"Genius Material helped me pass RO3, RO4, RO2, J10, RO8, RO5 and LP2, in that order and in 2 months! I was paying attention and I'm well on my way to becoming Chartered!"

Pedro Bonillo-Farias, PBF Wealth Management Ltd, St James's Place Wealth Management, Bristol

Newsflash! Pedro is now just 10 Credits away from Chartered, and unstoppable!

Proud husband, Peter, describes the tremendous difference it made to his wife, Vikki, once she knew how to learn and retain information.

Having struggled to achieve the necessary qualifications to become a Fund manager for the HSBC, when she wanted to change careers she and her husband, Peter, knew she needed a better approach.

This time, she not only passed every Advanced exam first time, to gain her Chartered Status as fast as possible, but she scored so highly in her exams that she won a prize!

Vicki Watson, CHARTERED(!) Financial Adviser at clarity

“I reached out to Lysette for some help with my studies, which really helped me to clarify exactly what I needed to do.  Since then I have used the clear thorough process outline by Lysette to help me overcome the issues I was facing and achieve Chartered status in the process.  

I would recommend Lysette for help with exams and as a coach to help provide clear direction.”

Chris Iles,  Chartered Independent Financial Planner, Aspirations, Bristol

For previous exams Les read his textbook and made copious notes, but didn’t remember much of of it.

Even though it's early days, he’s already finding it so much easier to remember the information.

”I’d definitely recommend Lysette to anyone taking professional exams who either is struggling to pass or simply wants to become more efficient."

Les Marriott, LawlerDavies Independent Financial Planning

Dale compares his old way of studying with the Genius Material system he uses now.

"In our industry there's a lot of text and statistics to remember, and the old way of reading through paragraphs, making notes, highlighting, trying to remember various points.... "

"This new way is much more efficient and I'm growing in confidence and things are sticking in my memory much more than before."

Dale Smith, Investment Manager,  Anderson Strathern Asset Management

"I sat the CF8 Long-Term Care exam, with only 5 weeks to revise. I followed your programme and scored 89%! 

90% would have been a Distinction.

So the best result so far in my CII exams.

Thank you for Genius Material.

The best investment I’ve made in a long time!”

Maria Clifton, Belgrave Asset Management Ltd

“I sat JO6 in October 2011 and failed by 6%. I found the Genius Material very helpful and it gave me much more confidence using the techniques you suggest in my studies. I signed up as I only had one exam to pass for my Diploma and with JO6 being a long and complex subject I felt I needed a bit more help. Your material certainly contributed towards me passing the exam. I re-sat the same exam in April 12 and passed with 83%.”

Scott Douglas, Vision Lifestyle Financial Planning Limited, Falkirk 

“I passed my AF2 exam comfortably in October, in no small part because of the structure that the Genius Material system provided. Thanks again; it was my 3^rd attempt at this exam and I would have abandoned trying to achieve Chartered status if hadn’t got through. I’m now in a completely different place and have absolute confidence that I can pass exams at Advanced level with the right preparation.”

Arah Perrett, St James's Place Partnership, Gloucester

Needless to say, Arah went on to achieve her goals and gained her Advanced Level status.

“As you know, I had been studying the CII’s R series for the best part of 18 months. I found it a huge struggle to retain information and I was hitting a brick wall. I have failed five R series exams over the past year. Struggling with study and exams has had a ripple affect on all aspects of my personal life/business and greatly dented my confidence.

The final straw was discovering I have dyslexia. I have found your techniques extremely helpful. In particular, the learning cycle and method of note taking has helped me gain confidence that I have truly understood the study material and I feel more equipped to sit an examination. 

“I find these webinars provide a useful insight on how we learn and more importantly, why we don’t learn in given circumstances. Lysette explains practically why this happens, and the steps to learning in an easy to follow format at an appropriate level. I am taking both professional and academic examinations and already feel better prepared.” 

Richard Brough, CHARTERED, Simply Biz., London, now Head of Compliance, INSUR

"3 years ago I took over the full ownership and running of my family’s 30 year old insurance broking business. I particularly wanted to make it my own and stamp my personality on it.

