School: Business and Law

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Superannuation and Retirement Planning
  • Unit Code

    ECF3211
  • Year

    2017
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    3
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online
  • Unit Coordinator

    Mr David Duke PAINE

Description

This unit examines the process of planning for retirement within the Australian context. The focus is on accumulating sufficient funds to provide for an adequate income stream in retirement. Superannuation, as the basis of the majority of retirement savings and investment plans, is examined in detail. Topics include: savings and investment plans, retirement income streams, taxation issues, social security, estate planning, self-managed superannuation funds, and the structure and regulation of the superannuation industry. Recent developments are also examined.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must pass 1 units from ECF1120

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Describe and explain the structure of the superannuation and retirement planning industry in Australia, including the regulatory environment.
  2. Perform financial calculations, income tax calculations, and apply the principles of risk and return to a broad range of superannuation and retirement planning scenarios.
  3. Analyze a broad range of realistic client scenarios to develop appropriate limited Statements of Advice.
  4. Discuss the main features of current issues affecting the superannuation and retirement planning industry, and their likely impacts on clients' financial plans.
  5. Understand the development of the Australia retirement income system in the 19th and 20th century.

Unit Content

  1. Asset allocation and retirement investment.
  2. Australian social security system.
  3. Australian superannuation industry and legislative framework.
  4. Australian superannuation trustee investment issues.
  5. Dealing with the "ageing crisis".
  6. Historical and current international approaches for retirement income provision.
  7. Investment, fund choice and individual decisions at retirement.
  8. Retirement income products in Australia.
  9. Superannuation fund structures in Australia.
  10. Superannuation product delivery by service providers.
  11. Taxation of superannuation.

Additional Learning Experience Information

This unit is delivered in the online mode. Learning materials are delivered via Blackboard. Students are guided through a series of learning activities designed to prepare them for the assessments.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentAssignment 120%
AssignmentAssignment 220%
Examination ^Final Examination60%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentAssignment 120%
AssignmentAssignment 220%
Examination ^Final Examination60%

^ Mandatory to Pass


Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

ECF3211|3|1

School: Business and Law

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Superannuation and Retirement Planning
  • Unit Code

    ECF3211
  • Year

    2017
  • Enrolment Period

    2
  • Version

    3
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online
  • Unit Coordinator

    Mr David Duke PAINE

Description

This unit examines the process of planning for retirement within the Australian context. The focus is on accumulating sufficient funds to provide for an adequate income stream in retirement. Superannuation, as the basis of the majority of retirement savings and investment plans, is examined in detail. Topics include: savings and investment plans, retirement income streams, taxation issues, social security, estate planning, self-managed superannuation funds, and the structure and regulation of the superannuation industry. Recent developments are also examined.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must pass 1 units from ECF1120

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Describe and explain the structure of the superannuation and retirement planning industry in Australia, including the regulatory environment.
  2. Perform financial calculations, income tax calculations, and apply the principles of risk and return to a broad range of superannuation and retirement planning scenarios.
  3. Analyze a broad range of realistic client scenarios to develop appropriate limited Statements of Advice.
  4. Discuss the main features of current issues affecting the superannuation and retirement planning industry, and their likely impacts on clients' financial plans.
  5. Understand the development of the Australia retirement income system in the 19th and 20th century.

Unit Content

  1. Asset allocation and retirement investment.
  2. Australian social security system.
  3. Australian superannuation industry and legislative framework.
  4. Australian superannuation trustee investment issues.
  5. Dealing with the "ageing crisis".
  6. Historical and current international approaches for retirement income provision.
  7. Investment, fund choice and individual decisions at retirement.
  8. Retirement income products in Australia.
  9. Superannuation fund structures in Australia.
  10. Superannuation product delivery by service providers.
  11. Taxation of superannuation.

Additional Learning Experience Information

This unit is delivered in the online mode. Learning materials are delivered via Blackboard. Students are guided through a series of learning activities designed to prepare them for the assessments.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentAssignment 120%
AssignmentAssignment 220%
Examination ^Final Examination60%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentAssignment 120%
AssignmentAssignment 220%
Examination ^Final Examination60%

^ Mandatory to Pass

Core Reading(s)

  • McKeown, W., Kerry, M., & Olynyk, M. (2014). Financial planning. (2nd ed.). Milton, Qld.: John Wiley and Sons.

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

ECF3211|3|2