STEP Certificate for Financial
Services – Trusts and Estate
Planning - Case Study
Covering the essential legal,
tax and investment issues that
overlap with estate planning,
the STEP Certificate for
Financial Services – Trusts and
Estate Planning develops your
ability to take an integrated,
and more holistic, approach to
your client work.
Eliana Sydes, Financial Planner
and Wealth Manager at
Towry, recently discussed her
experience of studying the
Certificate with us and how the
course has helped enhance her
expertise.
Wilmington Risk & Compliance
Why were you interested in studying this
course?
It has been a while since I completed my Fellowship of the Personal
Finance Society so I felt the time was right to test and improve my
knowledge. My role at Towry involves dealing with the more complex
areas of planning (such as divorce and later life planning) and I have
a number of clients with dementia where I deal with their attorneys.
This course, of all the options I considered, fits with my type of work,
my client base and the professional partners I work with.
Due to the complex nature of my work it’s vital that I keep my
technical knowledge as fresh and up-to-date as possible. Being able
to draw on my experience and technical expertise helps me provide
clients with accurate and prompt advice; and this means they get
better, more cost effective solutions.
Towry, as an employer, support and encourage learning, exams and
qualifications which has helped me. I also believe that if you’re not
continuously learning your knowledge can become ‘rusty’ and this
will have a detrimental affect ion the standard of advice you provide.
Can you describe your journey through the
online course?
I thought the STEP course materials were excellent. They were written in a
way that turned the technically complex into something that was easy to
relate to and they put the client right at the heart of every consideration.
I believe it wouldn’t be appropriate to work with the elderly or vulnerable
with only a limited knowledge of trusts/attorneyships. It’s definitely
something that you need to have a deeper understanding of, and so for
anyone working with any vulnerable clients, this course is a must!
Do you have any examination tips for
delegates on the course?
“I have learnt a lot from this
course. Understanding the
different technical nuances
has made a huge difference to
the work I do for my clients”
Yes. The examiners not only want you to prove your technical
knowledge but are also looking for you to demonstrate your ability to
convey this to clients and professional partners.
How do you feel the course has benefitted
you professionally?
I have learnt a lot from this course. Understanding the different
technical nuances has made a huge difference to the work I do for my
clients. Overall, the examination has improved how I communicate
with clients and professional partners. The course has increased my
confidence. I loved it – I would recommend it to anybody.
STEP Worldwide recognised Eliana’s fantastic achievement as the
highest scoring delegate from the November 2015 sitting of the
course in the 2016 Worldwide Excellence Awards.
If you would like to find out more about the STEP Certificate for
Financial Services, contact CLT International or visit
www.cltint.com/course/step-certificate-for-financial-servicestrusts-estate-planning/
STMFI23