Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning

Help clients reach their financial goals and be part of Australia’s fast-growing financial planning industry with Swinburne’s Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning.

Designed for both new and already practising financial planners.

This course provides knowledge and understanding of crucial industry regulations, ethical principles and standards of professional practice in financial services.

It will also develop your knowledge and skills to provide tailored and professional financial advice.

You’ll use latest financial planning software (XPLAN) which is embedded throughout the course, and engage with industry through site visits, annual roadshows and guest speakers.

This course is accredited by the Financial Planning Education Council (FPEC).

Students are eligible to apply for membership to the Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA) and to apply for entry into the FPA CFP® Certification Program.

This course is approved by the Financial Advisers Standards and Ethics Authority (FASEA).

FASEA was established by the Australian government to set the education, training and ethical standards of licensed financial advisers in Australia.

A FASEA approved degree is mandatory in order to practice as a financial planner or advisor in Australia.

The Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning enables students to complete a Financial Planning qualification to continue their professional education. The Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning also enables existing financial advisers who hold a non-relevant degree or do not have a degree to satisfy the Financial Adviser Standards and Ethics Authority (FASEA) requirements. It also provides an opportunity for existing financial advisers to satisfy the Tax Practitioners Board requirements for registration as a Tax Financial Advisor.

A career in Financial Planning is about helping clients to reach their financial goals based on their unique circumstances. This requires gaining substantial knowledge in the fields of investment, insurance, taxation, superannuation and estate planning. Having a sound understanding about the industry regulations and ethical principles is also crucially important. This course provides knowledge in those areas and is built on the skills and knowledge acquired in the Graduate Certificate. It further develops the analytical and creative skills necessary when dealing with Financial Planning issues within planning and decision making. Students will have the opportunity to join the financial advice industry in various roles. as a financial planner or para-planer in the fields of investment, insurance, superannuation and estate planning.

To qualify for the award of Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning [Online Learning], students must complete 100 credit points comprising of:

• Eight prescribed units of study (100 credit points)

Units of study

Students must complete all eight core units (100 credit points):FIN60010 Elements of Financial Planning and RegulationFIN60011 Behavioural Finance and Investment *FIN60012 Ethics and Client Management *LAW60003 Corporations and Contract LawFIN80022 Insurance and Estate Planning FIN80023 Superannuation and Retirement Planning FIN80025 Financial Advice Technology Project *ACC80012 Taxation Principles and Planning *

*Outcome units - matched exemptions are generally not granted for higher education outcome units.

• a recognised bachelor degree in related discipline or
• a recognised bachelor degree in any discipline plus a minimum of two years equivalent full-time relevant professional experience*or
• a Graduate Certificate of Financial Planning **

*Relevant professional/managerial experience and evidence of academic capability will be determined by the Faculty PVC (or delegate) with reference to Faculty determined guiding principles. Applicants will be required to submit a curriculum vitae (CV) with their application. Documents substantiating relevant experience are required, clearly detailing roles and duration, as well as evidence of formal and non-formal learning. Where relevant experience is used for the basis of admission, no further recognition for prior learning/credit can be granted on that basis.

• apply coherent and advanced knowledge of financial planning and business concepts in diverse contexts and applications using critical thinking
• apply problem solving, design and decision making methodologies to identify and provide innovative solutions to complex problems with intellectual independence
• communicate proficiently with clients, gather and interpret appropriate data and use advanced tools and practices to produce a financial plan
• demonstrate integrity, ethical conduct, accountability, respect and a broad awareness of the professional code of conduct and cultural norms
• critically analyse and evaluate a range of complex information to produce systematic strategies for wealth creation and risk minimisation in preparing financial advice.

The Swinburne graduate attributes signify that Swinburne intends that its teaching programs assist all its graduates to be:

• capable in their chosen professional, vocational or study areas and an ability to engage in critical enquiry
• entrepreneurial in contributing to innovation and development within their business, workplace or community
• effective and ethical in work, community situations and reasoning skills
• adaptable and able to manage change, and
• aware of local and international environments in which they will be contributing (e.g. socio-cultural, economic and natural).