Part of the Chartered Insurance Institute, it is the UK’s leading professional and educational body for financial advisers. SOFA has the largest number of members qualified to an advanced level in financial planning. It encourages professional development through qualifications, conferences, seminars, etc. There are four levels of SOFA designation. The entry level qualification is the Financial Planning Certificate. The penultimate level is the Associateship – ASFA necessitating six Advanced Planning Certificate subjects, three of which give access to professional membership, MSFA. The highest level is Fellowship FSFA after four additional subjects, making ten in total and is subject to five years’ relevant experience. (Visit www.sofa.org). –