AF5037 - Personal Finance and Wealth Planning

You will learn about personal finance and wealth planning through lectures (24 hours), seminars (12 hours), and directed (82 hours) and independent learning (82 hours). Through the lectures, you will gain an understanding of the basic knowledge and subject material required to enable you to meet the module learning outcomes. The seminars are an opportunity for you to further develop understanding and knowledge by reinforcing the subject material and exploring relevant issues by preparing materials and case studies in advance of the session. In the seminar sessions, you are expected to work as an individual or as part of a group in which presentations and discussions will also be used to develop your skills of discussion, analysis and reflection. The seminars will also provide an opportunity for you to apply the knowledge learnt in lectures to the case study which forms the basis of the assessment in this module. Further, you will be undertaking both directed and independent learning. Directed learning may include a range of activities including pre-reading, preparation for seminar activity, and preparing for presentations. You will also be expected to undertake directed learning activities that will help you build the necessary resources to write the final assignment which is based on a case study where you will play the role of a Financial Advisor. Independent learning is learning in which you identify and pursue areas of interest or broader knowledge in personal finance and wealth planning, through a range of learning activities that will include reading, reflection and research

You will be supported by a teaching and learning plan (TLP) that outlines the pattern and content of formal contact sessions. You will gain support during small group seminars and tutorials via your tutors providing face-to-face feedback. In addition, tutors will respond to your questions via the module’s discussion board on the University’s e-learning portal so that the whole group can benefit. All learning and teaching materials will be available through the e-learning module site. Your lectures will be recorded and uploaded to the e-learning portal which you will be able to access to consolidate your knowledge and develop understanding. You will be invited to attend guest lectures delivered by industry experts which will be provided to bring theory into practice. You will be supported to complete your assessment through four seminar sessions specifically dedicated to application of principles studied to the case study material. Further to this you will have an online reading list with comprehensive suggestions of reading and research materials to further your understanding of the subject.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

Knowledge & Understanding (KU):
• You will gain knowledge of how different personal financial products and be able to apply them to satisfy differing clients’ needs and circumstances (MLO1)
• Identify and assess different personal financial needs, products and their impact of personal taxation (MLO2).

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities (IPSA):
• Able to make reasoned recommendations as to the actions required and suitable products to meet the client needs (MLO3).

Personal Values Attributes (PVA):
• You will demonstrate an understanding of the current market situation and ethics while making reasoned recommendations (MLO4).

Formative assessment:
Formative assessment will take place through group work, case study activity, assignment discussion and theory/practice related discussions. Directed learning activities will build resources which can then be used in the final assignment case study. You should be aware that formative feedback can and will occur in any communication with your academic tutor.

Summative assessment
The summative assessment contains two elements:
1. An individual 10 min presentation to be submitted virtually which summarises part 2 of the assessment (40%) (MLO3, MLO4)
2. An individual 2500 words report on a client-based scenario (60%) (MLO1, MLO2, MLO3, MLO4).

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The Personal Finance and Wealth Planning module will not only take you a step closer to your degree, it will help you build relevant financial skills for life. You’ll learn about the lifetime financial planning process, how to save and build an effective investment portfolio, the impact of personal taxation, how to obtain a mortgage, how to manage debt, how to plan for retirement and even how to manage your estate. You’ll also learn how to address these issues through the eyes of a professional financial advisor. The module builds to an assessment where you’ll prepare a financial plan for a client, based on a comprehensive case study, presenting it to them as part of the final assessment.