Financial Planning Project

Unit Code:LBC334

Credit Points	Duration	Contact Hours	Campus	Prerequisite	Corequisite
12.5 Credit Points	One semester	36 hours per teaching period, normally 3 hours per week	Lilydale, Singapore	100 credit points including Accounting 1 (LBC100) and Corporate Finance (LBC208) or Financial Modelling (LBF301)

Credit Points

Duration

Contact Hours

Campus

Prerequisite

Corequisite

12.5 Credit Points

One semester

36 hours per teaching period, normally 3 hours per week

Lilydale, Singapore

100 credit points including Accounting 1 (LBC100) and
Corporate Finance (LBC208) or

Financial Modelling (LBF301)

Related Course/s:

Effective from 2010, current students refer to unit outline

This is a prescribed unit of study in the Business Major/s. It may also be undertaken as a unit of study in any other Swinburne degree program, subject to the prerequisite and degree requirements.

Aims & Objectives:

The purpose of this unit is to help participants learn how to manage their money and develop the skills to be better able to advise others in managing their investments. To achieve this purpose it is important to learn about investment alternatives available today and more importantly, to develop a way of thinking about investments that will remain in the years ahead when new investment opportunities arise as a result of the inevitable changes to our financial system.

More specifically, the unit aims are:
• To acquaint participants with the various avenues for the investment of funds
• To review the impact of taxation on investment planning
• To consider the fundamental principles of modern portfolio theory
• To consider the process of portfolio selection and ongoing investment strategies
• To review the characteristics of financial futures and options and how they may be used to modify the risk-return profile of investment portfolios

After completing LBC334 students should be able to:
• Describe the various personal investment alternatives currently available in the Australian market
• Explain each of the personal investment alternatives and discuss the respective advantages and disadvantages of each
• Discuss how an investor may alter their risk profile with the use of different investment alternatives
• Discuss the impact on personal investment strategies of issues such as taxation, economic conditions and information resources currently available
• Explain the issues that need to be considered with regard to retirement and estate planning

Teaching Methods:

This unit will be taught in a variety of modes including face to face, online, distance and blended modes. Delivery of this unit may be through a mixture of lectures, tutorials, laboratories, seminars and online.

Assessment:

Research Report 10 - 20%

Investment Simulation 20 – 30%

Financial Plan – written and oral presentation 50 – 70%

Generic Skills Outcomes:

LBC334 will provide discipline-based knowledge and professional capabilities and experiences contributing to students’ progress in attaining generic skills such as:
• teamwork skills, analysis skills, problem solving skills and communications skills
• ability to tackle unfamiliar problems
• ability to work independently

Content:

• Personal Financial Planning
• Financial Planning Profession
• Taxation Planning
• Investing: equity, managed funds, property and leveraged investment
• Risk management and insurance
• Superannuation
• Social security
• Estate Planning
• Personal Financial Plan

Textbooks:

Beal D. and McKeown, W., 2009, Personal Finance, 4^th edition, John Wiley & Sons Australia,.

Shirlow, D., , Australian Master Financial Planning Guide, Current edition CCH Australia Ltd