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Financial Planning
Postgraduate | ACU-BAFN608 | 2022
Course information for 2022 intake
Learn what’s expected as a financial planner. Build a range of skills – from evaluating clients’ goals, through to creating a financial plan. Put yourself ahead of other planners with a focus on professional behaviour, ethics and communication.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- Part of a degree
- Duration
- 12 weeks
FEE-HELP available
Financial Planning
About this subject
On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- critically analyse the role of the financial planner in the context of serving the common good and the inherent challenges in the role
- evaluate the needs and risk profiles of clients
- compare and contrast diverse financial services and products
- formulate a financial plan
- apply the ethical frameworks available to manage the inherent conflicts of interest and moral concerns within the financial planning industry and the effects on personal financial planning and compliance demands on the financial planner
- The regulatory framework and professional framework for financial planning in Australia
- FASEA Codes of Ethics / Professional Conduct
- Risk profile
- The role and importance of personal financial planning
- Overview of personal financial planning products e.g. insurance
- Communication and ‘knowing your client’ skills applied to financial planning
- Direct investments in the various asset classes and the managed funds industry
- Ethical and moral dilemmas affecting the financial planning industry
- How to manage consumer credit, personal budgeting, and credit use
- Leveraged investing using gearing(including margin lending) or financial derivatives
- Taxation issues in Financial Planning
- The benefits of superannuation, social security, and estate planning
- Due diligence and best interest duty in formulating a financial plan.
Personal financial services have been one of the dynamic growth sectors of the recent past. Australia has the third largest holder of superannuation assets in the world. Compulsory superannuation contributions will generate continued growth in the value of assets under management. The financial advice industry is expected to thrive with increasing needs for unbiased and appropriate financial advice. The dynamic nature of the sector and multitude of complex financial products require suitably qualified financial planners with enhanced professional behaviour and ethical values.
The unit focuses on the role of the financial planner, regulatory, social, economic and ethical considerations involved in financial planning, understanding and evaluating investors’ goals, risk management strategies, evaluating investments and financial instruments and constructing a financial plan. The unit aims to provide students with fundamental knowledge and competencies in financial planning with a special focus placed on professional behaviour, ethical awareness and communication skills.
Assessments are used primarily to foster learning. ACU adopts a constructivist approach to learning which seeks alignment between the fundamental purpose of each subject, the learning outcomes, teaching and learning strategy, assessment, and the learning environment. In order to pass this subject, you are required to achieve an overall score of at least 50%. Using constructive alignment, the assessment tasks are designed for you to demonstrate your achievement of each learning outcome.
- Individual Assignment (25%)
- Assignment 2 (25%)
- Final Assessment (50%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
Established in 1991 after amalgamating four eastern Australian Catholic tertiary institutes, Australian Catholic University now has seven campuses, from Brisbane to Melbourne and welcomes students of all beliefs. Specialising in arts, business, education, health sciences, law, theology and philosophy, ACU encourages its students to think critically and ethically and bring change to their communities and offer this online through Open Universities Australia.
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- QS Ranking 2024:
- 34
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 29
Entry requirements
To enrol in this subject, you must be admitted into a degree.
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
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