AMP, UNSW in pathway to professionalism

AMP Horizons has partnered with the University of New South Wales (UNSW) to make it easier for Horizons’ graduates to become degree-qualified.

The academic alignment means eligible graduates of the Horizons Professional Year Program will have the opportunity to gain academic credit towards a Graduate Diploma or Masters qualification in financial planning at UNSW’s Australian School of Business (ASB).

“The initiative – which we’ve called University Pathways for Horizons Alumni – creates a timely and cost-effective way for Horizons alumni to study towards becoming a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) professional,” said AMP Horizons Director Tim Steele (right).

The Financial Planning Association (FPA) will require new members to be degree-qualified by July 1 next year. Financial planners are already required to hold an approved Degree or Masters as a minimum for entry to the CFP certification program.

The AMP Horizons Academy was established in Sydney’s St Leonards in October 2007 and to date has produced 478 graduates from 18 intakes. The 19th intake of 46 students is the largest yet.

Increasingly, Steele says the academy is attracting people with undergraduate degrees and experience, which the UNSW initiative will take into account as part of a students ongoing education.

“We have a number of recovering accountants in our program,” quipped Steele.

One of the few 

Professor Alec Cameron, Dean of UNSW’s Australian School of Business (ASB), said that UNSW is one of only a few Australian Universities offering postgraduate level financial planning programs recognised by the FPA.

“ASB is delighted to be partnering with AMP Horizons to increase the professionalism of the financial planning sector and provide planners with life-long education,” he said.

“This is timely given recent regulatory changes and it is an excellent example of industry and universities working together to meet changing sectoral needs.”

AMP Horizons graduates may formally commence study in the aligned UNSW Degree and Masters programs from Semester 1, 2013 or they can begin study early by entering one or two summer term courses.

It’s envisaged most planners will complete their studies part-time while maintaining their full-time financial planning commitments.