I was already confident in my knowledge and skills as well as my ability to give my clients the highest standard of service. I found, however, that the transition from the old way of doing things to the new way, didn’t just need a change of processes – a change in thinking was also necessary as certain aspects of running the business seemed a daunting prospect.

Thanks to Lysette's coaching I’ve 'felt the fear and done it anyway!', attending networking meetings, giving talks and even appearing in my own videos. Things that many of us find difficult to do. The business is growing and I am on track to reach my goals.

I have a Business Coach so it makes perfect sense to have a Mindset Coach as well. Working with Lysette is one of the best investments I’ve made for myself and my business."

Jo Spencer, Chartered Insurance Broker

Commercial Insurance Specialist for SMEs in Oxfordshire and Berkshire

"Just received my 'parchment' - the official certificate confirming my HSW qualification.Huge thanks to Lysette Offley and her Genius Material for helping me with my learning and revision strategy."

Of course, it is Jo who is Genius Material!

And, she's being characteristically modest. She scored, in her words, "A pretty cool 100%!"

Not bad, eh?  🙂

Newsflash!

Neil achieved his Chartered status.

Neil Smith, like so many Financial Advisers, found that the study strategies he was using to pass exams, weren't serving him very well.

As he says here, now he has a robust system for learning and retaining information, not just to pass the Advanced Financial Services exams, but beyond them too. Because he'll remember the information he's learning, his knowledge will be useful when speaking with clients and fellow professionals too.

"I now have a system I feel is going to give me a better chance of passing my exams first time."

Neil Smith, Harmony Wealth Management, Chesterfield

“Rather than the last minute cramming I used to do, Genius Material has made my study much more structured. It has kept me right on track, and having someone like Lysette on the outside, giving me a little push now and again, along with the analysis of what sort of studier I am, has been very useful. I was delighted to have passed my last exam with 73%.“

John Townsend, Acumen Financial Services, Milton Keynes

"I am willing to attain Level 6 financial qualification (Chartered financial planner) and I have been struggling passing exams. 

I am required to absorb a large amount of information, in a foreign language, and in a very limited amount of time. The results speak for themselves, I passed my second Level exam a month after Lysette’s coaching. I highly recommend her service."

Yannick Le Touze, Chartered Financial Planner, YLT Wealth Management, Associate Partner Practice of St James’s Place Wealth Management, Maidenhead

“I have managed to pass all 6 RO exams to get my Diploma in Financial Planning and I couldn’t have done this without Lysette and Genius Material. I was finding it hard to retain information long term and recall it for my exams. Genius Material helped me learn and retain information in a completely new way. Thanks Lysette and keep up the good work.” 

“Through a rare combination of personal one to one support with Lysette and good website functionality, Genius Material has succeeded in making my revision more meaningful, easier to break down and understand and less laborious. Revision is no longer a chore. It’s actually more exciting!”

Geoff Catterall, Director, Stonewater Wealth Management Ltd, Preston

“I have passed my 2 exams needed for my Diploma and your tuition definitely helped me pass both first time.” 

Darron Whitehead,
 Utopia Group Ltd, Wakefield

“I have great news to share with you. A couple of weeks ago I passed RO1 first time with 72%. It is great news, but more than anything, I now have a lot more confidence to move to the next stage of the assessment. Thank you for listening and being there Lysette.”

Ann Bellingham, Ann Bellingham Financial Services, Blairgowrie, Perth and Kinross

“Thank you, as I actually passed the RO2 today in Glasgow, what a result! I had taken on board your study tips and they work…. FANTASTIC” 

Tom Coats, Thomson McCallum, Glasgow

“I attended a Genius Material workshop and I’d recommend this system of revision to any other IFAs finding it difficult to learn as we get older.”

Savio Santimano, CHARTERED, Principal, Minerva FMA, London

"Since I came to see Lysette I have been much calmer in my approach/attitude towards my studying, even to the point that I have quite enjoyed it!

I have enjoyed learning and using my brain to make connections and understanding the material.

Colleagues at work and my husband have also commented on how positive I am towards my studies and how calm I have been!

Studying is now no longer a chore but a pleasant journey!"

