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Course overview

No longer open for new enrolments.

Kaplan’s Professional’s FNS60415 Advanced Diploma of Financial Planning builds upon the competencies gained in the FNS50615 Diploma of Financial Planning. This qualification is ideal for individuals wanting to learn a comprehensive range of financial planning services across a variety of product environments, including those involving complex issues, innovative strategies and successful client engagement.

This program also provides a pathway into the Kaplan Professional Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning.

Kaplan Professional’s FNS60415 Advanced Diploma of Financial Planning will provide:

  1. An in-depth understanding of taxation and estate planning issues as they relate to financial planning strategy
  2. The ability to develop yourself and your professional practice to meet the needs of clients
  3. Techniques to improve client engagement strategies and help build successful client relationships
  4. Application of financial planning skills to complex client scenarios

Program information

The FNS60415 Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning is structured into four subjects. Subject outlines:

Unit of Competency

The 11 units of competency are awarded for the successful completion of the FNS60415 Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning; 8 core and 3 electives. Further information on the units of competency can be found in the subject outlines above.

CPD

Kaplan Professional has assessed this course. Click here for the following CPD hours applicable from 1 January 2019 on successful completion of this course. For subjects or courses completed prior to this date, please contact Kaplan Professional’s CPD Support team.

Duration

Individuals have a total of 57 weeks to complete the learning and assessment requirements for the FNS60415 Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning, from their initial activation date.

If an individual reaches the end of their initial enrolment period and has been deemed not yet competent in one or more assessment items, then an additional 4 weeks will be granted. This time can be used to resubmit a written and oral assignment or resit an exam. The table below explains how this applies to each subject.

Therefore, if an individual completes the learning and assessment, and the resubmission time in every subject is granted, the duration will be 69 weeks.

SubjectDuration
DFP5: Tax for Financial Advising12 weeks course work
4 weeks resubmission time as outlined above
DFP6: Estate Planning12 weeks course work
4 weeks resubmission time as outlined above
DFP7: Client Engagement Strategies12 weeks course work
4 weeks resubmission time as outlined above
DFP8: Advanced Financial Planning21 weeks course work
This is inclusive of time for resubmission

The amount of training for this course may be up to 15 hours per week for DFP6 and up to 20 hours per week for DFP5, DFP7 and DFP8. The amount of training is the hours an individual can expect to spend to complete their course work and assessments.

In addition to the amount of training, individuals who are new to industry or vocational training could need up to 5 hours per week for DFP6 and up to 10 hours for DFP5, DFP7 and DFP8. This is known as unsupervised hours. These additional hours are for study skills or further research. For example, an individual not working in industry would need more time to review industry websites that are usually introduced in workplace compliance training. Individuals working in industry may be able to complete the course requirements in a shorter timeframe or less hours per week.

If a student applies for extensions beyond the 69-week completion timeframe for the qualification or is granted special consideration, the maximum period of time to complete this qualification is two years from the qualification activation date. If enrolling in single subjects with the intention of completing a qualification, the two year timeframe is calculated from the initial activation date of the first subject.

Additional study-related fees apply to formal extensions and re-enrolments. Please refer to the Vocational Education Fees schedule found here.

Please also refer to our Vocational Education and Training (VET) Enrolment Terms and Conditions here or our Student Handbook here for important information on:

  • Subject activation and completion timeframes
  • Extensions
  • Subject re-enrolment

Assessment

The assessments for each subject are listed below. Units of competency are co-assessed by topic within subjects, as listed in ‘Units of competency’.

SubjectAssessmentAssessment Detail
DFP5: Tax for Financial Advising1 Multiple Choice ExamSupervised, open book multiple choice examination, three (3) attempts.
1 Short Answer ExamSupervised, open book multiple choice examination, three (3) attempts.
DFP6: Estate Planning1 Multiple Choice ExamSupervised, open book multiple choice examination, four (4) attempts.
DFP7: Client Engagement Strategies1 Written and Oral AssignmentWritten and oral assignment – two (2) attempts.

• Written – A series of 7 activities spread across the subject topics which are compiled and submitted after the final task in Topic 5. The activities are generally brief in nature with a word limit applying to each.

• Oral - Oral questions and role play. The mode of oral assessment is by audio recording.
DFP8: Advanced Financial Planning1 Written and Simulated Client PresentationWritten and simulated client presentation – two (2) attempts.

