Financial Planning and Advising

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

Estimated total time commitment of 60 hours per semester

ECON90033 Quantitative Analysis of Finance I and

ECON90034 Economics of Finance and

FNCE90047 Financial Markets and Instruments and

FNCE90016 International Financial Management and

EITHER ACCT90002 Financial Statement Analysis OR ACCT90004 Accounting for Decision Making

None

None

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For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

This subject focuses on the role of the professional financial adviser in personal financial planning. Topics will be drawn from: risk and return analysis; investment asset classes; features of different investment products; taxation issues relating to securities and the impact of tax on various investment choices; the advantages and disadvantages of gearing; estate planning; rent versus buy decision-making problems; superannuation issues; insurance; relevant legal principles and industry standards; codes of conduct and the relationship between ethics and regulatory requirements.

On successful completion of this subject students should be able to:

• Explain the features of various retail investment asset classes;
• Analyse risk and effective return;
• Critically evaluate the features of different investment products and their suitability for clients;
• Explain the relationship between ethics and regulatory requirements and be aware of relevant legal principles, industry standards and codes of conduct;
• Analyse the after-tax impact of various investment choices;
• Explain and demonstrate the advantages and disadvantages of gearing;
• Analyse and evaluate renting versus buying decision-making problems;
• Identify and calculate eligibility for social security benefits;
• Synthesise, and apply to individual circumstances, the fundamental issues surrounding superannuation;
• Critically evaluate the importance of estate planning in the financial planning process;
• Identify and explain the principles concerned with different types of insurance.

• 1500 word assignment or equivalent (30%)
• 2-hour final examination (70%)

You will be advised of prescribed texts by your lecturer.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On successful completion of this subject, students should have improved the following generic skills:

• Oral communication
• Written communication
• Collaborative learning
• Problem solving
• Team work
• Statistical reasoning
• Application of theory to practice
• Interpretation and analysis
• Critical thinking
• Synthesis of data and other information
• Evaluation of data and other information
• Using computer software
• Accessing data and other information from a range of sources