Thrive in the financial services industry in Canada.

The two-year Financial Services-Canadian Context Ontario College Graduate Certificate program is specifically designed to support students transitioning into the Canadian work environment in the customer sales and service areas of:

• banking
• insurance
• financial planning
• wealth management

In this program, you build knowledge and skills to evaluate and recommend financial products and services based on clients` individual needs. You develop techniques to collect and analyze client information to create and present customized financial plans. Sales strategies and relationship building techniques are applied while adhering to legal and ethical practices and industry standards. Throughout the program, you develop a professional competencies portfolio to document marketable skills. The fourth semester of the program focuses on experiential learning within a variety of real-world scenarios.

Through experiential and simulated workplace learning, you develop financial advising strategies to facilitate clients` short- and long-term financial goals. Topics include:

• saving and borrowing for major purchases
• postsecondary education and retirement planning
• insurance for wealth protection
• investing for diversification, growth and tax efficiency
• estate planning for succession and wealth transfer

Graduates are eligible to write the Canadian Securities Course designation exams. Algonquin College collaborates with the Canadian Securities Institute (CSI) and the Canadian Institute of Financial Planning (CIFP) to offer the Financial Services - Canadian Context Graduate Certificate Program, which meets FP Canada`s Core and Advanced Curriculum educational requirements. The program provides a pathway to the following designations upon completion of their additional requirements and exams:

• Canadian Securities Course (CSC designation)
• Qualified Associate Financial Planner (QAFP) designation (see FP Canada website for additional requirements)
• Certified Financial Planner(CFP) designation. (See FP Canada website for university degree and additional requirements)

The CSC QAFP and CFP are not awarded by Algonquin College. For more information on these credentials, refer to the websites: https://fpcanada.ca/become-a-financial-planner, https://www.fpcanada.ca/certifications/cfp-certification and https://www.csi.ca/student/en_ca/courses/csi/csc.xhtml.

You may find employment as a personal financial or investment advisor in a broad range of financial institutions. These might include:

• banks
• credit unions
• financial planning offices
• insurance companies
• brokerage firms

SUCCESS FACTORS

This program is well-suited for students who:

• Possess customer-focused communication skills, both written and oral.
• Thrive in a dynamic team-based work environment.
• Possess an analytical and mathematical aptitude.
• Are detail-oriented and able to follow complex instructions.
• Are outgoing and have strong interpersonal skills.

Careers

Personal finance specialist in a broad range of financial institutions such as: banks, credit unions, financial planning offices, mutual fund and insurance companies, as well as brokerage firms, as a:

• personal financial or investment advisor
• financial sales representative
• financial officer

Pathways

Please use our Pathways tool to search for pathway options.

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

1. Complete all work according to professional regulations, provincial legislation and ethical standards required by the financial services industry and its regulators.
2. Develop a financial plan based on a client`s capacity for investing, personal needs and risk tolerance.
3. Recommend financial instruments including, fixed income securities, common and preferred shares, mutual funds and others that meet a client`s investment and financial needs.
4. Develop and present marketing and communication strategies that include selling and client relationship management techniques suitable to prospect and retain clients.
5. Evaluate financial planning strategies for tax management, insurance coverage, wealth accumulation and retirement and estate solutions to determine which would best meet a client`s needs.
6. Develop and use personal/professional strategies and plans to improve future professional growth, job performance, and working relationships in a Canadian context.
7. Evaluate the financial performance of a business by analyzing financial statements and business transactions to advise clients on potential investments.
8. Model professional practice according to industry standards, such as client-focused communication.
9. Apply industry skills, attitudes and knowledge in a variety of Canadian workplace settings to support client goals.
10. Identify and apply discipline-specific practices that contribute to the local and global community through social responsibility, economic commitment and environmental stewardship.

Application Information

FINANCIAL SERVICES - CANADIAN CONTEXT
Program Code 1318X01FWO

Applications to full-time day programs must be submitted with official transcripts showing completion of the academic admission requirements through:

ontariocolleges.ca
60 Corporate Court
Guelph, ON N1G 5J3
1-888-892-2228

Applications are available online at www.ontariocolleges.ca.

Applications for Fall Term and Winter Term admission received by February 1 will be given equal consideration. Applications received after February 1 will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis as long as places are available. International Student Application Form at https://algonquincollege.force.com/myACint/ or by contacting the Registrar`s Office.

For further information on the admissions process, contact:

Registrar`s Office
Algonquin College
1385 Woodroffe Ave
Ottawa, ON K2G 1V8
Telephone: 613-727-0002
Toll-free: 1-800-565-4723
TTY: 613-727-7766
Fax: 613-727-7632
Contact: https://www.algonquincollege.com/ro

Program Resources