What are Formal and Informal CPD hours?
Formal CPD can be defined as attendance at professional meetings or courses and other events of equivalent standing where the subject matter relates to a professional or technical area that is relevant to the development of the individual in the context of retail financial advice. It generally means ‘active’ participation in something relevant (e.g. attendance at a seminar / workshop / recognised in-house training programme, successful completion of approved online courses etc). Formal CPD does not necessarily mean attendance at external seminars – relevant in-house training and approved online training may also earn credit. Informal CPD covers all other activities that contribute to a member’s professional development in the context of retail financial advice, but fall outside the definition of formal CPD above. It normally comprises general reading (e.g. relevant articles from financial publications, Banking Ireland, business pages of daily / Sunday newspapers etc.) research, watchin