Claire Harper Dip CII Dip PFS

Independent Financial Planner at ICF Financial Services Ltd, Hull

“The Genius Material workshop confirmed to me that there is more than one way of revising and that the best way forward for me is to use diary system so that I keep the information in my head. I’d recommend the Genius Material revision system to anyone taking professional exams.”

Philip Ostle, Head of Financial Services, IM Asset Management, Bedford

“I found the software extremely useful in planning my revision timetable. It’s the most effective and easy to use system I have seen so far.”                       

 Georgina Partridge, Partner, Plutus Wealth Management, Chartered, London

Georgina, having won Young IFA of the Year and Value of Advice Ambassador in the Unbiased Media Adviser Awards 2013, was also named in the Top 100 advisers in the UK.

“It was useful to be reminded of how effective MindMapping is when revising, and I will be using some of the other revision ideas I learned in the workshop. I would recommend Genius Material to anyone taking exams.” 

Gary Jones, Financial Profiles Ltd

“In 2008 I worked with the Genius Material programme to give me support in preparing to take the CF8 (Care Advice) exam. Genius helped me to break down the information in the text in such a way that I was able to retain the information more easily – I went on to pass the exam first time and 10 years on, I am now specialising in providing guidance and advice on Long Term Care.”

Jacqueline Berry, National Accounts Team, Partnership Assurance, London

“Thanks for your learning advice. I passed my first exam R05 after 4 weeks work.”

Andrew Prescott, Isis Medical Insurance, Oxford

"Hi Lysette,

Just wanted to thank you for supporting me at a time I was finding myself feeling frustrated not being able to deal with overbearing people around me, who have been holding me back from moving forward in my career and have a balanced home life. The self-belief and strength I have gained through our sessions has been astonishing. I’ve been amazed how simple the process was for me to discover that I have the strength to move forward. You helped me to be focus on what’s important and helped me identify the changes I wanted to make. People around me have also noticed how much I’ve changed after only 2 sessions with you. I am forever grateful to you for supporting me through this journey.”

Javinder Sehmi, Branch Manager, Santander Bank, Ashford

“Hi! My name is Robert MacDonald. I’m a trainee genius! Lysette Offley is my trainer and she can also train you. I wasn’t always a trainee genius. I used to faff, writing notes, trying to memorise things – not grouping, not linking, not bullet points, and train crash learning style! Lysette helped me go forward with things and now I work in the illustrious Financial Services industry. Lysette helped me become a Chartered Financial Planner. She can help you get your goals. Get Genius Material. Listen to Lysette and you will be successful. Good luck and good bye.” 

Robert MacDonald, Chartered(!) Financial Planner, Gourock, Inverclyde

“I have been working with the GM for just under a month now and its awesome! I was a fully paid up member of the read – write, re-read – re-write “club” which was a total waste of time. Seeing the GM program has lifted a huge weight off my mind and I am very positive about passing the next round of CII exams.

I’m doing the Advanced Dip. sitting J04,JO5 and AF3 all in the one sitting. Now a Tefal man I ain’t, but the GM prog. has given me huge confidence and I WILL pass this – bring it on! The GM prog all makes so much sense and the colossal amount of work and attention to detail Lysette has gone to is truly outstanding.

All this stuff about “hard wired” to forget, and “I knew this stuff but just could not put my finger on it…” is all a load of old tosh! Her breadth and depth of research to give the members a deeper understanding of the history of how we learn (and why we forget) is remarkable. That stuff is hard – I can vouch for this having just done a massive piece of research for my FS Management Honours Degree. I fully expect to post on the site my successes. Failure is not only not an option, it’s not remotely in my psyche!”

Robert MacDonald

“What a fabulous idea and I can see it being absolutely so valuable to me forever!!!  The webinar was great, you were very easy to listen to and everything was really interesting. I was finding it very difficult to revise for my CF8 exam and found myself going over the material again and again, still feeling like I hadn’t learnt it.  I had only been using Genius Material for one and a half weeks and walked into the exam feeling so confident and I passed easily.”

Avalon Denniss, Partnership.