• Written – A major written assignment in which individuals prepare a compliant Statement of Advice for one or more clients whose circumstances are provided for them in a given case study.

• Simulated client presentation – Individuals present their Statement of Advice to a Kaplan Professional assessor as if the assessor is the client. The mode of oral assessment is by phone or Skype.

Individuals may attempt the exam and/or submit their assignment at any time if they believe they are adequately prepared. Individuals must be deemed competent in all assessment items, including demonstrating competency in all of the exam questions, in order to be awarded their qualification or course.

Individuals who successfully complete DFP 5, DFP6, DFP 7 and DFP 8 will be awarded the FNS60415 Advanced Diploma of Financial Planning qualification.

To learn more about what to expect when completing an oral assignment using audio please click here.

To learn more about what to expect when completing an oral assignment using phone or Skype please click here.

Exams venue

You can sit your exam while being supervised in your workplace or at a Kaplan office. Click here for Kaplan Professional office exam times and venues.

Pathways

Study pathways

Kaplan Professional can develop a tailored education pathway for individuals working towards FASEA’s proposed education requirements.

Career pathways

Financial planners seeking a professional designation are required to undertake a postgraduate course. For more information on Kaplan’s financial planning postgraduate courses refer to our postgraduate courses.

Have you considered a professional designation with the AFA? Switch on your leadership thinking with the AFA FChFP. This designation provides participants with comprehensive and innovative business framework to support their business and professional vision. Topics covered include:

  • Business Strategy
  • Client Experience
  • Advanced Financial Solutions
  • Professional Conduct & Governance

Entry Requirements

Education Requirements

The entry requirement for this qualification is completion of the Financial Services units from the core of the FNS50615 Diploma in Financial Planning in the Financial Services Training Package FNS (e.g. Kaplan Professional’s FNS50615 Diploma of Financial Planning).

or

Completion of the sectoral core units and the regulatory unit FNSASICZ503 Provide advice in Financial Planning from the Diploma in Financial Planning in the Financial Services Training Package FNS10.

When completing the DFP8 Advanced Financial Planning subject, although it is not a prerequisite, it is recommended that you have knowledge of securities, as the assignment incorporates tasks in this area of advice.

Individuals are required to be aged 18 years or older to enrol in this qualification.

Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) requirements

This course requires you to read comprehensive learner workbooks, complete a range of written assessments, undertake independent research activities and at times engage in online forums and discussions. Furthermore, the delivery mode relies on the extensive use of written communication.

If you have any doubts about whether you have the language, literacy and numeracy skills to undertake a Kaplan Professional program, we recommend you speak with our Student Services team on 1300 662 203 or email mail@kaplan.edu.au.

Computing requirements

Recommended browsers

You can access KapLearn using any of the browsers below, but it runs best on the latest versions:

  • Firefox 3 or later
  • Chrome 4 or later
  • Safari 3 or later
  • Internet Explorer

You may find it helpful to have more than one browser installed on your computer. If you experience problems using Kaplan’s online learning system, try using another browser.

Browser settings and support

For the best user experience at Kaplan’s online learning system, select the following browser settings:

  • enable cookies
  • enable JavaScript
  • do not block pop-up windows

Audio recording app

You will need to use a free or paid audio-recording app on your phone, tablet or computer to record and submit your oral assignment. Most devices come with a free built-in audio/voice-recording app. More information should be available in your device manual or on the device manufacturer’s website. Below are help links for some popular devices.

Skill requirements

To successfully complete this qualification, individuals will require basic computing skills. This may include:

  • saving and editing Microsoft Office documents
  • researching, accessing and searching the internet
  • downloading and saving documents from websites
  • uploading documents through websites
  • making an audio recording using a smartphone, tablet or computer
  • participating in online discussions

This course requires you to read comprehensive learner workbooks, complete a range of written assessments, undertake independent research activities and at times engage in online forums and discussions. Furthermore, the delivery mode relies on the extensive use of written communication.

If you have any doubts about whether you have the language, literacy and numeracy skills to undertake a Kaplan Professional program, we recommend you speak with our Student Services team on 1300 662 203 or email mail@kaplan.edu.au.

