Course Title: Superannuation and Retirement Income

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Superannuation and Retirement Income

Credit Points: 12.00


Course Coordinator: Dr Maggie Williams

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 1402

Course Coordinator Email: maggie.williams@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: Building 80

Course Coordinator Availability: By Appointment


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

You are recommended to have completed the following course(s) or have equivalent knowledge before starting this unit: 

  • Course ID 053769 Financial Planning Regulatory Obligations


Course Description

In this course, you will study the concepts of investment, superannuation and retirement planning.  

Firstly, the course will teach you about the financial system in Australia and the superannuation system in particular.  The course will then equip you with knowledge of investment options including shares, bonds, property and managed investment schemes.  It will highlight the importance of risk profiling, acting in the clients’ best interests, and personal circumstances in portfolio construction.  The course includes a comprehensive examination of the principles of wealth creation in a changing political and economic environment.

Secondly, the course will focus on superannuation and retirement income.  Superannuation represents a major investment for individuals in Australia, so this concept is inherently linked to the first part of the course.  In the second part of the course, topics such as the history of superannuation, superannuation law, contributions to super and withdrawal of superannuation (in retirement income streams) are covered.  You will also understand the role of the government in providing social security and how aged care can be a factor in retirement planning.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

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On successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

  1. Synthesise a body of knowledge including current legislation, demographic issues and the role of the government impacting on retirement planning and an ageing population.
  2. Apply reasoning, technical and creative skills to generate and evaluate complex concepts to solve superannuation accumulation planning, and retirement planning problems for individuals.
  3. Apply knowledge and skills with creativity to provide tax effective financial advice to manage income streams in retirement.
  4. Undertake investment appraisal decisions, taking account of a client’s risk profile, financial markets and a client’s goals.
  5. Apply and critique asset allocation in a multi asset portfolio using ‘client best interest’ principles.
  6. Apply different approaches to create a multi-asset portfolio.
  7. Interpret and communicate superannuation and retirement planning strategies and its implications. 


Overview of Learning Activities

Your  learning  will  be  supported  through  various  activities  which may include quizzes; assignments; prescribed readings; sourcing, researching and analysing specific information; solving problems; debating selected topics on discussion forums and producing written work.


Overview of Learning Resources

Various learning resources are available online through MyRMIT Studies\Canvas. The lecture notes and workshop notes are posted on Canvas.

Resources are also available online through RMIT Library databases and other facilities. Visit the RMIT library website for further details. Assistance is available online via our chat and email services, face to face at our campus libraries or via the telephone on (03) 9925 2020.

Additional resources and/or sources to assist your learning will be identified by your course coordinator and will be made available to you as required during the teaching period. 


Overview of Assessment

The assessment alignment list below shows the assessment tasks against the learning outcomes they develop.

Assessment Task 1: 30%
Linked CLOs: 4, 5, 6

Assessment Task 2: 30% 
Linked CLOs: 1, 2, 3

Assessment Task 3: 40%
Linked CLOs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Feedback will be provided throughout the semester in class and/or in online forums through individual and group feedback on practical exercises and by individual consultation.