Questa client support and protection specialist Tom Reardon has passed another key qualification as part of the firm’s ongoing commitment to professional development and client care.

Tom, who joined Questa in 2024, has successfully completed the Chartered Insurance Institute’s (CII) Level 4 Unit R02, “Investment Principles and Risk.” This builds on his earlier success in passing Unit R03: Personal Taxation, and takes him a step closer to completing the Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning.

The exam covers investment products, risk, economic influences and portfolio construction. These are key areas in helping clients make informed decisions about their money. It is one of the qualifications recognised under FCA rules for those providing retail investment advice.

Tom said: “I’m pleased to get through this one. The Investment Principles and Risk Exam was a real challenge. There’s a lot of technical theory and some tricky calculations. But, it’s given me a deeper understanding of how investments behave and how to balance different types of risk. That’s invaluable when you’re helping clients navigate financial change.”

The personal taxation module Tom passed last August, covering areas such as income tax, capital gains tax and inheritance tax – all critical to tax-efficient financial planning. Both units form part of the CII’s qualification pathway for regulated financial advisers.

Based on the Fylde Coast, Questa supports its planners with a structured CPD framework – helping ensure clients always benefit from up-to-date, relevant advice.

Anthony Hoskisson, Questa Managing Director, added: “Congratulations to Tom on his hard work and deserved rewards. We actively support our team to keep developing. It’s not just for their own progression, but so that our advice is always built on the strongest technical foundations. Ongoing learning makes a significant difference in what we do. And nothing makes me happier than when the team make the most of their learning opportunities.”

Tom is now working towards the remaining modules of the diploma, with the aim of becoming fully qualified by the end of next year.

Tom is one of several Questa colleagues who have recently achieved successful learning outcomes. In April this year, Questa’s Molly Clayton passed the AF1 Personal Tax and Trust Planning exam. This exam covers advanced taxation and trust advice for clients with complex financial arrangements and forms part of the pathway towards Chartered Financial Planner status.

In 2024, Molly and Questa colleague Oliver Billington passed their Financial Planning Process (AF5) qualifications. 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.