Business and Economics

Unit Guide
AFC3440

Pension and financial

planning

SYNOPSIS: Topics covered include superannuation economics and demographics, industry

structure and regulation, products available from fund managers, life offices and superannuation
trusts, actuarial mathematics, the mortality table, factors affecting selection, endowments,
assurances, single, joint and longest life annuities, application to comparative evaluation of
commercial retirement products, financial planners and the financial planning function, accreditation,
responsibilities and duties, determination of client objectives and risk profiles, and strategies for
superannuation and social security
Mode of delivery:

ON-CAMPUS

Workload:

This is a six credit point unit with three hours class contact per week over
12 teaching weeks. It is expected that you will spend, on average, nine
hours in self-directed study each week, in addition to the three hours of
class contact. Self-directed study for a particular unit may exceed nine
hours during weeks preceding an in-semester test, submission of a major
assignment or final examination.

Prerequisites:

AFC2240

Prohibitions:

AFF3111

Chief examiner:

Professor Phillip Gray

Campus:

Clayton

Lecturer:

Tony Cusack

Email:

tony.cusack@monash.edu

Co-ordinating Tutor:

Elizabeth Ooi

Campus:

Clayton

Email:

elizabeth.ooi@monash.edu

Phone:

SEMESTER 2 2013
HANDBOOK ENTRY: http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/units/AFC3440.html

Australia

Malaysia South Africa Italy India

ACADEMIC OVERVIEW
Learning objectives
The learning goals associated with this unit are to:
1. describe financial planning activities, and legal compliance requirements for financial planners
2. demonstrate specialist skills required for interaction with financial planning clients
3. demonstrate generic knowledge of the Australian and global investment environments, together
with specialist knowledge in the areas of superannuation, financial planning, securities and
managed investments
4. prepare financial plans for clients with different financial objectives
5. apply critical thinking, problem solving and presentation skills to individual and/or group
activities dealing with pension and financial planning and demonstrate in an individual
summative assessment task the acquisition of a comprehensive understanding of the topics
covered by AFC3440.

Graduate attributes
Monash prepares its graduates to be:
1. responsible and effective global citizens who:
a) engage in an internationalised world
b) exhibit cross-cultural competence
c) demonstrate ethical values
2. critical and creative scholars who:
a) produce innovative solutions to problems
b) apply research skills to a range of challenges
c) communicate perceptively and effectively

Assessment summary
ASSESSMENT TASK

DUE DATE

VALUE

Mid-semester test

Week 6

5%

Preparation of a financial plan

5:00pm Friday, 27 September (Week 9)

25%

Final Examination (3 hours)

Official Examination Period

70%
TOTAL

100%

Hurdle requirement
There is a hurdle requirement for this unit.
The learning outcomes of this unit require you to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of
the topics covered in the unit. Hence the hurdle requirement for this unit requires that you must
attain a mark of at least 50% in the final examination. If you fail the unit solely because of failure to
satisfy the hurdle requirement, a mark of 48N will be determined by the faculty's Board of Examiners
on the recommendation of the unit's Chief Examiner.
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The outcome from application of the hurdle requirement is often misunderstood by students who are
awarded 48N. For example, some students mistakenly believe that 48N means they failed the final
examination by two marks and that a second re-mark of their examination paper might find two
extra marks. Whereas 48N does not provide any indication of the mark attained in the final
examination other than a mark less than 50% was awarded.
The following example should make the application of the hurdle requirement clear. In this unit 30%
of the assessment regime is allocated to in-semester assessment and 70% to the final 3-hour
examination. A student enrolled in this unit might achieve 24 out of 30 for their in-semester
assessment and 30 out of 70 for the final examination. While the overall total of these marks is 54P
the final examination mark is five marks below the required 50%. Consequently a mark of 48N will
be determined by the faculty's Board of Examiners on the recommendation of the unit's Chief
Examiner.
Second marking
Where an assessment task is given a fail grade by an examiner, that piece of work will be marked
again by a second examiner who will independently evaluate the work, and consult with the first
examiner. You will not be awarded a fail grade for an assessment task or unit without a second
examiner confirming the result.
Note: Exceptions to this are individual pieces of assessment contributing 10% or less of the final
mark, unless the total of such pieces exceeds 30% of the final mark.
Return of final marks for the unit
Faculty policy states that the final mark that a student receives for a unit will be determined by the
Board of Examiners on the recommendation of the Chief Examiner taking into account all aspects of
assessment.
The final mark for this unit will be released on the date nominated in the University's Principal Dates
Calendar found at: http://www.adm.monash.edu.au/execserv/about/principal-dates/
In Semester 2, 2012 your results will be accessible through my.monash portal at URL:
https://my.monash.edu.au/ on Monday, 9 December 2013.
Exam viewing
Feedback on student performance in examinations and other end-of-semester assessment is
required, in accordance with the University procedures on Unit Assessment. For more information,
please see the following URL: http://www.buseco.monash.edu.au/aaf/student/exam-view/index.html.

