The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) is offering financial support to furloughed members of the insurance and personal finance profession, as well as those facing hardship as a result of covid-19.
The professional body is providing discounts to ensure those financially affected by the pandemic can continue to invest in their professional development.
It will offer a 20% discount on digital learning materials for CII members and non-members; who, as a result of covid-19, have been furloughed or seen an “equivalent material reduction” in their income.
This is provided their learning and assessment costs are not funded or subsidised by their employer.
People who are facing financial hardship due to redundancy or working for a business that has collapsed as a result of coronavirus are also eligible for discounts and financial assistance on digital learning or membership.
In the best place
Gill White, learning and assessment director at the CII, said: “We have taken this action to assist and support both our members and non-members who are undertaking studies to maintain and develop their knowledge during this time of increased uncertainty.
“We want to ensure when government guidance changes, our insurance and personal finance professionals are in the best place they can be and have the knowledge needed to assist consumers.”
Money guides
Elsewhere in the advice sector, the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) has published a series of money guides featuring UK certified financial planner (CFP) professionals.
The guides, which contain tips from the CISI’s CFP membership on managing finances during this uncertain and challenging time, have been produced to help all consumers financially cope with the pandemic; including those who are employed, self-employed and small business owners.
The CISI CFP money guides are available free for consumers to download from the CISI Wayfinder website.
Global reach
Jacqueline Lockie, CISI head of financial planning, said: “Although our CFP community are very busy given their current client responsibilities, they jumped at the chance to support the sentiment, keen to offer their input for free to help build the money guides and support consumers.
“Our money guides and accompanying artwork for social media tiles will also be made available as part of the UK CFP toolkit and across the global CFP community, so that those 186,000 CFP professionals in 27 countries and territories will be able to share this pro bono guidance with their consumer populations.
“ We hope consumers will find these money guides useful and helpful in terms of managing their personal finances during this worrying time.”