Ethics and Client Management
Duration
- One Semester or equivalent
Contact hours
- 36 hours Face to Face + Blended + Swinburne Online
On-campus unit delivery combines face-to-face and digital learning. For Online unit delivery, learning is conducted exclusively online.
2024 teaching periods
| Swinburne Online Teaching Period 3 |
Swinburne Online Teaching Period 2 | |
|---|---|---|
Dates: Results: Last self enrolment: Census: Last withdraw without fail: |
Dates: Results: Last self enrolment: Census: Last withdraw without fail: |
Aims and objectives
This unit prepares students to engage advanced critical and reflective skills in analysing the ethical principles and standards of professional practice in financial services, and to understand (and effectively apply) the legal compliance requirements of the financial adviser profession. Students learn to identify complex ethical issues and propose sound solutions; effectively apply resources available in support institutions; and use creative skills to improve the ethics regime of the profession. Client management concepts and principles are practised in the context of: enhancing communication, conflict resolution and trust building skills; developing ethical and legally compliant solutions to systemic problems; and applying recent theoretical developments in social psychology and behavioural finance to foster ethical cultures.
Unit Learning Outcomes (ULO)
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
1. Apply legal and regulatory requirements in professional contexts, and evaluate legal and moral consequences of non-compliance
2. Critically analyse complex situations that may lead to conflicts of interests and unethical behaviour, and provide ethical and professional solutions
3. Demonstrate advanced communication skills and effective application of client engagement psychology in financial planning contexts
4. Critically reflect on cognitive and behavioural patterns in financial decision making, and provide ethical client management solutions
5. Work effectively as a leader or a member of a team
2. Critically analyse complex situations that may lead to conflicts of interests and unethical behaviour, and provide ethical and professional solutions
3. Demonstrate advanced communication skills and effective application of client engagement psychology in financial planning contexts
4. Critically reflect on cognitive and behavioural patterns in financial decision making, and provide ethical client management solutions
5. Work effectively as a leader or a member of a team
Unit information in detail
- Teaching methods, assessment and content.
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
Type | Hours per week | Number of Weeks | Total |
On Campus Class | 3 | 12 | 36 |
Unspecified Activities Independent Learning | 9.5 | 12 | 114 |
TOTAL | 150 hours |
Swinburne Online
Type | Hours per week | Number of Weeks | Total |
Online Learning Activities | 12.5 | 12 | 150 |
TOTAL | 150 hours |
Assessment
Types | Individual/Group Role | Weighting | Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) |
Online Discussion | Individual | 10-20% | 1,2,3,4 |
| Reflective Essay | Individual | 30-50% | 1,2,3,4 |
| Presentation and Report | Group | 30-40% | 1,2,3,4,5 |
| Test | Individual | 10-20% | 1,2 |
Content
• Applications of the FPA Code of Professional Practice
• Recent developments in the institutionalised ethics regime of the financial planning services industry
• Complex ethical issues and dilemmas in financial planning services
• Conflicts of interest: understanding and managing systemic sources
• Advanced applications of professional conduct: applying integrity, resisting power pressure and giving voice to values
• Advanced management of client relationships
• Advanced communication and interpersonal skills
• Behavioural finance: managing cognitive bias and improving heuristics
• Advanced ethical reasoning and social intuitionist approaches to decision making
• Advanced conflict management skills: building empathy and trust
• Recent developments in the institutionalised ethics regime of the financial planning services industry
• Complex ethical issues and dilemmas in financial planning services
• Conflicts of interest: understanding and managing systemic sources
• Advanced applications of professional conduct: applying integrity, resisting power pressure and giving voice to values
• Advanced management of client relationships
• Advanced communication and interpersonal skills
• Behavioural finance: managing cognitive bias and improving heuristics
• Advanced ethical reasoning and social intuitionist approaches to decision making
• Advanced conflict management skills: building empathy and trust
Study resources
- Reading materials.
Reading materials
Students are advised to check the unit outline in the relevant teaching period for appropriate textbooks and further reading.