Course Title: Provide financial planning advice

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2009

Course Code: BAFI5142C

Course Title: Provide financial planning advice

School: 650T TAFE Business

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5205 - Diploma of Financial Services

Course Contact : Craig Kingsley

Course Contact Phone: 61 3 9925 5456

Course Contact Email:craig.kingsley@rmit.edu.au

Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Nominal Hours: 50

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

NONE

Course Description

This unit describes the skill involved in providing financial advice to clients, depending on the level of client contact appropriate for the representative. The unit equally applies when presenting preliminary, amended or final financial plans.
It introduces the workings of the financial planning industry and to provides a framework to be able to develop and provide action plans designed to assist people to achieve their financial goals and improve financial health.

National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:	FNSFPLN507B Provide financial planning advice
Element:	FNSFPLN507B/01 Create rapport with the client
Performance Criteria:	· Disclosure of capacity to client is consistent with code of practice, organisational requirements and legislative requirements · Client concerns, if any, are identified and responded to appropriately · Active listening skills are demonstrated in dealings with clients · Services are explained to client when appropriate orally and/or in writing in a clear and unambiguous way, avoiding jargon and in a language appropriate to the level of financial understanding of the client · Client is assisted to make informed choices using the relevant documentation · Client's needs and objectives are addressed consistent with client's budgetary constraints
Element:	FNSFPLN507B/02 Discuss financial plan with the client
Performance Criteria:	· The scope and limitations of the plan and/or advice is clearly explained to the client together with the provision of appropriate warnings · Strategies and recommendations in the financial plan are explained and discussed with the client in a clear and unambiguous way · Financial plan documentation is prepared, explained and discussed with the client when appropriate in a clear and unambiguous way · Impact of key aspects of the recommendations is disclosed in a clear and concise manner to the client · Client is guided through the key aspects of the strategies proposed when appropriate · Client is guided through the assumptions used in formulating the plan and the degree to which variations in the assumptions may impact on expected outcomes is discussed · Requirements to put the recommended plan into effect are explained to the client · Areas in the plan that may require further advice are identified and noted · Copies of the research and other documentation are provided to the client if requested · Confirmation is sought that the client understand the recommendations presented · Agreement in principle to proceed is obtained from the client · Product knowledge appropriate for the service or advice offered is demonstrated in providing information to the client · Appropriate level of after sales service to be provided is clearly defined, and communicated to the client
Element:	FNSFPLN507B/03 Negotiate effectively
Performance Criteria:	· Clients are assisted when necessary to make appropriate decisions regarding solutions to their needs and objectives within the scope of the plan · Alternatives to recommendations are presented to the client when requested · Limits imposed by regulatory requirements or organisation guidelines are observed · Restraint and composure are exercised when dealing with conflict situations involving clients · Communication channels are maintained when dealing with complaints and following complaint handling procedures
Element:	FNSFPLN507B/04 Complete and maintain necessary documentation
Performance Criteria:	· Financial plan is adjusted according to changes agreed to with the client · Proposals and other documents are completed and signed off when plan is agreed between the client and organisational representative · Implementation actions required by the client are clearly identified and written agreement to actions is obtained · Client records are created or updated · Contract variations are completed if required · Confirmation including relevant documentation and contract variation is provided to the client and final plan implemented · Customer advice is recorded in accordance with the organisation guidelines and/or financial plan documentation requirements · Instructing and/or purchasing documents are signed by the client where required

Learning Outcomes

Performance element based

Details of Learning Activities

In this course students will undertake a range of learning activities, which will include:
An initial introduction to topics and techniques via teacher directed learning, tutorial-based discussion groups, role-plays to explore individual reactions to particular situations, a group project (case-study, tutorial exercises in order to develop competency including underpinning skills and knowledge.

