Considering a career in financial planning? Do you already work in the industry and want to upskill and specialise in specific areas? Kaplan Professional’s FASEA-approved Master of Financial Planning may be the ideal qualification for you./courses/financial-planning-postgraduate-qualifications/master-of-financial-planning/ In this post, we discuss what a Master of Financial Planning is, whether it’s worth completing the qualification, and what potential career opportunities there are. What is a Master of Financial Planning? Kaplan Professional’s FASEA-approved Master of Financial Planning is a higher education qualification set at the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level 9. This 100% online qualification has been developed in consultation with industry experts with a wealth of experience, ensuring practical and relevant learning rather than solely focusing on academic theory. The Master of Financial Planning consists of 12 subjects – 10 core subjects and two electives. It can be completed over two years full-time, four years part-time, or 1.2 years accelerated full-time. There are six study intakes per year, which provides you the flexibility to complete the qualification in a timeframe that suits your work and personal commitments. The Master of Financial Planning is a specialised qualification and offers contemporary teachings in financial advice strategy and theory at the highest level. You’ll gain an in-depth understanding of financial planning, financial products, investments, risk management, financial markets, plus more. By successfully completing the qualification, you’ll be able to: Critically analyse and apply strategies to support a successful financial planning practice Analyse key economic principles and advanced technical and theoretical concepts in the financial planning context Apply and evaluate advanced knowledge of legislative, ethical, regulatory, and professional obligations to the provision of personal financial advice Demonstrate advanced skills to develop appropriate solutions for a range of clients, including those with complex needs, based on evidence by appropriate inquiry and research To be eligible to enrol in the Master of Financial Planning, you’ll need to have completed a related Graduate Diploma or Undergraduate Degree. Alternatively, an unrelated Graduate Diploma or Undergraduate Degree with two years’ related industry experience can meet the entry requirements. Is a Master of Financial Planning worth it? Completing a Master of Financial Planning has many benefits. The qualification is ideal if: You’re wanting to complete a FASEA-approved qualification You’re looking to expand on existing skills and develop deeper knowledge in specialised areas of financial planning and advice You want to enhance your credentials and stand out in a competitive industry by progressing beyond FASEA’s minimum education requirement and completing a masters degree Throughout your studies, you have the option to combine the Master of Financial Planning with professional designation pathways. This provides you with the opportunity to further specialise in your career. Additional pathway opportunities include combining the qualification with the Financial Planning of Association of Australia’s (FPA) Certified Financial Planner® certification to achieve the CFP® designation, or the SMSF Association’s SMSF Specialist Advisor (SSATM) designation. A benefit of combining the Master of Financial Planning with a professional designation is both the pathways and the qualification can be completed at the same time, without adding any extra time onto your studies. Combining the Master of Financial Planning with the Certified Financial Planner® certification This professional pathway is ideal if you wish to obtain Kaplan Professional’s Master of Financial Planning and the FPA’s CFP® designation, the highest financial planning designation worldwide. You’ll need to successfully complete 10 core subjects and 1 elective subject from the Master of Financial Planning, in addition to the CFP® certification unit with the FPA. Combining the Master of Financial Planning with the SMSF Specialist Advisor (SSATM) designation In partnership with the SMSF Association, this pathway provides you the opportunity specialise in one of the fastest growing sectors of the superannuation industry. To achieve the Master of Financial Planning and the SSATM designation, you must complete the subject FPE020 SMSF Regulations and Taxation as one of your electives. A Master of Financial Planning can open the door to many potential career paths, including: Financial adviser/financial planner Business development manager Portfolio analyst Insurance/risk adviser Superannuation consultant Compliance manager Financial advice practice manager Investment banker Studying a Master of Financial Planning with Kaplan Professional Kaplan Professional is Australia’s largest and leading provider of online financial services education. With more than 30 years’ experience educating and supporting the financial planning and wider financial services industry, we have a deep understanding of the Australian financial advice landscape and are the education partner of choice for most of the country’s leading financial services organisations and major banks. We’re committed to providing personalised education pathways to advisers and supporting them with the tools they need to succeed throughout their education journey. Throughout your studies with Kaplan Professional, you can expect to benefit from: 100% online study, including online proctored exams Early access to learning materials and assessments to start preparing early High-touch engagement and one-on-one tutor support throughout your studies Interactive learning delivered by industry experts Complete flexibility with six study intakes per year, so you can plan your studies around work and other commitments FEE-HELP and fixed subject fees for the duration of your qualification Proactive and personalised student support from a dedicated team We’re here to help Have questions about your next step? Our friendly and knowledgeable Course Advice team are available to answer your questions. They can help you plan out your studies and provide personalised guidance based on your circumstances. Request a call now and an experienced Course Adviser will be in touch shortly.