STEP Certificate for Financial Services (Trusts and Estate Planning)
This qualification is a collaboration between STEP and Central
Law Training (CLT), available in England, Scotland and Wales.
Why should I study this qualification?
- You will develop enhanced professional credibility with all
stakeholders and be better placed to win new clients, in particular
from law firms
- On completion of the Certificate you can go on to study the
STEP Diploma or become an affiliate of STEP
- On completion of the Certificate you will be equipped to
deliver more holistic financial advice to clients through
understanding the estate planning factors which affect the
interests of their clients
- The programme enables you to be more confident when talking to
lawyers on issues relating to the use of lifetime and will trusts
in estate planning and you will be able to deal with trustee
investments more confidently and expertly
What are the entry requirements?
This is an open-entry Certificate but it is recommended that
applicants should have some experience or have undertaken some
study of the core areas covered in the Certificate, namely trusts,
tax and estate planning.
When you chose to study the Certificate, you become a student
member of STEP. Upon completion of the qualification you can go on
to study the Diploma, which provides a
route to full STEP membership. If you decide to only study the
Certificate, you can become an affiliate
of STEP on completion.
What does the programme cover?
- Domicile and residence
- Intestate succession
- Inheritance tax
- Lifetime trusts – a classification
- Will trusts
- The transferable nil rate band
- Post death matters
- Trusts used in financial services
- Taxation of trusts
- Trustee duties
- The incapacitated client
- The philanthropic client
Introduction from STEP
"I am delighted to
announce the development of this qualification for those working in
the financial services sector. It is the first in a new series of
certificates for those who need to know more about trusts and
estates but may not need the depth of knowledge required for full
STEP membership at this stage.
For me education is at the forefront of STEP’s purpose – whether
that is through developing qualifications or by advising government
on policy issues. Now, with an established reputation as a
thought-leader in the world of wealth structuring, it is time for
STEP to offer access to its knowledge base to a wider group of
stakeholders. This certificate can only help create better links
between stakeholders in the wealth structuring community.”
Rosemary Marr, Chairman STEP Worldwide
2007-2009