Learning and teaching approach

This unit will be taught as a two-hour lecture and a one-hour tutorial each week for 12 weeks. You
are expected to attend all lectures and tutorials.
The lectures will not cover every aspect of each topic listed in the Unit Schedule on pages 6 to 9 as
you are expected to acquire a comprehensive understanding by undertaking the prescribed and
recommended reading and by completing the week-by-week tutorial activities and other in-semester
assessment tasks.
The tutorials provide an opportunity for you and your peers to discuss the current topic(s) and to
compare your completed assessment tasks with other students work and/or model answers. While
tutorials provide an opportunity for you to demonstrate the application of your knowledge and skills
there is also an opportunity for you to ask the tutor to clarify your understanding of the topics and
associated concepts covered to date.
In general you are expected to spend two to three hours of self-directed study for each hour in
class. Some of this time should be devoted to discussions with other students. The benefit of such
discussions will be enhanced if you have completed relevant prescribed and recommended reading
and/or started or completed the current assessment task(s). The prescribed and recommended
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readings are listed in this guide and on the unit's Moodle website. The Moodle website provides
access to material including past examination papers and model answers. These resources will
enable you to develop a mastery of the topics covered by the unit.
To ensure a high probability of successfully completing this unit, you need to manage your time and
studies in a systematic way. At a minimum this should involve:
reading prescribed and selected recommended material prior to attending lectures;
completing week-by-week tutorial activities tasks prior to attending tutorials;
attempting relevant questions from past final examination papers and in-semester tests;
discussions with past and present students; and
revision of the semester's work during the SWOT-Vac and prior to the final examination.

Feedback
Our feedback to you
Students will be provided with feedback in the following manner:
written comments on the group financial plan
individual and class feedback in tutorials
Your feedback to us
Monash University's statement of purpose endorses its commitment to excellence in research and
scholarship, education and management. The University regularly seeks feedback from students,
employers and staff. One of the key formal ways students have to provide feedback is through
Student Evaluation of Teacher and Unit (SETU). The Universitys student evaluation policy requires
that every unit is evaluated each year. You are encouraged to complete the surveys. The feedback
is anonymous and provides the department and faculty with evidence which underlies and enables
continuous improvement.
For Monash Universitys statement of purpose go to URL:
http://www.monash.edu.au/about/monash-directions/directions.html
and for the University's Student Evaluation Policy go to URL:
http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/quality/student-evaluationpolicy.html.

Previous student evaluations of this unit

Student feedback has highlighted the following strengths in this unit:
it gives them an industry accreditation, enabling immediate employment prospects in financial
services
it reinforces finance concepts from previous units.
Student feedback has also contributed to continuous improvements, including: ongoing provision of
up-to-date superannuation legislation, which changes continuously; and reduction of the amount
and modification of the nature of unit material used.
If you wish to view previous Unit Evaluation Reports, please go to URL:
https://emuapps.monash.edu.au/unitevaluations/index.jsp.

