Overview

This unit aims to provide students with the knowledge of behavioural attributes underlying human decision-making, and how these attributes impact financial decision-making. The unit broadens students’ understanding of the investor’s mind and client’s behaviour when obtaining financial advice. In this unit, the roles of behavioural biases, ethical principles, and legislative requirements in building a long-term client-advisor relationship are discussed and the professional skills and knowledge required for the development of financial strategies that meet the client’s best interest are practiced. This unit further provides an understanding of the fundamental financial techniques that assist in the evaluation of financial products such as shares and bonds.

Requisites

Prerequisites
FIN20017 Finance and Behavioural Bias

Rule

50 credit points

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Teaching Period 1
Location
Online
Start and end dates
10-March-2025
08-June-2025
Last self-enrolment date
23-March-2025
Census date
04-April-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
02-May-2025
Results released date
Teaching Period 3
Location
Online
Start and end dates
03-November-2025
08-February-2026
Last self-enrolment date
16-November-2025
Census date
28-November-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
02-January-2026
Results released date

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Apply evaluation finance theories including the time value of money to assist financial decision making
  • Explain a range of client behaviours and psychological processes and how these impact financial decision-making processes
  • Apply behavioural finance knowledge in meeting legislative requirements and construct ethical advice based on a clients' level of financial literacy
  • Communicate effectively to engage with and create positive relationships with clients and peers
  • Work effectively in teams

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Face to Face Contact (Phasing out)
Lecture
1.00 12 weeks 12
Online
Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning
1.00 12 weeks 12
Face to Face Contact (Phasing out)
Tutorial
1.00 12 weeks 12
Unspecified Learning Activities (Phasing out)
Independent Learning
9.50 12 weeks 114
TOTAL150

Swinburne Online

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Online
Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning
12.50 12 weeks 150
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
AssignmentGroup 25 - 35% 2,3,4,5 
ExaminationIndividual 30 - 50% 2,3 
Online TestsIndividual 20 - 30% 
PresentationGroup 5 - 15% 2,3,4,5 

Content

  • Time value of money
  • Net present value and investment evaluation methods
  • Knowing self and others
  • Market and investor behaviour
  • Risk profiling
  • Constructing advice
  • Client engagement
  • Professional relationship building
  • Financial advice legislative requirements

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.