health and how to maintain their own mental health
Understand how to successfully implement the Trusted Contact Person (TCP) into their practice

Overview

Format: Self-study: Online learning & quiz

Pre-requisites: None

CE Credits: 1 CE (including 1 ethics)

Note: Please check with your jurisdiction, designating body or professional association regarding their CE requirements.

Additional Material: Access to Bridgehouse Mental Health Resources

Completion Requirements:

Passing mark is 60% overall
Completion of quiz (100% of overall mark)

Features

Unlimited quiz attempts
120-day window for completion

Delivery

Self-Study: The Advocis online modules are designed as self-study, with success highly dependent on the student’s personal discipline. Students are presented with learning content and quizzes to assess their overall understanding.

Price

Members: $15.00 plus taxes Non-members: $30.00 plus taxes Administrative Policies:

All purchases are non-refundable
There are no cancellations or extensions
Allow for 1-2 business days to access the program following the registration and payment process

$ 30 + applicable taxes for Advocis Members.
Non members pay $45 + applicable taxes.

Explain the importance for financial advisors and planners to follow an ethical approach to social media campaigns
Unlimited quiz attempts
120-day window for completion

Ethics and Social Media

2 Ethics CE Credits

In this course, Rod Burylo takes financial advisors and planners through the complex world of ethics and social media. He dives into the importance of ethics, the difference between ability trust and integrity trust, and reviews some of the problems that financial advisors and planners can face with social media. Rod underscores the importance of a clear and developed communications strategy, and helps financial advisors and planners develop their own. He also explores the legal guidelines around social media communication.

Through real-world scenarios and case studies he interprets the Advocis Code of Conduct and FP Canada Standards of Professional Responsibility and how financial advisors and planners can act in accordance with these guides. You will finish the course with many best practices for your social media communication.

Learning Objectives

Explain the importance for financial advisors and planners to follow an ethical approach to social media campaigns
Illustrate the difference between ability trust and integrity trust
Summarize the unique problems financial advisors and planners face initiating and maintaining social media campaigns
Explain the importance of an ethical communication strategy and how to develop your own
Identify the legal guidelines and laws around communication
Given a case study, identify the specific Advocis Code of Conduct and FP Canada Standard of Professional Responsibility to be referenced
Summarize the best practices for financial advisors and planners in the development of ethical social media campaigns

Overview

Format: Self-study: Online learning & quiz

Pre-requisites: None

CE Credits: 2 CE (including 1 Professional Responsibility with FP Canada)

Note: Please check with your jurisdiction, designating body or professional association regarding their CE requirements.

Additional Material: None

Completion Requirements:

Passing mark is 60% overall
Completion of quiz (100% of overall mark)

Features

Unlimited quiz attempts
120-day window for completion

Delivery

Self-Study: The Advocis online modules are designed as self-study, with success highly dependent on the student’s personal discipline. Students are presented with learning content and quizzes to assess their overall understanding.

Price

Members: $30.00 plus taxes

Non-members: $45.00 plus taxes

Administrative Policies:

All purchases are non-refundable
There are no cancellations or extensions
Expiry date is 30 days after registration
Allow for 1-2 business days to access the program following the registration and payment process

$ 40 + applicable taxes for Advocis Members.
Non members pay $60 + applicable taxes.

Understand the current LTC system in Canada and the continuum of care
Unlimited quiz attempts
120-day window for completion

Long Term Care Client Conversations

2 CE Credits

COVID-19 has profoundly changed Canadian attitudes to long term care. What does this mean for the critical role advisors play as they help their clients create financial plans to support their care years? In this course, Karen Henderson, Founder and CEO of the Long Term Care Planning Network and Margaret Egan, Founder and Managing Director of strategy consultants Sinclair Barnes Limited discuss:

The long term care system today – how it works, what it costs, who pays, funding options
The long term care system going forward – how Covid and factors such as ageing-in-place are positively impacting the system
How these changes will help advisors reframe client conversations and generate client demand for creating effective financial plans to fund their care years
Case studies and examples to make client conversations about long term care planning easier.

Karen and Margaret have collaborated on an ongoing study on how financial advisors work with their clients to create plans for their long term care needs and will review what the results show to date.

Learning Objectives

Financial advisors and planners will:

Understand the current LTC system in Canada and the continuum of care.
Learn about the effects of COVID on LTC in Canada.
Learn about the common misconceptions about LTC.
Understand what ageing in place is and why it is desirable for many Canadians.
Summarize what governments subsidize and do not subsidize.
Illustrate funding options for LTC.
Understand why the care planning conversation is so important, what a financial advisor needs to cover and how to have the conversation.
Review three Case Studies.
Learn about marketing strategies and opportunities for financial advisors in the growing ageing marketplace.

Overview

Format: Self-study: Online learning & quiz

Pre-requisites: None

CE Credits: 2 CE

Note: Please check with your jurisdiction, designating body or professional association regarding their CE requirements.

Additional Material: None

Completion Requirements:

Passing mark is 60% overall
Completion of quiz (100% of overall mark)

Features

Unlimited quiz attempts
120-day window for completion

Delivery

Self-Study: The Advocis online modules are designed as self-study, with success highly dependent on the student’s personal discipline. Students are presented with learning content and quizzes to assess their overall understanding.