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Required resources
Prescribed text available from the University Bookshop
CCH. (2012). The Australian master financial planning guide 2012/13 (15th ed.). CCH.
Superannuation legislation changed very significantly during 2007 with consequential changes in
superannuation and financial planning strategies in subsequent years. Earlier editions of the CCH
text are not acceptable. Note that only this edition can be taken into the examination.
Virtual learning environment (VLE): Moodle
Material used in class together with other information of importance to you will be published online
via the units site on Moodle. In order to access information about this unit in Moodle you must be
enrolled in the unit and have a valid student account with authorised username and password.
Moodle is accessed through my monash portal at URL: https://my.monash.edu.au/.
When you log in to my.monash portal you access Moodle in the home page by clicking on the
Moodle 2 link under "Online systems".
Q Manual
Work submitted for assessment must be consistent with the guidelines set down in the Q Manual,
which is the faculty's student guide for producing quality work on time. Copies of this manual can be
purchased at the bookshop or accessed online at URL:
http://www.buseco.monash.edu.au/publications/qmanual/qmanual.pdf.
Calculators
Electronic devices (including calculators) are not permitted in tests and examinations in this unit
unless identified with an approved for use label.
These labels are available from:
Caulfield Campus: Accounting and Finance Reception Desk (Building H, Level 3)
Clayton Campus: Accounting and Finance General Office (Building 11, Level 10)

Recommended resources
Recommended texts and readings
Additional references will be provided in lectures. However, any serious student of business should
read The Australian Financial Review daily. It is available at Clayton campus bookshop at halfprice.

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UNIT SCHEDULE
WEEK BEGIN

SYLLABUS

WEEKLY ACTIVITIES

ORIENTATION WEEK 21 26 JULY

1

29 JUL

Topic 1: Pension and financial planning in

Australia
1. Introduction to pension schemes
2. Administrative matters including RG 146
compliance details for financial advisers
3. Financial planning industry in Australia
4. Nature of financial planning
5. Devising a Financial Plan: Assignment
6. Pension plans in other countries

Read Topic 1 notes and references

therein; tute 1. Note that you are
expected to understand and recall all
abbreviations and acronyms customs
and usages used in the finance
industry,

6 AUG

Topic 2: Australias private pension

scheme: The Superannuation Guarantee
Scheme (SGS)
1. Need for a nationally coordinated
scheme
2. Legislative landscape for three phases
of super (accumulation, transition to
retirement, retirement)
3. Taxation of super after Simpler Super
4. Compliance requirements for advisers

Read Topic 2 notes and references

therein; tutes 1 and 2. Role playing
groups formed.

12 AUG Topic 3: Financial plans, compliance issues Read Topic 3 and references therein;

and assignment requirements

1. ASIC compliance requirements for
financial planners
2. Assignment details; skills through roleplaying
3. Compliance an overview
4. Advisers and their role
5. Compliance, ethics and professional
standards
6. Fiduciary duty, disclosure
7. Know your client, know your product
8. Documentation, FSG, SoA, PDS
9. Licensing, fair trading, privacy,
complaints

tutes 2 and 3. Role playing in tutes to

commence.

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19 AUG Topic 4: Social security, age pension and

super
1. Social security, the age pension and
super, taxation
5

26 AUG Topic 5: Revision of investment concepts,

2 SEP

Read Topic 4 and references therein;

tutes 3 and 4.
Role playing in tutes.

Read Topic 5 and references therein;

portfolio theory, asset class performance
tutes 4 and 5.
and managed funds; & the MVE strategy.
Role playing in tutes.
1. Review of investment and portfolio
theory, operation of securities markets
2. Economic factors affecting securities
markets
3. Application of fundamentals to develop
new theory for optimal conversion of a
lump sum to an income stream: Meanvariance efficient (MVE) strategies.
4. Application of MVE (case study)
5. How is MVE affected by financial market
meltdown (GFC)? By current volatility?
Topic 6: Transition to retirement, retirement Read Topic 6 and references therein;
withdrawal of benefits, retirement income
tutes 5 and 6. Role playing in tutes.
stream options
1. Outline of TTR concept
2. Taxation of retirement lump sums and
pensions
3. Funding retirement:

what are retirees doing to fund

retirement?

the fixed income market; a useful

benchmark.
4. Characteristics and comparative costs of
the different RIS options; use of an
actuarial basis to price life annuities
7

9 SEP

Topic 6: continued
Read Topic 6 and references therein;
4. Characteristics and comparative costs of tutes 5 and 6
the different RIS options; use of an
actuarial basis to price life annuities

