Eleven St. James’s Place (SJP) chartered planners have received their master’s certificates from University of Gloucestershire at a ceremony to mark their success in graduating from a MSc Finance course.
This is the second cohort of students to complete the programme, which the University and SJP developed to provide financial planners with an opportunity to gain a postgraduate qualification in a specific field of study or professional practice.
The students carried out research on a number of themes as part of the course including long term care, the use of soft skills, factors affecting retirement age and financial education.
The research will expand knowledge and understanding within the wider financial planning profession, improve client outcomes and help to inform undergraduate and postgraduate programmes at the University.
Earlier this year, the University and SJP launched a Finance in Society Research Institute, to enhance personal financial research, which will help inform professional practice and policy to organisations and government.
In February, the University and St. James’s Place announced the launch of the UK's first specialist MBA in Financial Planning to meet the needs of the evolving financial planning landscape.
Edward Grant, director responsible for professional development at St. James’s Place, said: “We are incredibly proud of the MSc in Finance graduates whose thought leading research will help the profession deliver better outcomes. Their aspiration to go beyond the benchmark is brilliant. Our relationship with University of Gloucestershire continues to flourish with the MSc, MBA and Research Institute.”
Clair Vincent, Academic Course Leader at University of Gloucestershire, said: “We are delighted to be celebrating the academic achievements of another successful cohort of MSc Finance students at graduation this year. Not only is this a significant achievement of which the students should be hugely proud, their research will add to the body of knowledge and form part of the work of our newly established Research Institute, which has an overarching objective to improve consumer outcomes.
“Together with the MBA in Financial Planning launched earlier this year, which explores and challenges the business practice of financial planning, we are starting to build a strong evidence-base and an alumni community of experts in their field.”
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List of students and research topics covered:
Zoe Taylor |
Long Term Care – The Perfect Storm for Financial Decision Making? |
Ben MacInnes |
The engagement of millennials employed within financial services in retirement planning |
David Groom |
An analysis of video-mediated communication in financial planning from a client and adviser perspective |
Helga Godfrey |
How do advisers use their soft skills in ensuring their clients get the protection advice they need? |
Andy Carlisle |
How will advisers face the challenge of Robo Advice? |
Phil Williams |
The impact of a financial education program within a FTSE100 company on the financial behaviour of its employees: The case of SJP |
Louise Speirs |
Factors that affect the decisions to take financial advice in the Scottish Borders |
Paul Matthews |
Evaluation on how to maintain technical knowledge within the St. James’s Place Partnership |
Lana Collins |
A critical examination of how key messages are communicated to consumers in financial services |
Lee Merrett |
Factors affecting and driving the decision on when to retire |
Luke Connell |
An exploration of the factors affecting young professional football players in making financial planning decisions |
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