TPLA601 Financial Planning and Advice

This unit aims to provide students with a foundation in the principles of the financial advising and planning process compliant with the Australian legal and regulatory environment and in accordance with ethical principles. The unit introduces students to the key elements involved in the preparation of a financial plan (referred to as a Statement of Advice) and that which is required of a financial planner.

The unit commences with an overview of the economic environment in which financial services operate before focusing on the legal and regulatory obligations for financial advisers. This includes the regulatory requirements for Australian financial services licensees and financial advisers such as best interests’ duty, disclosure, and conflicts of interest, as well as ethical aspects of advising.

In addition to the legal and regulatory aspects, this units introduces specific financial advising and planning topics including taxation, superannuation, investments, asset allocation and risk management, insurance and estate planning. This unit establishes a framework for further study and the specific topics noted above will be examined in greater detail in later units in this course.