Plannex, formerly Financial Planning community NextGen, has acquired financial services training brand About Financial for an undisclosed amount and launched a new training business.

Plannex Training incorporates learning material for financial professionals taking their CII exams, the firm said.

About Financial’s director Jon Dunckley has joined the new business as part-time director of training. Mr Dunckley had been a director at the About Consulting Group since 2006, running the financial training part of the business.

Rohan Sivajoti, co-founder of Plannex, said the move “isn’t just a refresh; it’s a complete rebuild of what training should look like.”

He said: “Jon’s experience and passion for education will help us continue to raise the bar for financial training; making learning genuinely useful, up-to-date, and focused on results.”

He added: “We’ve combined expert tuition, modern technology, and fresh thinking to create a more flexible, effective way to learn.”

In a LinkedIn post he said the changes mean:

• Updated virtual classrooms for R01–R05 (recorded, expert-led courses you can access anytime)
• The Plannex Training app; thousands of exam-standard questions, short and long mock exams, live feedback and detailed answer explainers
• New study texts for R02 and R03 (the other R0's to follow shortly); written by experienced tutor

NextGen began as a Facebook group before the community officially launched in 2016. It provides training and support for Financial Planners at all levels.

In 2023 it launched an academy aimed at those interested in joining the Financial Planning profession or looking to further their career profession via exams. The community also aims to reduce inequalities within the profession and promote diversity and inclusion. It currently has more than 1,500 members.

It rebranded in July to Plannex to better reflect its membership and what it offers. Mr Sivajoti said: “Plannex reflects who we are now: ambitious, practical and laser-focused on helping planners and businesses thrive in a fast-changing world.”