Bachelor of Commerce (Financial Planning)

Key Benefits

Suitable for new entrants and career changers

The University of New England’s (UNE) Bachelor of Commerce (Financial Planning) is designed for anyone looking to provide financial advice for retail clients.

The Bachelor qualification is the most comprehensive financial planning curriculum available, covering 24 units. The course is suitable for new entrants to the financial advice industry, career changers, or existing advisers wishing to upskill by 2024. This course is designed to meet the FASEA requirements. It has been submitted to FASEA for approval which is pending.

Ranked #1 Online University

UNE ranks number one in an online study by Australia’s Online University Rankings for the past seven years. Join a community of 100,000 proud alumni, that have studied at UNE, the ninth oldest of Australia’s 40 public universities.

100% Online

Fit study around work, family and life. UNE’s course has been developed to give you absolute flexibility. And ‘online’ doesn’t mean ‘alone’. You’ll be backed by UNE’s expert lecturers and tutors when you require assistance.

Learn new and emerging advice areas

This course includes relevant and practical content in the core advice areas such as economic fundamentals, securities, managed investments, derivatives, superannuation, social security, taxation, estate planning, insurance, regulatory compliance, and ethics.

It also covers emerging financial advice areas including Aged Care Advice and Self Managed Superannuation Funds.

Practical and relevant learning materials

This course is packed full of advanced-level topics with immediate application for advice professionals. Learn the latest Behavioural Finance theory on how clients make important money decisions and get the most up to date superannuation and retirement strategies.

Experience life as a real adviser through UNE’s state-of-the-art financial advice simulation learning tool to help develop critical professional reasoning skills.

Advanced Standing (credits) apply

If you have a Diploma of Financial Planning or Advanced Diploma of Financial Planning with a TAFE or Registered Training Organisation such Monarch Institute, you will be eligible for up to 12 credits towards this course (i.e. up to half the course).

Get in touch with us to learn how many credits you might be eligible for.

Course Accreditation

There are 24 units (subjects) in the Bachelor of Commerce (Financial Planning). Depending on your prior qualifications, you will need to complete some or all of the following units, plus some electives:

MM467 Professional Ethics
LSSU394 Issues in Commercial and Financial Services Law
FPL350 Behavioural Finance and Investment Portfolio Management
FPL113 Investment Fundamentals and Financial Advice Principles
FPL201 Superannuation and Retirement Planning Strategies and Advice
FPL212 Insurance Advice, Risk Management and Estate Planning
FPL380 Financial Advice Construction and Client Communication Simulation
LSSU395 Taxation Law for Financial Services
FPL305 Self-Managed Superannuation Funds
FPL340 Aged Care Advice

Course Assessments

Assessment formats may include:

Case studies
Assignments
Presentations
Online assessment
Exams

Career Opportunities

New Entrant and career changer pathway

The Bachelor of Commerce (Financial Planning) is ideal for new entrants or career changers keen to break into the exciting financial services industry. It provides a comprehensive educational foundation if you’re considering becoming a licensed financial adviser and can provide a stepping stone to careers such as para-planning, phone-based general advice consultant, back-office or middle-office superannuation roles, and research roles.

Licensed Financial Adviser

From 1 January 2019, only ‘relevant providers’ who meet the Financial Adviser Standards and Education Authority (FASEA) requirements can operate as licensed financial advisers or financial planners via transitional arrangements (see below). Unless you are an ‘existing adviser’ at that date, all new entrants must hold a FASEA approved degree.

UNE’s Bachelor of Commerce (Financial Planning) has been designed to meet the FASEA requirements and has been submitted for approval. UNE’s Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning and Bridging Course are currently FASEA approved.

Steps to becoming a licensed Adviser

New entrants wanting to become licensed financial advisers after 1 January 2019 must meet a number of requirements. These include:

Successfully completing a FASEA approved education course
Successfully completing a FASEA exam
Become licensed under an Australian Financial Services Licensee (AFSL) as a ‘Provisional Financial Adviser’
Successfully complete a Professional Year as a Provisional Financial Adviser of one-year full-time equivalent work which includes direct and indirect supervision by a Supervisor and your AFSL.

The transition period for existing financial advisers

‘Existing advisers’ on the ASIC Financial Adviser Register prior to 1 January 2019 have a transition period until 2024 to meet the new education standards.

*The term “existing adviser” is set out in the Corporations Act under section 1546A. It is a person who is a relevant provider between 1 January 2016 and 1 January 2019 (except a person who has ceased to be a relevant provider). In layman’s terms, a relevant provider must be listed on the ASIC Financial Adviser Register. Existing financial advisers need to complete the FASEA exam by 2021, unlike new entrants that need to complete the exam prior to becoming licensed.

Pathways

Entry requirements

Get in touch to discuss your situation and prerequisites for this course and pathway option. Click here to book a time with Adrian Shaw (UNE Financial Planning Lecturer) or email Adrian at ashaw32@une.edu.au.

Course Topics

Course Duration

Each unit runs over a 12 week period.

How it works

More than online.

You’ll get:

Videos and webinars
Support from your course lecturers (phone, email, Zoom)
Online assessments

How does it work?

This course has been designed by practising financial advisers and is 100% online. Engage with lecturers that have real industry experience in the financial advice industry. Apply your learning using practical case studies, that will allow you to hit the ground running.

Course Price

Meet your trainers

Adrian Shaw
Trainer "To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart"
– Eleanor Roosevelt

Drawing on nearly 20 years’ experience in the financial services sector, I lecture in Investments and Financial Services at the University of New England (UNE) and work with businesses to enhance the way they get things done. As subject coordinator for UNE, I recently developed the first Financial Services Simulator in Australia, and post-graduate subject offering students practical, real-world experience.

I’ve also worked with law firms, financial service providers, accountants and bookkeepers helping them streamline business operations and improve client experience.

What makes me jump out of bed each morning?

My dog and the desire to help my Monarch students!

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Duration	Trimester-based study
How it works	100% online, fee help available
Career opportunities	Financial Planner, Financial Adviser, Paraplanner
Units	24 units
Entry requirements	Call us to discuss your specific circumstances
Assessments	Varies depending on which unit you are required to undertake
Start date	March \| July \| November Get in touch about enrolling