Overview
This unit covers investment analysis of complex investment portfolios. You will be introduced to contemporary investment theories and construct a client focused portfolio. You will examine the risks associated with domestic and international investment products.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisite: FINC 19011
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2019
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
- Explain the principles of advanced investment analysis and risk management
- Construct client focused portfolios using domestic and international financial products
- Solve real world complex investment problems.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 50% | |||
| 2 - Examination - 50% | |||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||
| 5 - Team Work | |||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 50% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Examination - 50% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
Investments: Concepts and Applications
Edition: 5th (2015)
Authors: Tim Brailsford, Richard Heaney & Chris Bilson
Cengage Learning Australia
South Melbourne South Melbourne , Vic , Australia
ISBN: 9780170235532
Binding: Paperback
Financial Planning
Edition: Second Revised (2014)
Authors: Warren McKeown, Mike Kerry & Marc Olynyk
John Wiley & Sons Inc
Chatswood Chatswood , NSW , Australia
ISBN: 9781118644836
Binding: Paperback
Additional Textbook Information
For the prescribed textbook, a paperback and eBook version is available at https://cengage.com.au/product/title/investments-concepts-and-applications/isbn/9780170235532
For the supplementary textbook, an eBook version is available at http://www.wileydirect.com.au/buy/financial-planning-2nd-edition/
However, if you prefer paper copies, they are available at the CQUni Bookshop here: http://bookshop.cqu.edu.au (search on the Unit code)
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- XPlan software to complete Practical Assessment 1
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 6th Edition (APA 6th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
a.mcinnes@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Overview of the investment framework, market efficiency and portfolio theory
Chapter
1 and 2
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Capital asset pricing models
Chapter
7 and 8
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Alternate risky asset pricing models
Chapter
9 and 10
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Fixed income securities
Chapter
5 and 6
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Security analysis
Chapter
11, 12 and 13
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Margin lending
Chapter
Stacey, S 2008, 'Lessons (to be) learnt from the Opes Prime insolvency', Melbourne University Law Review, vol. 32, pp. 1127-1182.
Additional resources loaded onto Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Derivatives
Chapter
3 and 4
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Options, futures and forward contracts
Chapter
15 and 16
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Swaps
Chapter
4 and 15
Events and Submissions/Topic
PRACTICAL ASSESSMENT : Securities and Managed Investments Due: Week 9 Tuesday (14 May 2019) 12:00 am AEST
Module/Topic
Management of multi-asset portfolios
Chapter
18 and 19
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Performance evaluation
Chapter
20
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Have Your Say survey, unit revisions and exam advice.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
All the best for the exams and your futures
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
For Assessment 1 students will be introduced to the basic workings of XPlan web-based software and be expected to complete some of the Assessment tasks within XPlan. Learning XPlan is a self-study exercise using the available resources (YouTube videos, help guides and tutorials) placed on Moodle to assist. Your lecturer is also available to help guide the learning of XPlan software if asked during the term.
1 Written Assessment
This is an individual assessment.
Important detailed information for your assessment is on the Moodle site.
Before you begin, read the:
- instructions provided on Moodle for completing and submitting your assessment.
- case study background.
Task requirements:
- Identify the client's objectives, needs and financial situation by reviewing the case study background and fact find information provided. Input this information into XPlan software and download the created Fact Find document.
- Analyse and score the risk profile of the client within the context of the client's objectives, needs and financial situation within XPlan.
- Using the reflective questions, develop and document appropriate investment and managed fund strategies and recommendations to achieve the client's goals [You will be expected to support your answers, recommendations with references you sourced from the financial planning literature, library and websites].
- Financial modelling performed by utilizing either financial planning software XPlan, Microsoft-Excel and/or related software [Links to XPlan login is available to you via Moodle].
- Prepare a written Statement of Advice using the template provided.
- Link to XPlan login, and login details to XPlan via email within the first two weeks of term.
- Fact find information assumed to have been obtained during a meeting with the client.
- Risk profile information of the client.
- Reflective questions to assist in the analysis phase of the financial planning process. [You will be expected to support your answers, recommendations with references you sourced from the financial planning literature, library and websites].
- Statement of Advice template to create your recommendations to the client.
This is a practical assessment dealing with real world financial planning clients' investment needs.
Refer to Moodle and download all three files relating to this Assessment’s requirements. Please read these long documents carefully.
Start this assessment as soon as possible, because for some of you it will require learning numerous new skills.
Learning how to use new software [for instance, XPlan] may need sometime and practice.
Your lecturer is available via Facebook Closed Group, Moodle discussion forum and Q&A forum, and mobile phone messaging, as well as email to address any concerns or difficulties during the term as you work on your Assessment.
Importantly, make a concerted effort to engage with your lecturer as soon as you are finding yourself struggling through the unit materials and/or assessment tasks. Also if you find personal matters are interfering with progress in your studies, please contact your lecturer so that she can support you as per CQU policies and procedures to ensure you succeed in this unit.
Week 9 Tuesday (14 May 2019) 12:00 am AEST
Submission via Moodle
Week 11 Tuesday (28 May 2019)
Feedback via Moodle
Find on Moodle a comprehensive marking criteria sheet. We award marks for:
- Completing and downloading in Microsoft-Word format the Fact Find within the context of the client's objectives, needs and financial situation created in XPlan.
- Scoring the client’s risk profile within XPlan and incorporating this information in your financial plan [Statement of Advice].
- Documenting the reflective answers in Microsoft-Word to demonstrate critical in-depth analysis, plus effective use of the calculation and software tools to underpin the investment and managed fund recommendations. [You will be expected to support your answers, recommendations with references you sourced from the financial planning literature, library and websites].
- Statement of Advice completion using the Microsoft-Word template provided.
- Explain the principles of advanced investment analysis and risk management
- Construct client focused portfolios using domestic and international financial products
- Solve real world complex investment problems.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Team Work
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
Examination
Calculator - all non-communicable calculators, including scientific, programmable and graphics calculators are authorised
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
