The recent launch of the FAA Learning Standards and the Finance Qualification Structure will facilitate the harmonisation and wider recognition of accredited professional learning programmes which will also be important for this industry to promote consistent standards in the professional development and mobility of its workforce. We have started to engage FAA, the industry and education providers on this initiative and are working towards the accreditation of mandatory core financial advisory training and examination modules in 2015, and continuing professional development programs progressively thereafter. To improve the alignment between the interests of consumers and financial advisers, we will be requiring all life insurers and family takaful operators to implement a balanced scorecard  2  BIS central bankers’ speeches  framework for the remuneration of agents and advisers, beginning with investment-linked products in the initial phase. We believe it is also important that such a framework is cascaded through to how financial advisory firms are rewarding their representatives. Incentives for individual representatives should be structured to promote impartial product advice, and investments in building enduring relationships with clients by providing the highest standards of professional service. The AFA will be expected to play an important role in driving this initiative through its guidance to firms on the operationalisation of the framework in the context of financial advisers. In the medium term, the Bank will examine the issue of the balance between fee-based and commission-based compensation for financial advisers more closely.
The FSPB’s objective is to drive the development as well as the advocacy of professional standards, ethics and continuous professional development across the financial services industry. I would strongly urge the AFA to work together with the FSPB to develop and implement industry codes of conduct and ethics for its member firms and representatives which should express in very clear terms the professional responsibilities that a financial adviser must demonstrate towards its clients. This should be accompanied by an effective mechanism for investigating and addressing complaints on a breach of these responsibilities, and the ability to act against errant members in order to preserve the integrity of the profession. In line with efforts to ensure a high level of professional competence among financial advisers, the Bank also intends to require qualifying and continuing professional development programs for financial advisers to be formally accredited by the Finance Accreditation Agency (FAA). As you may already know, the FAA is an independent quality assurance and accreditation body for the financial services industry that was established by the Bank and the Securities Commission in 2012. It provides programme accreditation, individual accreditation and institutional accreditation services for learning initiatives within the financial services industry locally and internationally. Since its inception, FAA has registered 28 training providers and accredited 18 professional and academic learning programmes offered in Malaysia, the Middle East, Asia, and the United Kingdom, including those offered and recognised by highly reputable and established international professional bodies. FAA has also developed Continuous Professional Development Guidelines for the financial services industry.