At first glance, the three top achievers in Moonstone Business School of Excellence’s latest Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning (NQF 8) examinations appear to have little in common. They differ in age, geography, career stage, and professional background. One completed the qualification full-time during a career break. Another balanced full-time work with demanding studies in an advisory environment. The third pursued the programme remotely from France while playing professional rugby.
Yet, woven together, their experiences tell a compelling story: the PGDip is not only a theoretical credential; it is a formative professional experience that reshapes how financial planners think, work, and position themselves for the next phase of their careers.
The PGDip is the final step in MBSE’s structured learning path, designed to equip professionals with the advanced skills and knowledge required for comprehensive financial planning. Successful completion enables students to meet the educational requirements to apply for the Financial Planning Institute of Southern Africa’s Capstone Programme as a step towards achieving the CFP® professional designation.
Admission requires an NQF Level 7 qualification, although MBSE also offers a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) route for professionals with at least five years’ experience and an Advanced Certificate in Financial Planning (NQF 6).
What comes through strongly in the top achievers’ reflections is that the PGDip’s value lies as much in shaping mindset and judgement as it does in building technical mastery.
Finding depth, confidence, and direction
For Kirsten McLeod, 28, the decision to pursue the PGDip came after several years in a client-facing fintech role.
As an extrovert, many might assume her strengths lie mainly in relationship management, but she also thrives on technical complexity – a side of her professional ability the PGDip allowed her to explore fully.
Before her studies, she had worked in multiple roles within the same organisation, completing her undergraduate degree in Financial Management in 2018 and her Honours during the height of the Covid lockdown.
She explains that although many assume her greatest strength is client relationship-building, “what often surprises people is how much I enjoy the technical side of work. I can hyperfocus on complex tasks for long periods without feeling fatigued, and this has shaped my career interests just as much as my interpersonal skills.”
In her previous role, McLeod realised she needed to deepen her understanding of South African tax, investment, and regulatory frameworks, while also feeling ready to specialise and commit to completing the educational requirements for the CFP® designation. The timing, she says, felt right both professionally and personally.
She anticipated a challenging programme, particularly having already completed an NQF 8 qualification, and found the intensity exceeded her expectations.
“The volume of work was more intense than I anticipated, and completing the course full-time in one year required a clear, disciplined strategy,” she notes.
Maintaining consistency was particularly tough in an online environment, where no one checks in daily. She relied heavily on self-discipline to overcome procrastination, making sure to tick off something every day, “even if it was only a few pages”.
A pivotal learning moment came with the concept of holistic financial planning and coaching.
“Realising that a financial plan needs to fit into a client’s life – rather than expecting their life to adjust to the plan – was a key mindset shift,” she explains. This insight reshaped her approach to case studies and her broader understanding of the profession.
McLeod credits the programme’s mock assessments and online walkthroughs with solidifying her learning.
“Being able to attempt the same quiz or past paper multiple times and track my improvement offered reassurance and helped solidify my understanding.”
The pre-recorded lecturer sessions, in particular, felt like personalised coaching, giving her a practical framework to tackle complex questions – a style of learning she had not relied on before.
Having completed the PGDip full-time during a career break, McLeod has not yet applied the content in a workplace setting, but she has already used it to make informed decisions in her personal finances.
Completing the diploma, she says, “has given me significantly more confidence in my industry knowledge. I feel well-equipped and ready to step into a financial planning role.”
The experience reinforced her decision to pursue the CFP® designation, and she is excited to put her skills into practice.
Reflecting on the journey, she highlights the discipline required: “The course is demanding but deeply rewarding. It requires discipline to stay on top of the content, and in my experience, results directly reflected the amount of effort I put in – both positively and negatively. By the end, you gain a meaningful understanding of the material and the ability to apply it in real-world scenarios, which makes the effort worthwhile.”
She also credits her support system: her husband’s encouragement and her genuine interest in the material helped her to stay motivated and avoid burnout.