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16 SEP Topic 7: Small Funds: Self Managed

Read Topic 7 and references therein;

Superannuation Funds (SMSFs) and Small tutes 6 and 7. Role playing in tutes.
APRA Funds (SAFs)
1. How retirees survive financially; SGS to
run in tandem with Centrelink indefinitely
2. Survey results on what is needed for
financial adequacy in retirement,
compared with what is generally
available.
3. More and more retirees turning to use of
their own small funds what are the
perceived benefits?
4. SMSFs and SAFs
5. Five people who run their own small
fund
6. Rules governing small funds,
establishing a fund: chores and costs.
7. SISA, ATO, Trust deed, trustee duties,
investment, taxation.
8. Devising an investment strategy
9. Use of a SMSF in Estate planning
10. Effect of Global Financial Crisis on
management of small funds

23 SEP Topic 8: A. Planning for the family & B.

Read Topic 8 and references therein;

Family breakdown
tutes 7 and 8. Role playing in tutes.
A. Planning for the Family
Assignment due at the end of this week
(by COB Friday, 21 September).
1. Budget planning
2. Cost of raising and education of children
3. Government assistance
B. Divorce and Family Breakdown
1. Complexity of family financial
arrangements
2. Family Court approach to property
settlement
3. CGT and stamp duty on transfer of assets
between divorcing parties
4. Binding financial agreements
5. Child and spouse maintenance
6. What it means to be in a couple

IN-SEMESTER BREAK 30 SEPTEMBER 4 OCTOBER

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Topic 9: Estate Planning

1. The importance of estate planning
2. Control during the clients lifetime
3. Family provision legislation
4. Intestacy and letters of administration
5. Estate planning vehicles
6. Role of Legal Personal Representative
7. Superannuation and estate planning
8. Tax implications on death
9. Estate planning implications for social security
recipients
10. Business succession planning
11. Miscellaneous, death trusts, disposal of private
companies.

10

7 OCT

11

14 OCT Topic 10: Asset Protection

A. Life Insurance
1. ASIC requirements for specialist knowledge in
life insurance
2. Asset protection by protecting/affirming
ownership
3. Life insurance markets
4. Features of life insurance products, standard
and impaired lives
5. Aspects of policy ownership, making a claim
6. Life underwriting
7. Changing demand for products
8. With profits policies
B. General Insurance
1. ASIC requirements for specialist knowledge in
general insurance
2. Types of general insurance product
3. Its all about contracts!
4. Standard / qualified premiums
5. Taxation
6. Making a claim
7. Underwriting fat and thin tailed risk
8. Evolution of new products
12

21 OCT

Read Topic 9 and references

therein;
tutes 8 and 9

Read Topic 10 and references

therein;
tutes 9 and 10

REVISION

REVISION

SWOT-VAC: 28 OCTOBER 1 NOVEMBER

OFFICIAL EXAMINATION PERIOD: 4 NOVEMBER 22 NOVEMBER
EXAMINATION RESULTS RELEASED: MONDAY 9 DECEMBER

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ASSESSMENT TASK (Finance questions and Assignment)

Assessment Task 1: Mid-semester test
Weighting: 5%.
Learning objectives assessed:
This assignment is designed to test your achievement of learning objectives 1 and 3.
Date: Week 6

Assessment Task 2: Investment Concepts and Preparation of Financial Plan

Weighting: 25%.
Learning objectives assessed:
This assignment is designed to test your achievement of learning objectives 2, 4 and 5.
Due date: 5:00pm Friday, 27 September (Week 9)
Extensions of time
Applications for an extension of time allocated to an assessment task must be made by completing
the application form found at URL http://www.buseco.monash.edu.au/student/exams/speccon.html.
The form must be submitted to the Chief Examiner for approval.
Penalty for late lodgement
Late submissions without an approved extension will not be accepted. A penalty of 100% of the total
mark allocated to this assessment task will be deducted if the assignment is not handed in by the
due date.
Task details:
The assignment has three sub-tasks. Tasks 1 and 2 are individual assignments, while task 3 is a
group assignment. The tasks are specifically designed to meet ASIC RG 146 compliance
requirements in the specialist knowledge category of Financial Planning and Skills. You are required
to construct a financial plan for clients that is, a Statement of Advice (SoA). However it involves a
preliminary exercise, as explained below and encapsulated in Document 1.
A primary objective of the assignment is to ensure that you are aware of all the compliance issues
attaching to any financial plan. You must provide two documents.

