RG146 Professional Series

Module 1

Foundations of Financial Planning

• Foundations of Financial Planning

• The Financial Planning Industry

• The Financial Planning process

• The paperwork

• Economic Fundamentals

• Monetary Policy

• Fiscal Policy

• The Economic Cycle

• Key players in the financial marketing arena

• Taxation basics

Module 2

Investments

• Investments

• Asset classes

• Cash investments

• Fixed interest investments

• Property investments

• Equities (shares)

• Performance of asset classes

• Dollar cost averaging

• Investment risk

• Diversification

• Exchange traded funds (EFTs)

• Investment selection

• Compound interest & time value of money

Module 3

Superannuation & Retirement Planning

• Superannuation in Australia

• Accumulation funds and defined benefit funds

• Who can contribute into superannuation

• Identify different kinds of contributions

• Taxation and superannuation earnings

• Superannuation guarantee

• Government co-contribution

• Super splitting and how it works

• Salary sacrifice and how it’s applied

• Strategies and case studies

• Role and responsibility of superannuation trustees

• How self-managed super funds operate

• Mechanics of a superannuation pension

• Preservation age and accessing superannuation

• Tax applicable to superannuation benefits

Module 4

Insurance and Risk Management

• Insurance

• Classification of risk

• How do we handle risk?

• Insurance characteristics

• General insurance

• Personal life insurance

• Structuring life insurance

• Term life insurance

• Total and permanent disability insurance (TDP)

• Income protection insurance

• Trauma insurance

• Insurance premiums

RG146 is Regulatory Guide 146, the document in which the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) sets training standards for people who advise retail clients on financial products. Advisers complete general knowledge plus specialist knowledge for each product area they work in. Licensees rely on those standards when deciding who can advise on what, which is why employers across the financial services sector may ask about RG146 training.

RG146 applies to people giving general advice on financial products and to those advising on basic banking products, general insurance or consumer credit insurance. Advisers who give personal advice on superannuation, investments and similar products have had separate obligations since 2019, including needing an approved degree. Your licensee determines which standards apply to your role, so check with them before enrolling.

That depends on what you advise on. The four units cover:

• Foundations of Financial Planning: Start here if you’re new to the industry. You’ll learn how the financial planning industry works, how advisers take a client through the planning process, and the economic fundamentals behind it, including monetary policy, the economic cycle and taxation basics.

• Investments: Choose this module if you work with clients’ money. You’ll study cash, fixed interest, property and shares, and how each asset class performs. Risk, diversification and compound interest all affect what you’d recommend, so you’ll cover those too. 

• Insurance and Risk Management: This module covers protecting what a client already has. You’ll work through life insurance, income protection, trauma and general insurance, then learn how insurers classify risk and price their premiums. 

• Superannuation and Retirement Planning: Take this one if you advise on retirement. You’ll study who can contribute to superannuation and how, the tax that applies to earnings and benefits, salary sacrifice, self-managed funds and how a superannuation pension works.

You can take a single module or all four in the series.

Yes. You’ll study all four modules online, working through course materials whenever you have time. Quizzes and multiple-choice questions check your knowledge as you go, and you’ll also complete case studies and calculator questions. You’ll have six months of access to the full series, with support from a dedicated trainer by phone, Zoom or email.

You’ll gain knowledge across four specialist areas, which suits general advice roles and back-office positions at insurers, superannuation providers, fund managers and investment platforms. Practice management and paraplanning support roles draw on the same material. If you want a nationally recognised qualification, our Advanced Diploma of Paraplanning takes 12 to 24 months and covers 12 units.

The professional series includes four modules, covering:

• Foundations of Financial Planning: The planning process itself, from the paperwork advisers prepare to the economic fundamentals behind their recommendations. Monetary policy, fiscal policy, the economic cycle and taxation basics are all covered here.

• Investments: Cash, fixed interest, property and shares, plus exchange-traded funds. You’ll also cover dollar cost averaging, diversification, investment risk and the time value of money.

• Superannuation and Retirement Planning: Accumulation and defined benefit funds, who can contribute and how, salary sacrifice, super splitting and the superannuation guarantee. You’ll finish the module with self-managed funds and superannuation pensions.

• Insurance and Risk Management: Term life, total and permanent disability, income protection and trauma insurance, plus general insurance. You’ll learn how insurers classify risk and set their premiums.

Experienced financial advisers founded Monarch, and our industry advisory council contributes to how we develop these courses.