Money and Pensions Service: The Money Guidance Competency framework

The technical domains and tiers you identify with depend entirely on your role and the service you work with in. 

Tier 1 is about giving general factual information with signposting to help the customer find out more.

Tier 2 focuses more on the customer's individual circumstances and options available to them. You might offer practical help, formal referrals and some coaching.

Tier 3 is for specialist guidance and complex cases. Customers will need bespoke help that requires an in-depth knowledge of money guidance.

It's important to remember that the tiers provide progression within each of the technical money domains.

If you deliver money guidance at Tier 2, your role must also include Tier 1. And if you provide guidance at Tier 3, your role must also include Tiers 1 and 2. 

You can find out more at moneyandpensionservice.org.uk/money-guiders

Using the framework

The Money Guidance Competency Framework is designed to help and support you and the money guidance you deliver. But there are no rules here. How you use it is up to you. We can offer some suggestions, but you shouldn't feel limited by them.

You might have some better ideas, in which case go for it!

Finding your way around the framework is the best place to start. Once you've got to know it, you can map out the bits that are most relevant for you. 

Once you've mapped out your money guidance, you can self-assess your confidence levels.

• How sure do you feel about the areas of money guidance you deliver?

• Do you feel comfortable and confident that you're doing the right thing? 

You can also reflect on your learning and development. 

• Which areas of your money guidance have been supported by training or continuing professional development?

• Can you pinpoint any gaps or where you feel you could learn more? 

Now you can think about how to improve your money guidance.

• Which areas of learning are a priority for you?

• What training and development opportunities are available, and when?

The framework is useful in other ways too. For example, you can spot areas where you'd like to progress your role in money guidance and think about how that fits into your career plans.

You can also use it as a talking point with colleagues and peers.

• How do your money guidance skills and expertise differ? 

• How can you best support your customers?

As you use the framework, you might come up with other ideas for how it can help the money guidance you deliver to your customers. Don't forget to share these with your colleagues so they can benefit too.