They say the proof is in the pudding – and for Edward Becker, 51, an asset manager at Ursa Taurus (Pty) Ltd and valedictorian of Moonstone Business School of Excellence’s Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning (PGDip), the results speak for themselves.
“This qualification will add value; it’s a fact,” he says. “It will develop yourself by providing you with new knowledge and skills, and it will add value to every conversation you have with prospects and/or clients.”
But neither Edward nor fellow top achiever Mia Barnard, 26, a client relationship officer at Warwick Wealth, sugarcoats the level of dedication the PGDip demands.
“This is a postgraduate diploma,” says Edward. “Expect to be challenged to deliver on a postgraduate level. Choose an institution that has high standards and will hold you to it. You have to be diligent and work continuously towards every assessment on your way to the final exam.”
Mia echoes this. “The PGDip isn’t something you can approach casually; it requires discipline and genuine interest in the subject matter,” she says. “My advice would be to go in with clear goals, stay consistent with your studies, and actively engage with the material and your lecturers. The effort is worth it, especially if you want to grow as a professional and make a meaningful difference in clients’ lives.”
Stepping up to the PGDip
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 CFP® professional designation via the Financial Planning Institute of Southern Africa’s (FPI) Capstone Programme. Admission requires an NQF Level 7 qualification. For those who don’t meet this, MBSE offers a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) route tailored for professionals with at least five years’ experience and an Advanced Certificate in Financial Planning (NQF 6).
For Mia, the PGDip offered more than just a qualification – it aligned with her ambition to deepen her expertise and grow as a financial planner.
“I wanted to position myself as a more competent, well-rounded professional in the industry,” she says. “MBSE stood out because of its strong reputation in the financial services industry. It’s recommended as one of the best institutions to complete the PGDip with, and that played a big role in my decision. I was confident that I would receive high-quality education and support that would genuinely prepare me for real-world application – and that confidence proved to be well placed.”
For Edward, MBSE ticked all the right boxes: professionalism, strong industry standing, value for money, and a flexible, self-paced online structure.
“MBSE suited my criteria best,” says Edward. “It’s a credible institution in the financial industry, and the modular design made it easier to balance my studies with work and family life.”
Modules that make a difference
The PGDip comprises four compulsory modules: Financial Planning Environment, Personal Financial Planning, Corporate Financial Planning, and a Case Study. Each brings its own value to professional practice, but some leave a stronger mark than others.
Edward found the Financial Planning Environment module especially valuable, particularly as he entered the course with limited experience in the financial sector.
“It provided me with the much-needed understanding of these new financial aspects to enable me to integrate and apply them into proper financial planning,” he explains. “But the biggest impact on how I think about financial planning in a holistic context was definitely the integration of all modules as a whole. And all of that happens in the Case Study module.”
The Case Study module also stood out for Mia. She says it brought together everything students had learned and challenged her to approach financial planning from a truly holistic perspective.
“It wasn’t just about applying technical knowledge – it required me to fully understand a client’s personal and financial circumstances, goals, challenges, and values.”
Working through the case study taught her the importance of comprehensive, client-focused advice.
“Rather than focusing on individual components like investments or tax in isolation, I learned to connect the dots across all aspects of a client’s life. In practice, it pushed me to ask better questions, consider emotional and behavioural factors, and ultimately deliver more meaningful, personalised advice.”
Real-world impact and career growth
Edward says he applies what he learned in the PGDip daily – whether in client meetings or behind the scenes when creating tailored investment solutions.
“Being able to clarify tax implications and/or provide a quick answer on which investment option is best, while having coffee with a client has added a lot of value to my service offering,” he says.
For Mia, the qualification has enhanced her ability to see the bigger picture in financial planning and how each component fits together.
“One example of where the PGDip directly helped me was in working with a high-net-worth client who held substantial assets and was concerned about the potential estate duty and capital gains tax (CGT) implications his heirs would face upon his death.”
Drawing on the estate planning and tax knowledge gained through the programme, she recommended implementing a usufructuary interest structure.
“This solution not only aligned with his succession goals but also significantly reduced the immediate estate duty and deferred the CGT liability, offering a more tax-efficient transfer of wealth.”
Both top achievers agree that completing the PGDip has influenced their long-term career direction.
Edward says the exposure to a broad range of financial planning topics helped him to identify where he wants to specialise.
“I’m excited about how much value can get unlocked by applying the principles learned in this course. It provided me with experience and confidence in a very short time, expediting my financial planning career.”
Mia adds that the programme has confirmed her belief in financial planning as a profession grounded in lifelong learning.
“Completing it has given me the confidence and qualifications to pursue CFP® certification, and I now feel well-equipped to assist clients in achieving their financial goals.”
Balancing act: how these top students made it work
When it comes to study strategies, Edward had to work smart. With a full-time job, a spouse, and four children, time was a limited resource.
“I don’t have continuous hours or days available to study. I had to break the material down into smaller sections and spend the available time I have on each, making sure I’m moving forward covering everything in time,” he says.
He admits the workload can be daunting, but consistency was key.
“I had to be very diligent and work continuously to acquire the knowledge and skills needed. These modules integrate very well into each other, as well as build on each other, and the better you can build your foundation from the start, by getting the basics right, the stronger, and the easier, the rest will be.”
Mia also had to juggle full-time work with the demands of the PGDip – and says effective time management made all the difference.
“I had to be very intentional about planning my week – setting aside dedicated study blocks in the evenings and on weekends and sticking to that schedule as consistently as possible. Without structure, it would have been easy to fall behind.”
She found the three formal assessments before the final exam particularly useful.
“They weren’t just checkpoints – they played a big role in helping me absorb and apply the study material.”
In addition, she leaned heavily on mock exams.
“I found that doing as many as possible was one of the most effective ways to prepare. They really helped me identify gaps in my understanding, improve exam technique, and get comfortable with applying concepts under time pressure. By the time I sat for the real assessments, I felt far more confident and prepared in approaching questions.”
Support that makes the difference
Both Edward and Mia credit MBSE’s learning resources and lecturer support as key contributors to their success in the PGDip.
Edward says the resources were particularly valuable given the heavy content load.
“The volume of content can be overwhelming, and one can easily feel isolated,” he explains.
“At MBSE, I found the learning resources easily accessible and everything you need to prepare yourself for assessments readily available. The lecturers communicated well, were approachable, and the content was clearly explained with course material, study guides and videos.”
Mia also highlights the responsiveness and dedication of the academic staff, noting the difference their support made throughout the course.
“The support from MBSE was excellent. The lecturers were approachable and responsive, and always willing to help. Their level of engagement made a big difference, and they want their students to succeed.”
Enrolments
The Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning is one of five accredited qualifications offered by MBSE. The others are:
- 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)
Apply today at www.mbse.ac.za.
For more information, contact us at help@mbse.ac.za.
