Introduction to Financial Planning
PostgraduateTAS-BFA5082025
Course information for 2025 intake View information for 2024 course intake
Take a step-by-step approach to financial planning – one that has been tested by professionals. Learn to gather qualitative and quantitative data, identify goals, note financial problems, prepare written recommendations, maintain plans and more.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 16 Feb 2025
- Entry requirements
- Part of a degree
- Duration
- 14 weeks
- Price from
- $3,128
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- FEE-HELP available
Introduction to Financial Planning
About this subject
Upon successful completion of this subject, the student should be able to:
- Critique the advisory functions of financial planners. within the adviser/client relationship.
- Analyse the Australian legal framework within which financial planners operate.
- Apply sustainable financial planning process steps to client scenarios.
- Evaluate the ethical considerations and professional conduct requirements.
- Week 1 - Personal financial planning
- Week 2 - Financial services industry
- Week 3 - Financial planning skills. Compliance and ethics
- Week 4 - Non-superannuation investments
- Week 5 - Non-superannuation investments and taxation
- Week 6 - Superannuation
- Week 7 - Superannuation and retirement
- Week 8 - Retirement. Social Security
- Week 9 - Social Security
- Week 10 - Insurance and personal risk
- Week 11 - Insurance and personal risk. General and key person
- Week 12 - Estate planning
- Week 13 - Review
A comprehensive financial plan will contribute towards the quality of a person's life by reducing the uncertainty about their future needs and the resources that will be available to meet them. This subject is an introductory course examining what is involved in organising and managing an individual's financial resources, and how to protect, maximise and enjoy the benefits obtained from these resources. The financial planning industry has undergone significant change commencing from March 2004 with the implementation of the Financial Services Reform Act 2001 (FSRA). The aim of the subject is to provide a sound understanding of the process of financial planning, together with some of the fundamental skills and knowledge that are required. In line with these objectives, each of the recognised steps in the financial planning process that have been developed by financial planners will be examined in detail, namely: gathering qualitative and quantitative data; identifying goals; identifying financial problems including: setting priorities, deciding on trade-offs and considering opportunity costs; preparing or interpreting written recommendations; implementing agreed-upon plans; and, reviewing, revising and maintaining personal financial plans. The `key areas' that are important for the financial planning process are examined, namely: the regulatory framework; investments; managed funds; superannuation; home ownership; risk management and insurance; taxation; consumer credit; social security; estate planning.
- Case Study Project (40%)
- Assignment Analysis (25%)
- Workshop Participation Activities (35%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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Entry requirements
To enrol in this subject, you must be admitted into a degree.
Additional requirements
- Other requirements - Teaching Arrangement: For each of the Topics there are workshop power point slides, online presentation material and video interviews that introduce key concepts. The 12 topics /weeks are for students to use as readings and source material. There are 12 x 1-hour weekly online workshops across the semester.
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.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.