DSP BlackRock has
launched a certification called Accredited Wealth Planner (AWP) while Pramerica
provides Diploma in Wealth Management to its advisors.
AMCs
are trying to establish a deeper connection with their advisors by equipping
them with the necessary knowledge and skills required to excel in their
advisory practice.
Recently,
DSP BlackRock has started a certification program called ‘Accredited Wealth
Planner’ (AWP) in association with Centre for Investment Education and Learning
(CIEL) and Dr. Uma Shashikant.
The
self-study course covers areas like investment planning, personal finance,
securities markets, and regulations, among other things. Distributors
empanelled with DSP Black Rock have to shell out Rs 3000 for enrolling under
this program. The program is subsidized by DSP Black Rock. Distributors
have to appear for an online examination at Reliance Web World. Passing
candidates are awarded with an AWP certificate.
“A
unique feature of the course is the mentoring aspect, wherein an advisor can
get real-time assistance in handling client related queries. The advisor can
come on the AWP website and post a query that Uma Shashikant and her team
members will respond to. The advisor can also write to CIEL explaining his
dilemma, if CIEL feels that the underlying issue is a common sore point among
the advisor fraternity, it will publish the case studies on the website, giving
credit to the advisor. Hence, the program is not like any other mundane
certification and is in fact very interactive in nature. It is the first
certification of its kind that takes inputs from the students, advisors in this
case, and adds to the course matter,” said Ajit Menon, EVP, DSP BlackRock
Investment Managers.
The AWP
program is designed to help advisors and their staff members equip themselves
with sufficient knowledge to construct their clients’ portfolios.
Similarly,
Pramerica Mutual Fund provides ‘Diploma
in Wealth Management Program’ in association with Indian Institute
of Financial Planning. 117 advisors received
this diploma in 2011. “Initiatives like these help us to engage regularly with
the financial advisor fraternity. Enhanced skills levels we believe will help
distributors to deliver relevant investment advice to their investors who in
turn are better placed to take a holistic and a longer term view on their
portfolio. These initiatives therefore are a win-win for all stakeholders,”
said Vijay Mantri, Managing Director & CEO, Pramerica Mutual Fund.
The
course is customized as per Pramerica MF’s requirements and the lectures were
given by IIFP’s faculty on weekends. These lectures consisted of theory and
practical case studies.