Recommended browsers

You can access KapLearn using any of the browsers below, but it runs best on the latest versions:

  • Firefox 3 or later
  • Chrome 4 or later
  • Safari 3 or later
  • Internet Explorer

You may find it helpful to have more than one browser installed on your computer. If you experience problems using Kaplan’s online learning system, try using another browser.

Browser settings and support

For the best user experience at Kaplan’s online learning system, select the following browser settings:

  • enable cookies
  • enable JavaScript
  • do not block pop-up windows

Audio recording app

You will need to use a free or paid audio-recording app on your phone, tablet or computer to record and submit your oral assignment. Most devices come with a free built-in audio/voice-recording app. More information should be available in your device manual or on the device manufacturer’s website. Below are help links for some popular devices.

To successfully complete this qualification, individuals will require basic computing skills. This may include:

  • saving and editing Microsoft Office documents
  • researching, accessing and searching the internet
  • downloading and saving documents from websites
  • uploading documents through websites
  • making an audio recording using a smartphone, tablet or computer
  • participating in online discussions

Industry Education Requirements

Education requirements for financial advisers

We encourage you to book a consultation over the phone to discuss the options and study pathways available to you in more detail. These consultations allow our experienced and knowledgeable team to understand your needs, identify the qualification most appropriate for you, and address your questions thoroughly.

Enrolment Information

Kaplan strongly recommends that DFP5–8 be completed in sequential order.

This course is delivered online via Kaplan’s learning management system KapLearn.

You will receive login details to KapLearn upon enrolment. When you log on to KapLearn you are able to access the subject notes, assessments, additional learning materials such as media, case studies, practice activities and your online tutor.

Assessments are accessed and submitted through KapLearn.

Corporate clients should contact our Corporate Solutions Representative on 1300 728 505 to discuss face-to-face delivery options and how we can tailor our training to your business needs.

Individuals may be able to obtain Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for a Kaplan Professional award subject based on their previous study and/or work experience. To do this, individuals must submit evidence demonstrating they have already met the requirements of the subject through other means.

Evidence can take many forms, such as information about approved study, information about work experience, certificates, transcripts or other credentials.

To find out if you are eligible for RPL, refer to our Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) page.

Policies

Student Policies

Individuals who enrol in a Kaplan Professional course are bound by our published policies, including the policy that sets out our rules for assessment. Individuals can review these policies here. The policies also assist individuals when their study program does not go as planned and they need extra support.

Terms and Conditions

Click here to access our terms and conditions.

Refund Policy

Access our refund policy.

Fees and FEE-HELP

Enrol directly into DFP5–8 for $1200 (GST exempt).

Individual subjects are $300 (GST exempt) each.

For additional study-related fees, please click here.

Support and wellbeing

We understand studying isn’t always easy; you may not have studied for some time or perhaps you haven’t studied online previously. Kaplan Professional recognises juggling study with work and family commitments, while trying to find the balance can be demanding.

Your wellbeing and safety is paramount to Kaplan Professional. We want to ensure your experience is well-rounded and balanced to help you attain the most from your studies, so we encourage you to take advantage of the services available to you.

Support and wellbeing

We understand studying isn’t always easy; you may not have studied for some time or perhaps you haven’t studied online previously. Kaplan Professional recognises juggling study with work and family commitments, while trying to find the balance can be demanding.

Your wellbeing and safety is paramount to Kaplan Professional. We want to ensure your experience is well-rounded and balanced to help you attain the most from your studies, so we encourage you to take advantage of the services available to you.

Programs you might be interested in

CRS1300149

Master of Financial Planning

Our online, FAS-approved Master of Financial Planning is a purpose-built higher education qualification set at AQF level 9. It’s designed and developed in consultation with industry experts, and combines advanced technical rigour with practical and relevant performance-focused learning outcomes.
CRS1200364

Master of Applied Finance

Leading online degree designed for ambitious and savvy individuals who are looking for advanced academic rigour, but thrive on practical and real-world learning immediately applicable in the workplace, and directly relevant to future career roles. It caters to experienced finance professionals and those transitioning into the field, integrating learning outcomes with pathways for further accreditation such as a CFA®.
CRS1200368

Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning

An eight-subject postgraduate qualification set at AQF Level 8 and FAS approved. Includes the first eight subjects of the FAS-approved Master of Financial Planning.

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