Course Code: FIN379

Synopsis

Financial planning is essential for the formulation and attainment of financial objectives. A solid understanding of the fundamental principles of financial planning equips individuals with the ability to manage their personal finances effectively within the context of a digital economy in the 21st century. Relevant topics encompass asset management, credit management, retirement planning, income tax planning, estate planning, and the Central Provident Fund (CPF). The course FIN379 Personal Financial Planning offers a comprehensive overview of the core knowledge base, including financial advisory services and recent developments influenced by FinTech innovations such as robo-advisory.
Level: 3
Credit Units: 5
Presentation Pattern: EVERY JULY

Topics

  • Financial Planning Process
  • Asset and Credit Management
  • Risk Management
  • Insurance Products
  • Tax Planning
  • Estate Planning
  • Investment Planning
  • Retirement Planning
  • Income Tax Planning
  • Central Provident Fund
  • Professional Ethics and Compliance
  • Robo Advisory

Learning Outcome

  • Demonstrate understanding of the financial planning process
  • Apply tools and methods in financial planning
  • Show an appreciation of the financial advisory profession
  • Formulate a financial plan in accordance to given constraints
  • Appraise financial planning case studies
  • Analyse various risks underlying financial plans


Who Should Attend

FIN379 is suitable for undergraduate and adult learners who wish to develop practical knowledge of personal financial planning and wealth management. It is particularly relevant to learners interested in budgeting, debt management, education planning, investment planning, retirement and CPF planning, insurance, personal income tax and estate planning. The course is also useful for learners considering careers in financial services, financial advisory, banking, insurance, wealth management or related client-facing roles. Basic numeracy is expected, but prior professional experience in financial planning is not required.

 

Relevance of Course to employment/upskilling/reskilling

This course equips learners with practical capabilities in personal financial analysis, cash-flow and debt management, education and retirement planning, investment and portfolio evaluation, insurance-needs assessment, CPF, personal income tax, estate planning, and business succession planning. These capabilities are relevant to client-facing roles in financial advisory, personal and retail banking, bancassurance, wealth management, and relationship management. By developing learners’ ability to assess financial circumstances, quantify financial needs, evaluate risks and products, and recommend integrated financial plans across different life stages, this course supports the upskilling of existing finance professionals and the reskilling of mid-career entrants into financial-services roles. It also strengthens financial decision-making, advisory, analytical, and client-engagement skills that are increasingly important in Singapore’s financial-services sector.

 

Schedule

TimeAgenda
Lecture 1Face to Face
19:00 - 19:15Introduction, course expectations and overview of personal financial planning
19:15 – 20:15Financial planning process, benefits and personal financial statements
20:15 – 20:25Break
20:25 – 21:45Cash budgets, financial ratios and time value of money
21:45  – 22:00Summary, applied exercise and questions
Lecture 2Face to Face
19:00 - 19:15Recap of Lecture 1 and introduction to liquid asset management
19:15 – 20:15Liquid assets, inflation risk, credit and debt management
20:15 – 20:25Break
20:25 – 21:45MSR, TDSR and education funding planning
21:45  – 22:00Summary, applied exercise and questions
Lecture 3Face to Face
19:00 - 19:15Recap of Lecture 2 and introduction to investment planning
19:15 – 20:15Equity and bond investment, valuation and yield
20:15 – 20:25Break
20:25 – 21:45Duration, investment risk, diversification, portfolio beta and portfolio construction
21:45  – 22:00Summary, applied exercise and questions
Lecture 4Face to Face
19:00 - 19:15Recap of Lecture 3 and introduction to retirement planning
19:15 – 20:15Retirement planning, pension systems and the role of CPF
20:15 – 20:25Break
20:25 – 21:45CPF schemes and retirement-needs quantification
21:45  – 22:00Summary, applied exercise and questions
Lecture 5 and Class TestFace to Face
19:00 - 19:15Attendance, Class Test instructions and preparation
19:15 – 20:45Class Test — 90 minutes
20:45 – 20:55Break
20:55 – 21:50Risk management in retirement planning and insurance products
21:50– 22:00Summary, questions and guidance on supplementary Canvas materials
Lecture 6Face to Face
19:00 - 19:15Recap of Lecture 5 and introduction to personal income tax
19:15 – 20:15Singapore personal income tax and tax computation
20:15 – 20:25Break
20:25 – 21:45Estate planning, wills, nominations, trusts and business succession planning
21:45  – 22:00Course summary, applied exercise and questions
Final Assessment (In-person at SUSS campus)

 

Assessments

The overall course grade is determined by

  • Class Test – 40%
  • Class Participation – 10%
  • Exam – 50%

 

Admissions pre-requisite

Refer to graduate CET admissions and also include Admission Eligibility Criteria for Graduate CET Modular Courses
/admissions/application-process/eligibility/cet-modular-courses-admission-criteria

 

Trainer info

Mr. Ronald Wong holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Birmingham (Birmingham Business School) and is also a Certified Financial Planner Professional and a registered Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) with STEP.  He is currently the Managing Director at Financial Perspectives Pte Ltd. With close to 20 years of consulting and teaching experience, he has consulted and coordinated planning for business owners and high net worth individuals in the region. His experience ranges from personal financial planning to coordination of private placements and family wealth and legacy planning. 

 

Course Completion requirements

  • Attendance: Participants must achieve at least 75% attendance.
  • Assessment: Participants must sit and pass all prescribed assessments and submit all course work stipulated in the section Assessments.
  • Evaluation: Participants are required to complete course evaluations conducted by SUSS and SSG at the end of the training.
Students who achieve at least 75% attendance and meet the course completion requirements will be awarded a Certificate of Completion. For those who do not meet the course requirements, a Certificate of Participation will be issued instead.

 

Course Fees, payment and refund policy

  International Participants Singapore Citizens (below 40yrs), Permanent Residents SkillsFuture Mid-Career Enhanced Subsidy1 (Singaporeans aged 40 and aboveEnhanced Training Support for SMEs2 (Singaporeans and PRs)
Course Fees (A) $ 1,753$ 1,461 $ 1,461$ 1,461
SSG Grant Rate (B)-70% 70% 70%
SSG grant (C)-$ 1,022.70$ 1,022.70 $ 1,022.70
Nett course fee (A)-(C) = (D) $ 1,753.00$ 438.30$ 438.30$ 438.30
9% GST on net course fee (E) $ 157.77 $ 39.45$ 39.45 $ 39.45
SSG Enhanced Funding Rate (F)0% 0% 20%20%
SSG Enhanced Grant (G) - -$ 292.20$ 292.20
Total nett course fee payable, including GST (D) + (E) - (G) = (H)$ 1,910.77$ 477.75$ 185.55 $ 185.55
1 Mid-Career Enhanced Subsidy: Singaporeans aged 40 and above may enjoy subsidies up to 90% of the course fees.
2 Enhanced Training Support for SMEs: SME-sponsored employees (Singapore citizens and PRs) aged 21 and above may enjoy subsidies up to 90% of the course fees.

For the various payment mode, please refer here.



For the refund policy, please refer here

 

A written request for a refund must be submitted and is subject to approval.

If written notice of withdrawal is given within the cooling off period1 and before the course start date, a full refund of the fees paid less an administrative charge of $110.00 (exclusive of GST) will be given.

No refund will be given for withdrawal thereafter.

1 The cooling off period is defined as 7 working days after payment of course fee.

 

For clarification, please contact the SUSS Academy via the following:
Telephone: +65 6248 0263
Email: [email protected]