Her advice to future students is simple and practical: “Start immediately. The workload is substantial, and leaving topics or assessments until close to their due dates causes unnecessary stress. Beginning on day one and consistently working through manageable chunks is one of the best decisions you can make for yourself.”
Preparing for life after sport – from France
John-Charles Astle, 35, took perhaps the most unconventional path to the PGDip. A professional rugby player for the past 15 years and currently based in France, he had long nurtured an interest in wealth management and personal finance. The idea of a second career began to crystallise in 2018, when he explored what life after rugby might look like and started working part-time at an advisory firm.
“Rugby careers are finite, and I wanted a profession that would allow me to provide for my family while doing meaningful work,” he says.
The PGDip represented an opportunity to formalise that ambition and acquire the knowledge needed to enter the profession confidently.
Studying remotely while still competing professionally presented its own challenges. He recalls feeling lost at the start of each module.
“At the start of every module, I often felt a bit lost. It’s a lot of work, and everything moves quickly. But once I got started, focused on smaller sections, and applied myself to the assignments, things slowly began falling into place.”
The online lectures and mock exams helped consolidate his understanding, giving structure and clarity to what might otherwise have been overwhelming content.
Astle particularly valued the case study component.
“The case study module really brings everything together, requiring me to focus on giving the right advice from a financial adviser’s perspective,” he explains.
The experience reinforced not only technical knowledge but also professional purpose – helping him to understand the responsibility of acting in clients’ best interests.
The PGDip has strengthened his determination to pursue the CFP® designation.
“Never doubt yourself,” he advises, reflecting on the mindset needed to balance study, career, and personal commitments.
Studying while practising – and applying immediately
For Mbalenhle Nhlapo, 23, the PGDip unfolded in a hands-on way. Working full-time in the advisory and wealth management division of a financial services company, she could apply what she learned almost immediately, linking course content to real client interactions. Her role supporting paraplanners and financial planners gave her early exposure to financial planning practice.
Her path into the profession was not linear. Initially determined to pursue auditing at university, she discovered through lecturers, industry experts, and projects such as the BDO UJ Trusted Advisor Project that financial planning offered a more direct way to make a meaningful difference.
“Something that may surprise everyone is that I started varsity adamant to pursue auditing and the journey was redirected to finance. The best decision I ever made!” she recalls.
The PGDip challenged her to move beyond theory, requiring her to grapple with complex, real-world scenarios – from estate planning and investment strategy to tax implications for clients’ children and business succession planning.
Corporate financial planning, she notes, opened her eyes to opportunities beyond individual clients.
“This is where I learnt that financial planning is not only limited to individuals but also extends to businesses,” she explains.
Balancing full-time work with study demanded discipline and perseverance. Yet, the experience strengthened her confidence. “
This year reminded me of how capable I am. A question I got throughout the year was ‘How do you do it?’ and my answer had become ‘It has to be done.’”
Support from family, colleagues, and managers helped her to persevere during particularly challenging periods, from late nights to early mornings, while pre-recorded lectures, study guides, and lecturer guidance provided practical scaffolding.
For Nhlapo, the PGDip has already had a tangible impact on her career. She can expand her responsibilities and apply her learning in real time, while solidifying her commitment to pursuing the CFP® designation.
The programme, she says, has given her both the technical knowledge and the personal confidence to progress in the profession.
Expanding qualifications for a changing world
MBSE offers six accredited qualifications, ranging from entry-level certificates to advanced postgraduate studies:
- Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning (NQF 8)
- BCom Financial Management (NQF 7)
- Advanced Certificate in Financial Planning (NQF 6)
- Occupational Certificate: Compliance Officer (NQF 6)
- Higher Certificate in Wealth Management (NQF 5)
- Higher Certificate in Short-term Insurance (NQF 5)
Registrations for 2026 are open
Visit www.mbse.ac.za to learn more and secure your place for the 2026 academic year.
For more information, contact MBSE at help@mbse.ac.za.
