Overview

This unit aims to provide an overview of the financial planning industry. Students will learn about the background and purpose of financial planning legislations and the relevant code of conducts. They will also learn the financial advice process and the steps involved in construction and communication of a Statement of Advice, considering clients’ objectives and needs. This unit introduces the management of a financial planning practice. Students will also be introduced to relevant technologies, client engagement process and ethical principles in Financial Planning.

Requisites

Teaching Periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
26-February-2024
26-May-2024
Last self-enrolment date
10-March-2024
Census date
31-March-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
12-April-2024
Results released date
02-July-2024
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
29-July-2024
27-October-2024
Last self-enrolment date
11-August-2024
Census date
31-August-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
13-September-2024
Results released date
03-December-2024

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Identify scope of financial advice and demonstrate knowledge of financial advice processes and technologies
  • Exhibit an understanding of legislation and codes of conduct in the financial planning industry
  • Develop a Statement of Advice for clients while considering the relevant ethical principles and professional conduct requirements
  • Demonstrate professional communication skills, in order to effectively articulate an idea and convince others of its merit
  • Work collaboratively and effectively in teams

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
On-campus
Class
2.00 12 weeks 24
Online
Lecture
1.00 12 weeks 12
Unspecified Activities
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
AssessmentIndividual 40 - 60% 1,2,4 
AssignmentGroup 20 - 30% 1,2,3,4,5 
PresentationGroup 20 - 30% 1,2,3,4,5 

Content

  • Economic environment
  • Overview of financial planning industry
  • Relevant legislations and code ethics and conducts in the financial planning industry
  • Financial advice process
  • Scopes of Financial Planning
  • Construction and presentation of strategic Statement of Advice (SoA)
  • Financial planning practice management
  • Use of technology in Financial Planning
  • Client engagement and communication

Study resources

Reading materials

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