CQUniversity Unit Profile
FINC20031 Ethical Financial Planning Practice
Ethical Financial Planning Practice
All details in this unit profile for FINC20031 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

In this unit you will explore advanced aspects of ethics in professional practice with a focus on Financial Planning Practice. As someone already familiar with the practical ethical directives that define professional practice, you will have the opportunity to investigate the principles behind them, the dynamics of ethical debate and its relationship to broader cultural issues. In this way the ethical content encountered in previous studies, or in professional practice itself, will be located within its broader historical and cultural perspective to assist you in appreciating more fully the central importance of ethical practice in professional life.

Details

Career Level: Postgraduate
Unit Level: Level 8
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 10
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

There are no requisites for this unit.

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 2 - 2019

Online

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).

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Postgraduate 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

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Project (research)
Weighting: 50%
2. Report
Weighting: 50%

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.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Critically articulate the major systems of ethics and their applications in professional practice
  2. Articulate ethical arguments using various frameworks for solving ethical dilemmas
  3. Develop persuasive solutions to emerging ethical problems using a stakeholder orientation.

This unit has been designed to conform to the requirements of the Financial Planning Education Council, the guidelines formulated by FASEA Standards Authority and the mandated higher education standards stated in the Corporations Amendment (Professional Standards of Financial Advisers) Act.

Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3
1 - Project (research) - 50%
2 - Report - 50%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3
1 - Knowledge
2 - Communication
3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills
4 - Research
5 - Self-management
6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility
7 - Leadership
8 - 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
1 - Project (research) - 50%
2 - Report - 50%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

There are no required textbooks.

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
  • EndNote (bibliographical software). EndNote bibliographic software to format your references is NOT mandatory. This software is available to both on-campus and flex students and is available for Windows and Mac users. Consult ITD for instructions on how to download this software. You are encouraged to trial this software early as I will be providing tips on its use and links to instructions each week. It is easy to use and very helpful. See https://my.cqu.edu.au/group/it-services/endonte to access the software
Referencing Style

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.

Teaching Contacts
Garrick Small Unit Coordinator
g.small@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Understanding Human Action Begin Date: 15 Jul 2019

Module/Topic

Ethics theory and practice

Chapter

Refer to reading list in Moodle.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Ethical frameworks Begin Date: 22 Jul 2019

Module/Topic

Chapter

Refer to reading list in Moodle.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Systematic Moral Thought Begin Date: 29 Jul 2019

Module/Topic

Chapter

Refer to reading list in Moodle.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Professionalism & FASEA code Begin Date: 05 Aug 2019

Module/Topic

Chapter

Refer to reading list in Moodle.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Professional and reflective practices Begin Date: 12 Aug 2019

Module/Topic

Ethical, professional and reflective practices

Chapter

Refer to reading list in Moodle.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation Week Begin Date: 19 Aug 2019

Module/Topic

Chapter


Events and Submissions/Topic

Due diligence, best interest and fiduciary duty Begin Date: 26 Aug 2019

Module/Topic

Due diligence, best interest and fiduciary duty

Chapter

Refer to reading list in Moodle.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment One: Ethical Systems Due: Week 6 Monday (26 Aug 2019) 5:00 pm AEST
Ethics & Client Communication Begin Date: 02 Sep 2019

Module/Topic

Financial advice and client communication skills

Chapter

Refer to reading list in Moodle.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Ethical Investments Begin Date: 09 Sep 2019

Module/Topic

Ethical Investments

Chapter

Refer to reading list in Moodle.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Ethics and disclosure Begin Date: 16 Sep 2019

Module/Topic


Chapter

Refer to reading list in Moodle.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Disclosure, integrity and the SMSF Begin Date: 23 Sep 2019

Module/Topic

Chapter

Refer to reading list in Moodle.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Difficult client conversations Begin Date: 30 Sep 2019

Module/Topic

Chapter

Refer to reading list in Moodle.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Contemporary issues Begin Date: 07 Oct 2019

Module/Topic

Chapter

Refer to reading list in Moodle.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Due: Week 12 Friday (11 Oct 2019) 11:59 pm AEST
Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 14 Oct 2019

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 21 Oct 2019

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Project (research)

Assessment Title
Assessment One: Ethical Systems

Task Description

This assessment is in the form of a 2,000-2,500 word essay with a focus on critical understanding and application of the various moral systems and their relationship to society with a focus on Financial Planning applications.

The topic details will be available on the Moodle site.


Assessment Due Date

Week 6 Monday (26 Aug 2019) 5:00 pm AEST

Be sure to add the marking panel at the end of your submission.


Return Date to Students

Week 8 Monday (9 Sept 2019)


Weighting
50%

Assessment Criteria

Presentation & Citation Style
Grammar & Spelling
Use of sources
Structure & Argument
Breadth of argument
Insightfulness


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Critically articulate the major systems of ethics and their applications in professional practice
  • Develop persuasive solutions to emerging ethical problems using a stakeholder orientation.


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Communication
  • Research
  • Self-management
  • Ethical and Professional Responsibility

2 Report

Assessment Title
No Assessment Title

Task Description

This assessment will consist of a 2,000-2,500 word essay examining in detail the ethical dimensions of an actual situation encountered within Financial Planning practice.

The topic details will be available on the Moodle site.


Assessment Due Date

Week 12 Friday (11 Oct 2019) 11:59 pm AEST

Be sure to add the marking panel at the end of your submission.


Return Date to Students

Exam Week Friday (25 Oct 2019)


Weighting
50%

Assessment Criteria

Presentation & Citation Style
Grammar & Spelling
Use of sources
Structure & Argument
Breadth of argument
Insightfulness


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Critically articulate the major systems of ethics and their applications in professional practice
  • Articulate ethical arguments using various frameworks for solving ethical dilemmas
  • Develop persuasive solutions to emerging ethical problems using a stakeholder orientation.


Graduate Attributes
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Self-management
  • Ethical and Professional Responsibility
  • Leadership

Academic Integrity Statement

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?