Document 1 (for Task 1) involves answers to questions.

Document 2 (for Task 2) is a Statement of Advice for the clients.

The third task involves Role Playing designed to focus on Planners interaction with clients,
and is conducted in tutes. You will be assigned to groups in tutes for this purpose.

Task 1: 8 marks
Document 1: Answering finance questions, outlining main features of different strategies.
A retiree couple both aged 65 have $650,000 super assets in a SMSF. The assets are invested with
approximately 50% in dividend producing shares (three banks, Telstra) and 50% in Comsecs Cash

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10

account (paying 5% p.a.). However, these holdings change frequently as they actively trade the day
volatility on the ASX.
They own their home, have $100,000 in lifestyle assets, and their married children, son and
daughter, are financially independent of them. They are just embarking on retirement, and consult
you for assistance in determining a suitable retirement income stream strategy.
Questions:
1. What might you conclude about this couples attitude to risk?
2. What total net annual income (approximately) does their current portfolio provide if their equity
holding benchmarks are as follows?

2000 ANZ Fully paid ordinary shares @ $23.00 per share

5000 NAB fully paid ordinary shares @ $24.50 per share

5000 WBC fully paid ordinary shares @ $22.00 per share

14000 TLS fully paid ordinary shares @ $3.32 per share.

Note that all these shares pay fully franked dividends. Find the value of 2011/2012 FY
dividends for each company. Give consideration to the notion that this retirement income
portfolio (taking the cash holding into account) may be difficult to improve upon!
3. The couple frequently trade the daily volatility with their bank shares.
What does this mean? Give an example of such a trade. Why not trade the day-to-day volatility on
their Telstra shares?
4. Provide details (cost, amount of starting annual annuity) for the following strategy:
Spend $600,000 on a Challenger Financial Services indexed guaranteed annuity of 30 years. The
annuity is indexed at 3% p.a. and payable monthly in arrears. It has zero residual value. The
remaining $50,000 is invested in an All Ordinaries Accumulation Index Fund over the guaranteed
income years to provide emergency capital or capital in the event the retiree outlives the 30-year
annuity. You will need to:
(i)

find the yield on annuity purchase price currently being offered by Challenger to provide
accurate information about this option, and

(ii)

provide evidence for the long-term expected investment yield on the All Ordinaries
Accumulation index in order to provide accurate information about this strategy.

What sort of attitude to risk is likely to be associated with such a strategy?

5. Some retirees use an investment portfolio and take pension by drawdown. Explain the meaning
of this. What sort risk profile is implied by use of this strategy?
6. Provide details about use of the following strategy (annuity cost, annuity starting amount):
Implement a Mean-Variance Efficient (MVE) strategy with an annuity period of eleven years. The
annuity is indexed at 3% p.a. and payable monthly in arrears. The class of MVE strategies is
discussed in detail in Topic 5 notes, where some comparisons with drawdown are made. How does
use of higher indexation (compare g = 0.035 with g = 0.03) affect the implementation of the MVE
strategy?
7. On the basis of the couples equity holdings (and implied cash flow) can the couple obtain any
Age Pension now? If so, how much?
Currently, for about two-thirds of Australian retirees, the Age Pension is the principal source of
retirement income.

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NOTE: Since the interaction of superannuation assets and retirement income with Age Pension
entitlements is an important component of the course, it is in your own interests to include its
determination in your clients plan. It will help you to familiarise yourself with the issues involved.
Essentially this means being able to work out Age Pension entitlements by applying Centrelinks
Assets Test and Income Test. You can find current information on the governments means testing
of Age Pension on www.centrelink.gov.au
Task 2: 22 marks
Document 2: construction of a financial plan.
Construct a financial plan to accommodate the retiree couple in Task 1. You will need to provide
them with financial objectives to construct an SoA for them.
The plan (of no more than 15 pages) must contain:
(i)

on the cover, the names and contact details of financial planner(s), their professional
qualifications, the company ABN, and the Australian Financial Services Licence number
under which the principal(s) operate. A statement to the effect that the financial planner is
specifically qualified to provide advice to trustees of SMSFs.

