FNS60404 - Advanced Diploma of Financial Services (Financial Planning)
Who Should Enrol
This qualification is ideal for:
- experienced professionals seeking deeper knowledge and insight into financial planning
- individuals wishing to use the qualification as a pathway to further education.
What would I achieve upon completion?
Upon successful completion of this qualification, you should be able to:
- understand Australian taxation laws to develop appropriate tax strategies
- understand financial planning relating to estate planning issues
- gain detailed exposure to investment concepts
- write a comprehensive Statement of Advice for clients
- improve your eligibility towards entering the CFP program with the FPA.
Employability Skills
Employability Skills are embedded in training and assessment. Information on the Employability Skills relevant to your qualification can be obtained by visiting http://employabilityskills.training.com.au and keying in the national code for the qualification (FNS60404).
Prerequisites
To be awarded the Advanced Diploma of Financial Services (Financial Planning), the Diploma of Financial Services (Financial Planning) (FNS50804) must first be completed.
You may enrol in individual subjects within the Advanced Diploma irrespective of whether you have completed the requirements of the DFS(FP), however, completion of the DFS(FP) is advisable. Kaplan Professional also recommends that Financial Plan Construction and Review should be the last subject undertaken.
Qualification Overview
The qualification comprises four subjects and a skills assessment.
The table below is the recommended and common completion path if you wish to gain the full qualification.
| Subject | Learning Outcomes & Overview | Subject Code |
| Taxation Planning | Download | TP |
| Estate Planning | Download | EP |
| Investment Planning 2 | Download | IP2 |
| Financial Plan Construction and Review | Download | FPC |
| Skills Assessment | Brochure |
|
| Advanced Diploma Skills Assessment | Download |
|
Enrolment Options
At Kaplan, we understand that study needs vary for each individual. That is why we provide you with flexible enrolment and delivery options to help you achieve your study goals.
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Full qualification enrolment: Pay upfront for the full qualification and save over 10% off the standard self-study enrolment fee. Choose between:
• Advanced Diploma of Financial Services (Financial Planning); or
• Advanced Diploma of Financial Services (Financial Planning) & Margin Lending and Geared Investments
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Single subject enrolment: This option is also ideal if you can’t afford to pay the full qualification fee upfront or if you need to fill a knowledge gap or refresh your knowledge in a particular area.
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Upgrade to the full qualification (for current Kaplan students only): Upgrade to the full qualification at any time. Upgrade fees will be calculated per subject remaining based on the applicable full qualification rate. Note: Students who have enrolled in/completed greater than two subjects are not eligible to upgrade to the full qualification and must pay single subject rates for remaining subjects.
Click here for more information on fees.
Note: Your AFSL may have pre-arranged pricing with Kaplan so please speak to us before enrolling.
Delivery
This qualification is delivered via self-study with optional workshops available to those who prefer a more structured face-to-face learning environment.
All students also have access to an online student portal for the duration of their studies.
- Self-study – Delivered via distance education, all subjects are self-contained with all the materials and resources needed to complete the subject easily by self-study. Subjects can be commenced in the self-study mode at any time.
- Optional workshop – This involves a period of essential pre-study followed by three days of workshops. Study periods are flexible with workshops being run continuously throughout the year. Pre-study of subject notes is essential prior to workshops. If you are completing the subject by workshop, you may sit your exam on the morning of the fourth day or at a later arranged time
Click here for more information on workshop, including timetables.
Duration & Timeframes
A typical study commitment is 60 hours per subject and may vary depending on your capacity for study.
Assignments must be submitted no later than four months from enrolment and first-sit exams must be completed within six months of enrolment.
Note: When enrolling into the full qualification you must complete all subjects and the Skills Assessment (where applicable) within 5 years of your initial qualification enrolment.
Assessment
To complete each of the subjects, you must successfully complete the:
- Assignment, and
- Exam (excluding FPC)
If you are unsuccessful in an assessment (Not yet competent), you will have the opportunity to:
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Resit the exam (twice)
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Resubmit the assignment (once), please see the Assessment Policy for further details
To successfully complete the qualification, you must also complete an Advanced Diploma Skills Assessment. If you wish to exit after one subject a skills assessment must also be completed to gain a Statement of Attainment.
Kaplan Practice Exams
Visit the Kaplan Practice Exams page.
Competencies
Download Kaplan’s Competency List to view the list of competencies you will achieve through successful completion of this qualification.
Pathways
Once you’ve completed the Advanced Diploma of Financial Services (Financial Planning) you can upgrade to the Graduate Diploma or extend your knowledge into Self-Managed Superannuation (SMSF) Funds.
Recognition & Exemptions
Methods available:
Note: Recognition and Exemption applications are not available for Financial Plan Construction and Review (FPC).
Refer to the Recognition & Exemptions page for further information and associated forms.
Study Information
Refer to the following links for further information, or visit Study Information:
Timetables & Dates for Intensive Workshops and Kaplan Office Exams
Forms for all study related forms
Exam Information
Recognition & Exemptions