“I took AF3-Pension Planning in October. Passed it. However, I’d failed it twice previously. Your material is clear and I find it helpful. Your presentations are a paragon of clarity and well illustrated – exactly the opposite of death by PowerPoint. Keep up the good work.”

John Pope, Conclusion Financial Planning Ltd, Aberdeen

I've not had to do exams for many a year now and I know there are some exams I need to take... Instead of procrastinating, I've finally got down to working on a method that will make my revision easier and help me achieve my goals...  and I'm motivated to learn and go forward. After what I've learned today, it will make my revision and my learning generally ... a lot easier and I'll be able to apply that to my business and to my personal life.

Tony Ioannides, Stirling Wealth, Manchester

“I’d recommend a Genius Material workshop if you want to learn helpful revision techniques such as new ways to visualise information. How to use bullet points and mind maps was best for me. Learning about the necessary discipline and revision structure was also useful.” 

Martin Jeffery, Financial Planning Consultant, Ron Jeffery & Blueprint, West Sussex

Radiographer, NHS

"I’m a Diagnostic Radiographer working within the NHS with 15yrs experience. I’ve got dyspraxia which affects my short and long term memory. This has affected my confidence within the workplace as I struggled to remember things. Over the past couple of months of working with Lysette, we’ve created new learning strategies that actually work. As a result I’m now more confident within myself when at work."

Simon Jessup, Radiographer, NHS, OXON

Trainee Policeman

A trainee policeman had failed one particular exam twice already. He was told by his supervisors that he was probably not cut out to be in this job. However, he was allowed one last chance at the exam. After using Genius Material, he sailed through with a 78% pass mark.

“My confidence was at an all time low, and I could not see how I could improve my learning ability and I was very close to giving up the training. Lysette’s attitude is fantastic, her people skills and way of thinking towards people, from their school years through to adult life is exceptional. If there were more teachers/trainers with Lysette’s skills/outlook and disposition, I think more people would find they have more to offer than they probably realise.”

Eddie Urwin

"I would thoroughly recommend Lysette Offley's work as a Study Skills Trainer. My son needed help going forward with his A level revision. Lysette proved to be a great coach guiding my son on his revision and after each session was able to make headway on his own. The results were that he achieved good A level results and is now at a very good University. Thank you so much Lysette for all your help and guidance."

Ondine Whately Carington, Reading

Tiger Whiteley

Tiger left his revising until the last minute and felt very stressed about it. However, with a little Genius Material Coaching, as he explains here, he is now Genius Material himself, having achieved a 2:1 in his second year exams at Bournemouth University.

Tiger Whiteley, Reading

"Before I worried unnecessarily about things that I could not control and would often make situations worse in my head which led me to avoiding situations altogether. However, thanks to lysette, I am now able to rationalise my thoughts and see things for what they really are, which has not only enabled me to put myself in situations which would previously have made me anxious, but also given me the skills and tools that I can use in the future to ensure that I live my life to the fullest. Besides, after identifying that much of that stress stemmed from awaiting my A level results, I realised that all of that worrying was for nothing when I received my A level grades A*AB and will be starting my first choice university in September!

Kate Walkling

“After working with Lysette, my daughter has increased in confidence, showing real results and significant improvement in her studies.

My daughter’s attitude to learning has improved and her confidence has grown as she can see the good results from the revision that she does and how it impacts on her marks at school.

So we are both happier!”

Jayne Johnson, Better People Ltd

Danny sets a good example to other teenagers taking ‘A’ Levels.

He recognised that he wasn’t achieving the grades he deserved and so did something about it.

It’s true, what they say: If something’s not working – do something else!

"This is so much easier!

I now know where to start with my revision - what format to put my notes in - instead of aimlessly writing out from the text book. 

Now I look for the key points of information that will trigger information that’s relevant to me, which helps it stick in my brain."

Olly Brookes, Aged 15

"My son, approaching GCSE’s year, didn’t really feel that he was revising effectively and was getting overwhelmed by the amount of work he was going to have to cover.  Lysette was brilliant in showing him how to reduce the revision into workable chunks, and then to transform this information into phrases and pictures that he was able to learn, and most importantly, retain."

Annabel Stickland