Overview

This unit aims to teach students strategies to maximise assets for a comfortable retirement. A holistic picture of the retirement industry as underpinned by government policy will be provided. This will assist students to understand the increasing role of superannuation as the primary retirement investment vehicle and recognise various tax concessions. Students will apply superannuation knowledge to generate financial planning strategies using financial advice technologies.

Requisites

Prerequisites
FIN60010 Elements of Financial Planning and Regulation

Rule

FIN60007 Elements of Financial Planning
OR
FIN60010 Elements of Financial Planning and Regulation

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Teaching Period 2
Location
Online
Start and end dates
07-July-2025
05-October-2025
Last self-enrolment date
20-July-2025
Census date
01-August-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
22-August-2025
Results released date

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Critically evaluate retirement savings strategies that include capital adequacy and tax advantages of superannuation and government incentives
  • Critically analyse access to superannuation benefits, related taxation rules and retirement benefits to maximise retirement income
  • Conduct research into pre and post retirement savings regulatory environment and related products to meet client requirements
  • Apply coherent and advanced knowledge of superannuation and retirement to construct a Statement of Advice and recommend strategies and products that meet client’s objectives and constraints using financial advice technologies
  • Communicate proficiently and in a professional context and work effectively as a member of a team

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
On-campus
Class		2.00 12 weeks 24
Unspecified Activities
Independent Learning		9.50 12 weeks 114
Online
Lecture		1.00 12 weeks 12
TOTAL150

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
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
AssessmentIndividual 40 - 60% 1,2,3,4 
Assignment 1Individual 20 - 30% 1,4 
Assignment 2Group 20 - 30% 1,2,3,4,5 

Content

  • Government retirement savings policy and the role of superannuation
  • The superannuation regulatory environment
  • Contributions to superannuation
  • Taxation of contributions and investment earnings
  • Superannuation life benefits, access and taxation
  • Superannuation death benefits
  • Retirement savings outside of the superannuation system
  • Retirement strategies and products

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.