Ethics and Client Relationships
Overview
This unit facilitates students’ sound understanding of the fundamental ethical principles, the main ethical issues encountered, and the ethical behaviour support resources available, in professional financial planning services practice. Students are introduced to the profession’s ethics regime, exposed to real-life ethical problems and dilemmas, and guided to develop solutions to anticipate and mitigate the consequences of (un)ethical choices and decisions in relevant professional contexts. In the second section of the unit, students learn about the skills and knowledge required for effective communication with clients in the financial planning process. Establishment of an ongoing client relationships based on trust, honesty, empathy, and technical expertise are among the other topics covered in this unit.
Requisites
05-October-2025
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Analyse complex situations that may lead to conflicts of interests in client-financial planner relationships
- Analyse and evaluate financial dilemmas and propose ethical solutions, demonstrating consideration of systemic consequences of decisions and actions
- Apply knowledge of fundamental aspects of client engagement psychology for effective communication in financial services contexts
- Understand individual and inter-personal behavioural patterns in an organisational context, to support positive relationships with clients and peers
- Work effectively in teams
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| On-campus Class | 2.00 | 12 weeks | 24 |
| Online Lecture | 1.00 | 12 weeks | 12 |
| Unspecified Activities Independent Learning | 9.50 | 12 weeks | 114 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Swinburne Online
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning | 12.50 | 12 weeks | 150 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment | Individual | 30 - 50% | 1,2,3,4 |
| Assignment | Group | 30 - 40% | 1,2,3,4,5 |
| Test | Individual | 20 - 30% | 1,2 |
Content
- Key ethical principles and values of the FASEA codes of ethics and professional conduct, and the institutionalised ethics regime of the financial planning services industry
- Ethical issues and dilemmas in financial planning services
- Recognising and avoiding conflicts of interests
- The role of trustworthiness, honesty and integrity in professional conduct
- Resisting power pressure and giving voice to values
- Client relationships in financial planning services
- Effective communication skills
- Key concepts of interpersonal behaviour in organisations
- Empathy, trust and managing conflicts with clients
- Shareholder activism and climate change risk
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.