Questa’s Molly Clayton has passed one of the most technically demanding exams in the Chartered Insurance Institute’s (CII) Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning.

Financial planner Molly has successfully passed the AF1 Personal Tax and Trust Planning exam, which has a national pass rate of approximately 50%. The assessment covers advanced taxation and trust advice for clients with complex financial arrangements and forms part of the pathway towards Chartered Financial Planner status.

The AF1 exam is a Level 6 qualification, assessing advisers on areas such as income tax, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, estate planning, trust structures and UK tax implications for residents and non-domiciled individuals. The three-hour paper requires detailed application of technical knowledge across multiple real-life case studies. Candidates are advised to undertake around 150 hours of preparation.

Molly said: “That exam was a real test of stamina and technical knowledge – I’ve been living and breathing tax law for months. I’m proud to have ticked off this milestone and feel a step closer to becoming Chartered.”

Anthony Hoskisson, owner of Questa, said: “Molly’s been incredibly focused – tax calculations in the evening, trust case studies on weekends – she’s put the hours in. It’s a really proud moment for us as a team to see Molly progress and add even more expertise to the Questa team!”

According to the CII, AF1 is intended for financial professionals advising on personal taxation and trust issues, particularly where client circumstances involve intergenerational wealth planning, complex estates, and bespoke trust arrangements. The exam is typically taken by those with prior knowledge from modules such as R03 (Personal Taxation), J02 (Trusts), and R05 (Financial Protection).

Passing the AF1 exam moves candidates closer to achieving Chartered Financial Planner status – a benchmark that requires a completed Advanced Diploma, a minimum of five years’ industry experience, and a demonstrated commitment to ethical standards.

Last year Molly joined Questa colleague Oliver Billington in passing their Financial Planning Process (AF5) qualification. The AF5 exam is recognised as a challenging qualification within the Chartered Insurance Institute’s (CII) advanced-level framework, focusing on the practical application of financial planning knowledge.