(ii)

within, a statement confirming that a Financial Services Guide (FSG) was given to clients at
the earliest opportunity (and your financial plan contains a copy of the FSG as an appendix).

(iii)

a section containing client objectives as elicited from the clients (this should be an agreed
document, signed and dated by both clients and planners).

(iv)

an outline of client financial circumstances (another agreed document, signed and dated).

(v)

a section outlining the financial planners assessment of the clients attitude to risk, and how
it was determined.

(vi)

the plan/advice.

The SoA should:

be designed to meet client objectives.

be predicated on clients current and projected financial position, preferences and risk
profiles.

be capable of explanation in plain language to the clients (and contain this explanation in
summary form).

outline the nature of strategy and products recommended and point out possible risks.
Taxation issues should be clearly explained.

have a definite initial timeframe in mind, and provide projections as to how the financial
prospects of the clients might be expected to evolve over that period. (If you advise your
clients to invest in an ASX index fund (for instance as a part of a drawdown strategy, or an
MVE strategy) you may find it useful to use the ASX data for 109 years of annual returns
provided on the link (provided by AXA Australia):
http://www.crcfs.com.au/uploads/file/109%20years%20of%20All%20Ords%20returns.pdf

contain a summary of how the plan is expected to achieve the clients objectives.

contain a declaration of any associations, commissions, etc. which any person associated
with the provision of the plan might receive, which might influence the objectivity of the
advice.

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contain a clear statement of fees charged for each phase of service. If specialist advice (e.g.
actuarial, taxation or legal) is required, information as to how this can be obtained and at
what cost, should be provided.

contain an outline of the dispute resolution mechanism available to clients.

NOTE: When constructing an SoA, you must supply clients with a Financial Services Guide at the
earliest convenient time. This would usually be at the initial client interview.
In order to pass the assignment your bound copy of the financial plan must state that you
have supplied clients with an FSG.
Planners are encouraged to consult closely with clients on details of the plan throughout its
construction. The plan would then be scrutinized by the clients who may identify any shortcomings.
Referencing requirements
Work submitted for assessment must be consistent with the guidelines set down in the Q Manual,
which is the faculty's student guide for producing quality work on time. Copies of this manual can
be purchased at the bookshop or accessed online at URL:
http://www.buseco.monash.edu.au/publications/qmanual/qmanual.pdf.
Marks may be deducted where in-text citations and/or the reference list is not consistent with the
American Psychological Association (APA) style, which is illustrated in the Q Manual.
Plagiarism
In order to ensure the academic integrity of your submission and to deter others from copying your
work, your submission may be processed by a plagiarism checker such as Turnitin. The University's
plagiarism policy can be found at URL:
http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/conduct/plagiarism-policy.html.
Submission details:
Assignments should be submitted via the department assignment box on the tenth floor of the
Menzies building (Building 11) at Clayton campus.
Work submitted for assessment must be accompanied by a completed and signed assignment
coversheet, available at URL:
http://www.buseco.monash.edu.au/student/forms/assessment-coversheet.doc.
Return of marks:
Marked assignments will be returned to you during tutorials in week 12. If you do not attend the
tutorial in week 12 you may collect your assignment from your tutor during consultation times. You
should retain the marked copy of your submission until the final results for the unit are released.
Criteria for assessment:
Overall, the work submitted for assessment will be graded in accord with the table showing
examples of grades and corresponding achievement levels published in the Q Manual (2012, p.6).
Task Three (Role Playing)
In tutes, all role-playing groups will be asked to enact (one of)

an initial interview

presentation and explanation of the Statement of Advice

explanation of unrealistic income expectations given the lump sum size

description of how social security top-up might be obtained

description of cost of life annuity compared with a fixed term annuity

explanation of cost and characteristics of general insurance

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explanation of cost and characteristics of life insurance

description of advantages and disadvantages of drawdown strategies

similar topics as might arise in the course of the unit (e.g. explanation of the MySuper
product during accumulation or retirement).

