Course Title: Applications in Financial Planning

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Applications in Financial Planning

Credit Points: 12

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
BAFI3155	City Campus	Postgraduate	625H Economics, Finance & Marketing	Distance / Correspondence	Sem 1 2006, Sem 1 2007, Sem 2 2007, Sem 2 2008

Course Coordinator: Sam Tabit

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 5858

Course Coordinator Email:sam.tabitt@rmit.edu.au

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Students are expected to have satisfactorily completed the following courses:
BAFI 1096 Financial Planning Process
ECON 1111 Economic and Financial Framework
JUST 1075 Law of Finance an Securities
BAFI 1097 Investment and Portfolio Management
JUST 1076 Taxation issues

Course Description

The development of appropriate and relevant financial advice for clients requires the integration of a range of skills and a substantial body of current knowledge. This course is divided into two parts: an overview of fundamental issues and planning tools required for the preparation of personal financial plans; and the application of such tools in addressing a number of case studies. The overview will be covered in the first two weeks and the five case studies will commence in week three.

Overall, the course adopts a case study approach, designed to apply the expertise and knowledge gained in the other courses of the Masters program. It aims to develop the student’s ability to identify and research issues, consider and evaluate possible alternatives and produce detailed reports in the form of personal financial advice suitable for presentation to clients. The course will guide students to a number of relevant resources, including Internet websites, but the list will not be inclusive and students will be encouraged to supplement these with extensive investigation of their own. The course may be viewed as “guided research” and as a precursor to the Research Topic course by development and acquisition of research skills.

The course has been registered with ASIC for the purposes of Policy Statement 146 to meet generic knowledge, skills and specialist knowledge of financial planning.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

At the conclusion of this course, students should be able to:
• source, analyse and evaluate relevant information, communicating it to clients and other professionals succinctly and unambiguously
• identify financial planning problems and issues and, drawing on resources including the knowledge gained from other courses in the program, research and propose alternatives and support recommended solutions
• work effectively within defined time frames to meet agreed outcomes
• develop written presentation skills so that the financial plans and reports are detailed but succinct, effective and coherent
• demonstrate a detailed understanding of the legislative and regulatory framework which impacts on financial planning
• prepare file notes, reports, solutions, financial plans and other communications prepared for clients and other professionals that meet the highest professional standards
• develop an awareness of the need to maintain a rigorous process for maintaining up-to-date knowledge
• demonstrate an awareness of current issues relating to the financial planning process, and reflect this in all course participation and submissions
• justify recommendations and opinions and defend them to peers
• discuss ethical issues which concern the financial planning industry

Overview of Learning Activities

In the course there are five case studies to be considered. Students will be required to prepare detailed answers in response to the issues contained in each case study as directed. Where students do not have any direct knowledge of an issue, it will be the student’s task to undertake research in order to address those issues to a professional financial planner standard.

Overview of Learning Resources

Distributed Learning System (DLS)

Prescribed Text

Recommended Reading

Online References

Overview of Assessment

Case Studies 1-5 – 75%
Examination (Take Home) – 25%