Continuing Education – Practice Matters

Continuing Education – Practice Matters

At Advocis, we recognize that developing a reputable practice and creating sustainable strategies for growth is no easy task. 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.

Programs

Getting Established - Advisors (30 CE)

Getting Established is a mentorship-based program where students are connected to an experienced advisor who guides them through the required modules and activities. The program allows advisors to focus on practice development through a hands-on learning approach. Advisors learn how to build a sustainable practice through methods such as strategic planning, marketing, and client service.

By pairing you with an experienced mentor, you’ll get the guidance you need to complete the required in-field program assignments. This type of coaching allows you to drive the learning while at the same time gain valuable insights and know-how from your mentor.

Advisors will receive a Getting Established certificate on successful completion of the program.

Getting Established - Advisors - FAQ
  • To successfully market your practice and find the right clients
  • To have an effective client meeting

Format: Self-study: Online learning & activities

Pre-requisites: None

CE Credits: 30 CE

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

Additional Material: None

Completion Requirements:

  • Completion of 50 activities using Dropbox (Pass or Fail mark)
  • 24/7 access to the Advocis Learning Centre
  • One-on-one guidance from a mentor
  • 50 practical activities
  • Flexible schedule for just in time learning
  • Dropbox – an online tool to easily submit your work
  • Download content
  • One-year window for completion
  • Access to help for program-related questions
  • ReadSpeaker text-to-speech
  • Self-study: Designed as a self-study program, with success highly dependent on the student’s personal discipline. Students will be assessed on a number of activities which will be based the learning modules presented online.

Members: $250.00 plus shipping & taxes

Non-members: $375.00 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
Register Now - Getting Established - Advisors

Getting Established - Mentors (10 CE)

Getting Established is a mentorship-based program where advisors are connected to a mentor, allowing them to focus on practice development using a hands-on learning approach. Through this program, advisors learn how to build a sustainable practice with methods such as strategic planning, marketing, and client service.

Advisors should not be alone on this journey. Getting Established partners advisors with experienced mentors. As a mentor, your role is to guide them by offering valuable personal insight, best practices, and feedback while monitoring their progress and encouraging them every step of the way.

Getting Established - Mentors - FAQ
  • Must be an Advocis member in good standing
  • Minimum 10 years of experience
  • Must hold at least one of the following designations: CFP, CLU, CHS, CH.F.C. (or similar)

Format: Self-study: Online review of advisor content and activities & regular review meetings

Training: Orientation training provided

CE Credits: 10 CE

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

Additional Material: Online mentor guide provided

  • Commitment to advisors learning path
  • Dedicate minimum of 90 minutes/month
  • Review content
  • Conduct review meetings
  • Evaluate advisor activities
  • Access to help for program-related questions
  • ReadSpeaker text-to-speech

Members: None

Non-members: Not available

To register for the Getting Established program as a mentor, please send an email to CE@advocis.ca with your resume. Mentors must be Advocis members in good standing with at least five years of relevant work experience.

Strategic Selling with Social Media (5 CE)

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.

  • 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.

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
  • 24/7 access to the Advocis Learning Environment
  • One-year window for completion
  • Online Discussion Board
  • Online Self-Study: There are four modules which each have a video, readings and a final quiz

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
Register Now - Strategic Selling With Social Media

Working with Senior Clients (2 CE - 1 ETHICS)

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.

  • 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

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)
  • Additional Resources
  • Unlimited quiz attempts
  • One-year window for completion
  • 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.

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
Register Now - Working with Senior Clients

Mental Health and the Financial Advice Relationship (1 CE - 1 ETHICS)

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, President and CEO of Advocis. 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.

  • 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

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)
  • Unlimited quiz attempts
  • 120-day window for completion
  • 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.
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
Register Now - Mental Health and the Financial Advice Relationship

Ethics and Social Media (2 CE)

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.

  • 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

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)
  • Unlimited quiz attempts
  • 120-day window for completion
  • 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.

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
Register Now - Ethics and Social Media

Long Term Care Client Conversations (2 CE)

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.

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.

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)
  • Unlimited quiz attempts
  • 120-day window for completion
  • 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.

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
Register Now - Long Term Care Conversations

Understanding Your New Responsibility (1 CE - 1 Ethics)

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.

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.

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)
  • Unlimited quiz attempts
  • 120-day window for completion
  • 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.

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
Register Now - Understanding Your New Responsibility

Why Diversity Matters (1 CE)

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.

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.

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)
  • Unlimited quiz attempts
  • 120-day window for completion
  • 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.

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
Register Now - Why Diversity Matters

NEW! Inclusive Behaviours (1 CE)

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

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

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)
  • Unlimited quiz attempts
  • 120-day window for completion
  • 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.

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
Register Now - Inclusive Behaviours