CISI CMP Securities study plan
CISI CMP Securities · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Securities markets and market participants & Regulation and compliance
Map the primary, secondary and derivative market structures and label which participant type (issuer, investor, intermediary, regulator) sits in each
Distinguish the roles of exchanges, MTFs, OTC venues and central counterparties in trade execution and clearing
List the UK and EU regulatory bodies relevant to securities (FCA, PRA, ESMA, Bank of England) and state each one's core remit
Define insider dealing, market abuse and market manipulation using the statutory wording rather than lay descriptions
Your checkpoint
A one-page market-structure diagram plus a 15-term glossary covering participants, venues and regulators, self-tested to 90% recall.
Securities markets and market participants & Financial products and asset classes
Classify equity instruments (ordinary shares, preference shares, depositary receipts) by rights, ranking and income treatment
Explain how a trade moves from order capture through execution, clearing and settlement, naming the parties at each step
Compare exchange-traded and OTC bond markets on transparency, liquidity and price discovery
Calculate simple dividend yield, earnings per share and price-to-earnings from supplied figures
Your checkpoint
A worked trade-lifecycle walkthrough (order to settlement) with the parties and risks named at each stage, plus five calculation questions solved with workings.
Financial products and asset classes & Regulation and compliance
Differentiate government, corporate and convertible bonds by issuer, coupon structure and credit risk
Explain money-market instruments (T-bills, commercial paper, CDs) and why they are used for short-term funding
Describe collective investment schemes and the difference between open-ended funds, investment trusts and ETFs
State the core client-asset and money-handling rules under the FCA regime
Your checkpoint
A product comparison matrix covering at least eight asset classes across issuer, risk, return source and regulatory treatment.
Regulation and compliance
Outline the FCA's conduct framework, including the Principles for Businesses and the threshold conditions
Explain the senior-manager and certification regime and who falls within each
Describe the client money and custody asset rules and the purpose of segregation
Identify the main financial crime obligations: AML, CTF, sanctions screening and suspicious activity reporting
Your checkpoint
A 20-question self-made compliance quiz with answer key, scoring at least 80% unaided.
Investment advice, dealing and client servicing & Regulation and compliance
Apply the appropriateness and suitability tests and explain when each is required
Distinguish execution-only, advisory and discretionary services and the documentation each demands
Explain best execution and how execution factors are weighed
Describe disclosure obligations for costs, charges and conflicts of interest
Your checkpoint
Three short client scenarios classified by service type, with the required suitability, disclosure and record-keeping steps listed for each.
Investment advice, dealing and client servicing & Financial products and asset classes
Explain risk-profiling of clients and how asset allocation follows from risk tolerance and capacity for loss
Describe the main investment risks (market, credit, liquidity, currency, interest-rate) and match each to a product type
Outline the complaints-handling process and the role of the Financial Ombudsman Service
Explain the compensation scheme's scope and limits for retail clients
Your checkpoint
A client risk-profile template plus a one-page complaints and compensation flowchart.
Securities markets and market participants & Financial products and asset classes & Investment advice, dealing and client servicing
Revisit weak areas flagged in weeks 1–6 and close each gap with targeted reading and notes
Work through mixed-topic calculation questions under timed conditions
Recite key definitions and thresholds from memory without prompts
Practise scenario questions that combine product, regulatory and advice elements
Your checkpoint
A timed 60-question mixed mock at 70% or above, with an error log categorised by domain.
Regulation and compliance & Investment advice, dealing and client servicing
Drill the error log from week 7 until every logged item is answered correctly twice
Complete two full-length timed mocks and review every wrong answer
Rehearse regulatory thresholds, deadlines and definitions for recall
Plan exam-day timing and question-flagging strategy
Your checkpoint
Two completed mocks at 75% or above with a final one-page revision sheet of must-know facts.
Milestones
Week 2: Can explain the full trade lifecycle and classify the main participant types without notes.
Week 4: Scores at least 80% on the self-made compliance quiz and can state the core client-money rules.
Week 6: Can take a client scenario and correctly assign service type, suitability steps and disclosure requirements.
Week 7: Achieves 70% or above on a timed 60-question mixed mock.
Week 8: Achieves 75% or above on two full-length timed mocks with all logged errors cleared.