NISM Series XVII (Retirement Adviser) study guide
NISM Series XVII (Retirement Adviser) · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
NISM-Series-XVII: Retirement Adviser Certification Examination is one of the certification examinations listed by the National Institute of Securities Markets (NISM), a public trust established in 2006 by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). NISM describes itself as carrying out capacity building activities aimed at enhancing quality standards in the securities markets, and it publishes a dedicated page for this examination alongside a separate Retirement Adviser CPE page for continuing education. The NISM Series XVII (Retirement Adviser) study guide has 5 sections and about 1,661 words.
01Retirement Planning and the Retirement Adviser Role
This domain tests whether you can run a retirement planning engagement end-to-end: quantify the goal, match it to products, and act as a PFRDA-registered retirement adviser with documented suitability. The exam expects process discipline, not product tips.
351 words, about 2 min02Retirement Products and Solutions
This domain tests product mechanics across India's retirement ecosystem: NPS, EPF/EPS, PPF, APY, annuities, superannuation, and mutual funds. You must know eligibility, contribution rules, lock-ins, exit rules, and taxation at the product level.
355 words, about 2 min03Taxation and Regulatory Aspects of Retirement Planning
This domain tests the tax treatment of contributions, accumulations, and withdrawals, plus the regulatory map: PFRDA for NPS and retirement advisers, IRDAI for annuities, and SEBI for mutual funds. Section 80C: EPF, PPF, life insurance premiums, and home-loan principal, subject to the ₹1.5 lakh ceiling.
326 words, about 2 min04Accumulation and Decumulation Strategies
This domain tests how you build the corpus and then convert it into sustainable income. The exam distinguishes accumulation risk (saving too little, poor allocation, high cost) from decumulation risk (sequence of returns, longevity, inflation, health shocks).
332 words, about 2 min05Ethics and Professional Conduct for Retirement Advisers
This domain tests fiduciary behaviour in retirement advice: suitability, disclosure, confidentiality, competence, and fair dealing with vulnerable clients. The standard is the client's interest, not product sales volume.
297 words, about 1 min