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Series XVII · Intermediate

Retirement Adviser

Benchmark for retirement advisers registered under PFRDA (Retirement Adviser) Regulations, 2016.

Educational content only. VIA Capital does not provide buy/sell calls, tips, or personalized advice. Always do your own research.

Questions

100

Duration

120 min

Pass mark

60%

Negative marking

25%

Exam fee

₹1,500 + payment gateway charges

Validity

3 years

Why this certification matters

Benchmark for retirement advisers registered under PFRDA (Retirement Adviser) Regulations, 2016.

Who should take it: Retirement advisers and their representatives.

How VIA Capital preparation works

One clear path. Built for students, and built for discipline.

  1. Step 1

    Read

    Slide through the study book chapter by chapter.

  2. Step 2

    Practise

    Chapter questions with answer and explanation.

  3. Step 3

    Chapter tests

    Beginner and advanced tests for each chapter.

  4. Step 4

    Full mock sets

    100-question papers in a real exam screen.

  5. Step 5

    Review

    See every mistake and why, then improve.

Why prepare with VIA Capital

Student first

Simple screens, small steps, no clutter.

Every answer explained

If you get one wrong, you learn why.

Help on every question

Report anything confusing, our team fixes it.

Honest

Independent practice. We never claim to be NISM or promise a pass.

Practice pass · NISM Series XVII

Everything you need to prepare, in one pass

  • Digital study book, read chapter by chapter
  • Chapter-wise questions to understand every chapter
  • Chapter tests, beginner and advanced
  • Full mock sets as questions are added
  • Answer and explanation for every question
  • Real exam screen with timer and question palette

Why we charge a small amount

This is not the NISM exam fee. It helps us run the platform: our research team writing and checking questions, keeping explanations accurate, and the technology behind the study book and exam screen.

ResearchQuestion writingTechnology
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  • Payment record in your accountYour payment and expiry date are saved to your VIA Capital account.

One simple package

…

11 days access · one series · incl. taxes

Try 10 questions free Start studying

The official NISM exam fee is paid separately to NISM.

Where it takes you

Covers retirement planning and NPS for PFRDA-registered retirement advisers.

Retirement advisers

Roles are common examples. Whether a certification is required for a role depends on SEBI rules and the employer; confirm on nism.ac.in.

Full syllabus · 9 chapters

Matches official NISM curriculum · checked 30 September 2026
  1. 1Chapter 1Fundamental Concepts in Retirement Planning
    1. 1.1Need for Retirement Planning
    2. 1.2Basic financial concepts associated with retirement planning
    3. 1.3Features of the retirement goal
    4. 1.4Advantages and importance of starting retirement savings early
    5. 1.5Risk of Underestimating Retirement Goals
    6. 1.6Emotional Aspects of Retirement
  2. 2Chapter 2Financial Markets and Investment Products
    1. 2.1Need for Making Investments to Reach Retirement Goals
    2. 2.2Difference between Savings and Investments
    3. 2.3Asset Class and Sub-Asset Classes
    4. 2.4Features of Different Asset Classes
    5. 2.5Asset Class Returns
    6. 2.6Common Risks in Investments
    7. 2.7Matching Investor Needs to Asset Class Features
    8. 2.8Impact of Macro-Economic Factors on Asset Classes
    9. 2.9Asset Allocation
    10. 2.10Financial System and Investment Products
  3. 3Chapter 3Retirement Planning
    1. 3.1Evaluate Client’s Current Situation
    2. 3.2Learn the Process of Setting the Retirement Goal
    3. 3.3Investing for Accumulation
    4. 3.4Post-retirement Stage
    5. 3.5Risks in Distribution Stage
    6. 3.6Monitor and Update the Retirement Plan
    7. 3.7Behavioural Bias in Decision Making
  4. 4Chapter 4Retirement Planning Products: National Pension System
    1. 4.1National Pension System
    2. 4.2Working of NPS
    3. 4.3Subscribing to the NPS
    4. 4.4Investing in the NPS
    5. 4.5Tax aspects of subscribing to the NPS
  5. 5Chapter 5Evaluating Fund Performance and Fund Selection
    1. 5.1Return on Investment
    2. 5.2Different types of return calculations
    3. 5.3Measures of risk in an investment
    4. 5.4Benchmarks
    5. 5.5Performance Evaluation
    6. 5.6Matching investor’s retirement needs to product
  6. 6Chapter 6Other Investment Products
    1. 6.1Mandatory Retirement Benefit Schemes
    2. 6.2Voluntary Retirement Products
  7. 7Chapter 7Retirement Planning Strategies
    1. 7.1Bridging Shortfall in Retirement Corpus
    2. 7.2Periodic Investments
    3. 7.3Retirement Income from Multiple Sources
    4. 7.4Bucket Strategy
    5. 7.5Tax Advantages in Different Stages of Retirement
    6. 7.6Automating Investments
  8. 8Chapter 8Special Situations in Retirement
    1. 8.1Debt Obligations in Retirement
    2. 8.2Documents for Effective Retirement Planning
  9. 9Chapter 9Regulations and Regulators
    1. 9.1Indian Regulatory System
    2. 9.2Role of Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA)
    3. 9.3Role of Regulators
    4. 9.4Regulations for Retirement Advisers
    5. 9.5Ethics beyond Regulations
    6. 9.6Subscriber Grievance Redressal Mechanism
    7. 9.7Retirement Adviser
    8. 9.8Important Links
    9. 9.9Register for Certification Exam
    10. 9.10Exam Center
    11. 9.11Study Material Download

Source: NISM curriculum page. Chapter names and order follow NISM; sub-topic numbering (1.1, 1.2) is added by VIA Capital for easy reading. NISM may revise its curriculum; always confirm on nism.ac.in.

Quick revision · flashcards

NISM Series XVII flashcards

Flip 10 cards free as a demo. The practice pass opens every card, chapter by chapter.

NISM Series XVII: questions people ask

What is NISM Series XVII?

NISM-Series-XVII: Retirement Adviser Certification Examination. Benchmark for retirement advisers registered under PFRDA (Retirement Adviser) Regulations, 2016.

What is the exam pattern?

100 questions, 100 marks, 120 minutes. Pass mark 60%. Negative marking of 25% of the marks for a question.

What is the fee and validity?

NISM lists the fee as ₹1,500 plus payment gateway charges. The certificate is valid for 3 years and is issued only if your PAN is updated. Always confirm on nism.ac.in.

Is VIA Capital official NISM material?

No. VIA Capital is an independent preparation platform. Use the official NISM workbook and register only on the NISM website.

How many questions are in the NISM Series XVII exam?

NISM lists 100 questions for 100 marks, to be answered in 120 minutes.

What is the passing score for NISM Series XVII?

You need 60% (60 of 100 marks) to pass.

Is there negative marking in NISM Series XVII?

Yes. 25% of the marks for a question are deducted for each wrong answer, so guessing has a cost.

Who should take NISM Series XVII?

Retirement advisers and their representatives.

How do I prepare for NISM Series XVII on VIA Capital?

Follow the five steps: read each chapter, practise questions, pass the chapter tests, take the full mock tests, then sit the final practice exam. Your progress is saved to your account.

Where do I register for the real exam?

Only on the official NISM website, nism.ac.in. VIA Capital is an independent preparation platform and cannot book or conduct the NISM exam.

Ready to test yourself?

100 questions · 120 minutes · 25% negative marking. First 10 questions free, then full papers with the practice pass.

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  1. 1

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  2. 2

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  5. 5

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Go to NISM certification portal Official NISM website

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