Price

Members: $40.00 plus taxes

Non-members: $60.00 plus taxes

Administrative Policies:

All purchases are non-refundable
There are no cancellations or extensions
Expiry date is 30 days after registration
Allow for 1-2 business days to access the program following the registration and payment process

$ 25 + applicable taxes for Advocis Members.
Non members pay $35 + applicable taxes.

Understand Rule 28 and 29 of the FP Canada Standards of Professional Responsibility
Unlimited quiz attempts
120-day window for completion

Understanding Your New Responsibility

1 Ethics CE Credit

As a Financial Planner, you have two new rules to be aware of in the FP Canada Standards of Professional Responsibility. These govern the Use of Technology. In this course, Dave Faulkner, CFP and CLU, reviews these professional responsibilities and uses three case studies to fully understand why assumptions matter and how to apply these rules in your practice. The course also discusses the Projection Assumption Guidelines provided by FP Canada and finishes with advice on protecting yourself, your clients and your practice.

Learning Objectives

Financial advisors and planners will:

Understand Rule 28 and 29 of the FP Canada Standards of Professional Responsibility.
Understand which technology is covered under these rules.
Explore assumptions used in financial planning technology as it relates to taxation, rates of return, and decumulation and the impact it can have on the financial plan for a client.
Summarize the best practices for financial planners to protect themselves, their clients and their practice.

Overview

Format: Online learning & quiz

Pre-requisites: None

CE Credits: 1 CE (including Ethics/Professional Responsibility)

Note: Please check with your jurisdiction, designating body or professional association regarding their CE requirements.

Additional Material: None

Completion Requirements:

Passing mark is 60% overall
Completion of quiz (100% of overall mark)

Features

Unlimited quiz attempts
120-day window for completion

Delivery

Self-Study: The Advocis online modules are designed as self-study, with success highly dependent on the student’s personal discipline. Students are presented with learning content and quizzes to assess their overall understanding.

Price

Members: $25.00 plus taxes

Non-members: $35.00 plus taxes

Administrative Policies:

All purchases are non-refundable
There are no cancellations or extensions
Expiry date is 120 days after registration
Allow for 1-2 business days to access the program following the registration and payment process

$ 25 + applicable taxes for Advocis Members.
Non members pay $35 + applicable taxes.

Understand how to attract more clients from different cultural identities
Unlimited quiz attempts
120-day window for completion

Why Diversity Matters

1 CE Credit

In our newest online CE course Dean Delpeache, Diversity & Inclusion Consultant explores how to attract more clients from different cultural identities and make changes to your marketing strategy to include new clients/attract more clients. Also featured in Why Diversity Matters is Mike Carlson, QAFP who started his business in 2019 focusing on fee-for-service wholistic financial planning for traditionally underserved clients with a focus on Indigenous individuals.

Learning Objectives

Financial advisors and planners will:

Understand how to define diversity in our industry.
Understand how to attract more clients from different cultural identities.
Explore changes to your marketing strategy to include new clients.
Consider what should be considered for hiring and staffing practices, as well as office and meeting practices.
Consider what can be done to increase retention and support new advisors in our industry.

Overview

Format: Online learning & quiz

Pre-requisites: None

CE Credits: 1 CE

Note: Please check with your jurisdiction, designating body or professional association regarding their CE requirements.

Additional Material: None

Completion Requirements:

Passing mark is 60% overall
Completion of quiz (100% of overall mark)

Features

Unlimited quiz attempts
120-day window for completion

Delivery

Self-Study: The Advocis online modules are designed as self-study, with success highly dependent on the student’s personal discipline. Students are presented with learning content and quizzes to assess their overall understanding.

Price

Members: $25.00 plus taxes

Non-members: $35.00 plus taxes

Administrative Policies:

All purchases are non-refundable
There are no cancellations or extensions
Expiry date is 120 days after registration
Allow for 1-2 business days to access the program following the registration and payment process

$ 25 + applicable taxes for Advocis Members.
Non members pay $35 + applicable taxes.

Understanding inclusion as part of strategic organizational transformation
Unlimited quiz attempts
120-day window for completion

Inclusive Behaviours

1 CE Credit

In this course we explore ways that financial advisors and planners can build a more inclusive practice for their clients and employees.

Learning Objectives

Financial advisors and planners will:

Understanding inclusion as part of strategic organizational transformation
Exploring how to pivot our thinking to build a more inclusive environment for everyone
Considering inclusive hiring and staffing practices
Understanding the Advocis Code of Professional Conduct and FP Canada Standards of Professional Responsibility and applying the principles to be more inclusive when working with clients
Summarize the best practices for language, meetings, office design and client material

Overview

Format: Online learning & quiz

Pre-requisites: None

CE Credits: 1 CE

Note: Please check with your jurisdiction, designating body or professional association regarding their CE requirements.

Additional Material: None

Completion Requirements:

Passing mark is 60% overall
Completion of quiz (100% of overall mark)

Features

Unlimited quiz attempts
120-day window for completion

Delivery

Self-Study: The Advocis online modules are designed as self-study, with success highly dependent on the student’s personal discipline. Students are presented with learning content and quizzes to assess their overall understanding.

Price

Members: $25.00 plus taxes

Non-members: $35.00 plus taxes

Administrative Policies:

All purchases are non-refundable
There are no cancellations or extensions
Expiry date is 120 days after registration
Allow for 1-2 business days to access the program following the registration and payment process