Teaching Schedule

	Weekly Schedule
Week beginning	Topics	Tutorial/class work
Week 1 – 9 Feb	Introduction to Financial Planning and the Personal Finance Environment	Overview of the financial planning environment, Goal setting & budgeting
Week 2 – 16 Feb	Analysing the risk and return of investments	Time value of money, simple and compound interest, annuities
Week 3 – 23 Feb	Taxation Planning	Assessable income, allowable deductions, tax Payable
Week 4 – 2 Mar	Taxation Planning and Strategies	Taxation of different entity structures, negative gearing and other strategies, minimising taxes
Week 5 – 9 Mar	Investment principles. Direct Investments	Principles of investing, asset classes and investment products
Week 6 – 16 Mar	Direct Investments	interest bearing investments, property investments, share investments
Week 7 – 23 Mar	Indirect Investments	Investment Analysis; managed investments
Week 8 – 30 Mar	Indirect Investments	Alternative investment products, investment analysis
Week 9 – 6 April	Insurance	Insurance terms, risk assessment & management
	Easter Break (9th to 15 April inclusive)
Week 9 - 13 April	Insurance
Week 10 – 21 April	Insurance	Principles of insurance, personal insurances, general insurance, liability insurance
Week 11 – 20 April	Retirement planning	Retirement planning, investing for retirement, superannuation
Week 12 – 27 April	Estate Planning	Problems of no estate planning, steps in estate planning, wills and trusts, powers of attorney
Week 13 – 4 May	Basics of developing a Financial Plan	What is a Financial Plan (Statement of Advice)?
Week 14 – 11 May	Basics of developing a Financial Plan	Steps involved in preparing a Financial Plan,
Week 15 – 18 May	Basics of developing a Financial Plan	Evaluation of a plan, ongoing considerations
Week 16 – 25 May	Final Class Test (50%)
Week 17 – 1 June	Feedback on Assessment, exam & assignment

Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

There is no prescribed textbook for this course. Extensive course notes and materials in addition to lecture overheads and tutorial questions will be available of the learning hub online@rmiit.edu.au from the commencement of the course.

References

Recommended readings for this course include: Beal D and McKeown W, Personal Finance, John Wiley and Sons Australia Ltd, 3rd Edition
Gitman LJ, Morrison DS and Joehnk MD, Personal Financial Planning – an Australian Perspective, Thomson, 1st Edition.

Other Resources

• Print-based resources
Students will be provided with a learner’s guide that will include tutorial discussion questions, short answer questions and problem sets, self-directed exercises, some solutions and core notes for each topic.

• On-line resources
Students will be provided with on-line resources in the learning hub that include lectures and self-directed exercises, on-line feedback exercises and relevant URL’s.

• Other prescribed requirements:
You will be required to have access to a financial calculator within the course. Questions in the examination may be based on your having access to a financial calculator to perform financial calculations.

• Recommended readings 

Beal D and McKeown W, Personal Finance, John Wiley and Sons Australia Ltd, 3rd Edition

Gitman LJ, Morrison DS and Joehnk MD, Personal Financial Planning – an Australian Perspective, Thomson, 1st Edition.

Students must be very familiar with the course material and its entire contents. Additional reading is required from contemporary sources. Students are required to undertake their own reading and research of the course independently and to properly acknowledge sources of information used for assignment work.

Overview of Assessment

Assessment will incorporate a variety of methods including a group assignment and presentation, tests and /or an examination.
The group assignment will require students to develop and match financial strategies to meet a client’s requirements. It will also involve a group presentation.
Tests/exam are closed book and may consist of multiple-choice questions, case studies and some short answer questions. They will assess underpinning knowledge and skills and the performance elements of the unit.

You will receive ongoing feedback on your progress in the course. Feedback on assessment will be given in a timely manner. You will be informed about how to improve your performance in the competency/course and what you need to do to be deemed competent or to gain a pass in the assessment.

Assessment Tasks

The assessment will consist of:

1. A group assignment based on specific topics covered in the course and to be determined and agreed upon between lecturer and student. Specifically, it will require students to develop and match financial strategies to meet a client’s requirements. It will also involve a group presentation communicating the group’s work to the class.

2. Final Test
The test will be of 2 hours duration. The exam is closed book. The examination will consist of multiple-choice questions, a case study and some short answer questions. It will assess underpinning knowledge and skills and the performance elements of the course.

Students are assessed against all the performance elements of the course and must demonstrate an understanding of all elements to be deemed competent. To receive a pass for this course a student must also achieve 50% overall.

Assessment Matrix

	Group assignment	Closed book test
Create rapport with the client	Y	Y
Discuss financial plan with the client	Y	Y
Negotiate effectively	Y	Y
Complete and maintain necessary documentation	Y	Y

Assessment for this course takes the following form:

Assignment 40% of assessment
Final test 60% of assessment

Course Overview: Access Course Overview