In AFC3440 you cannot obtain Specialist Skills accreditation without these enactments i.e. without
the role playing component, Specialist Skills accreditation would be available to no one!
For example, in respect of an initial interview role playing might include:
(i) The parties introduce themselves to each other
(ii) The clients explain their initial requirements, and sketch their financial (and as far as relevant,
social) circumstances in broad outline. In an initial interview, only the essentials can be elicited.
(iii) The financial planners reveal their qualifications, explain the basis on which a financial plan can
be constructed (know your client, know your product), in particular, the need for agreed objectives,
and agreed assessment of financial position.
(iv) Given that the parties approve of each other, an agenda for detailing information, construction
of the financial plan and its presentation to clients can be outlined. If the financial planner is to have
a continuing role in implementation of the plan, the nature of the continuing relationship including
fees must be documented.
Summary of activities in the development of the financial plan
By Week 3:
Role-playing group memberships to be completed.
By Week 5:
By the end of week five you should have submitted an outline (no more than one page) of the
clients financial scenario to me tony.cusack@monash.edu as a Word Document attached to an
email. This scenario should be the basis of the financial plan. While some departure from this
outline is permissible, you should try to adhere to it as far as practicable.
By the end of Week 9 RECAP:
For assessment purposes, a bound and signed copy of both:
Document 1 (answers to questions); and
Document 2 (the financial plan)
is required by the end of week 9
Throughout Semester:
In this unit there is ongoing role-playing in which client interviews are enacted. For instance initial
interviews are simulated, finalised statements of advice are presented, explained and criticised, and
client questions are fielded.
The notion of RG 146 compliance will be discussed in Topics 1 and 3, The Superannuation
Guarantee Scheme in Topic 2, and Social Security in Topic 4. Mean-Variance Efficient retirement
income portfolios are treated in Topics 5 and 6. Challenger Financial Services term annuity unit
costs are available from their website (www.challenger.com.au).

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Final examination
Weighting: 70%
Learning objectives assessed:
This assessment task is designed to test your achievement of learning objectives 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
Duration: 3-hour examination
Task details:
The final examination will be a closed book examination (notes may not be used, however The
Australian master financial planning guide 2012/13 15th Edition may be used) and approved
calculators will be permitted.
Date and location:
The final examination will be held during the official examination period.
examination schedule can be accessed through my.monash portal at URL:
https://my.monash.edu.au/.

Information about

The Semester 2 examination period is Monday 4 November Friday 22 November 2012.

Materials examinable:
Any course material covered in lectures, topic notes and tutorials is examinable
Overall, the work submitted for assessment will be graded in accord with the table showing
examples of grades and corresponding achievement levels published in the Q Manual (2012, p.6).
NOTE: You are expected to understand and recall all abbreviations and acronyms encountered in
this unit customs and usages used in the finance industry. Many of these will appear on the
exam.

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OTHER INFORMATION
Policies
Monash has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that
staff and students are aware of the Universitys academic standards, and to provide advice on how
they might uphold them. You can find Monashs Education Policies at:
http://policy.monash.edu.au/policy-bank/academic/education/index.html.
Key educational policies include:
Plagiarism;
Assessment in Coursework Programs;
Special Consideration;
Grading Scale;
Discipline: Student Policy;
Academic Calendar and Semesters;
Orientation and Transition; and
Academic and Administrative Complaints and Grievances Policy.

Student services
The University provides many different kinds of support services for you. Contact your tutor if you
need advice and see the range of services available at www.monash.edu.au/students
The Monash University Library provides a range of services and resources that enable you to save
time and be more effective in your learning and research. Go to http://www.lib.monash.edu.au or the
library tab in my.monash portal for more information.
Students who have a disability or medical condition are welcome to contact the Disability Liaison
Unit to discuss academic support services. Disability Liaison Officers (DLOs) visit all Victorian
campuses on a regular basis
Website: http://adm.monash.edu/sss/equity-diversity/disability-liaison/index.html
Telephone: 03 9905 5704 to book an appointment with a DLO
Email: dlu@monash.edu
Drop In: Equity and Diversity Centre, Level 1 Gallery Building (Building 55), Monash University,
Clayton Campus.

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