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Structured Learning

STRUCTURED LEARNING

As part of the Advice Academy, Kaplan Professional have been contracted as the exclusive education partner to build a series of individual modules to assist Professional Year Candidates in gaining their 100 structured training hours. 

Developed with PY Candidates in mind, the structured learning modules focus on building essential client engagement skills and financial advice fundamentals. 

Practical, hands on, weekly activities are included in each module and if a PY Supervisor cannot review these for their PY Candidate then Kaplan will assign someone to assist. 

Each module is designed to be completed over six weeks, with up to 12 weeks being allowed for flexibility. There are no specific start or due dates for activities, rather PY Candidates progress, complete and submit activities as they go. 

Successful completion of each module will earn the PY Candidate 20 Structured Training hours for their PY Logbook as well as a Certificate of Completion from Kaplan. 

The learning modules can be purchased individually by PY Candidates or PY Supervisors can make multiple purchases of a particular learning module if they are buying on behalf of multiple PY Candidates with similar learning gaps. 

PY Candidates who are FAAA members Cost (inc GST)
Individual modules $165

To purchase Advice Academy Structured Learning module(s) you will need to log into the FAAA Portal and confirm you are either a PY Candidate who is an FAAA member or someone who is purchasing the module(s) on behalf of a PY Candidate who is an FAAA member. For Kaplan to issue the module to the learner, the invoice must be paid and activation dates must be 5+ days from date of purchase.

Note: If you are not a PY Candidate or are not buying one of the below modules on behalf of a PY Candidate who is an FAAA member then enquiries about purchasing these modules should be directed to Kaplan on 1300 135 798. The retail cost of each module is $275 (inc GST). 

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Mastering the art of strategic client meetings

This module will help you build confidence in client meetings and develop key data-gathering techniques by providing the essential tools for engaging in client conversations. Using real client scenarios, you will learn how to listen effectively, take insightful notes and ask the right questions to guide your clients through their financial journey. 

  1. Identify client expectations and drivers of satisfaction in a financial advice context. 
  2. Develop a range of communication techniques and skills essential for productive client relationships. 
  3. Conduct effective client meetings. 
  4. Outline a recommendation based on data gathering from client meetings. 

Achieving personal/professional goals through effective teamwork

This module equips PY Candidates with essential workplace competencies to thrive in any professional setting, as well as collaborative skills to navigate working with others in a team. It explores key personal attributes, effective goal setting, time management, impactful presentations, and continuous personal and professional development. 

Additionally, the module focuses on developing teamwork and communication skills, which are crucial for building strong professional relationships. By mastering these skills, PY Candidates enhance their effectiveness, client satisfaction and overall success in the industry. 

  1. The ability to apply key principles of effective teamwork to strengthen collaboration, communication and overall team productivity.
  2. Proficiency in implementing time and priority management strategies to enhance individual and team performance. 
  3. A structured approach to setting personal and professional goals that align with career aspirations and organisational objectives. 
  4. A clear understanding of how individual contributions impact team effectiveness and drive positive client outcomes. 

Launching your financial advice career

Unlock your potential with insights into career pathways, industry expectations and essential skills such as compliance, client management and market awareness. Having chosen financial planning as a career path, this module engages graduates with their future. Explaining the responsibilities of a new graduate in a financial advice firm, the content also highlights key client communication skills development for new advisers. 

  1. Explore the career pathways and responsibilities of a new financial adviser. 
  2. Gain insight into the expectations of advice firms and the skills needed for long-term success. 
  3. Learn how to manage client expectations and begin to understand how to identify and manage conflicts of interest in professional advice settings. 

Navigating ethical dilemmas in financial advice

This module prepares PY Candidates with practical tools to navigate ethical dilemmas in advice settings. Through real-world scenarios and reflective activities, PY Candidates will build confidence applying the Financial Planners and Advisers Code of Ethics 2019 (Code of Ethics), managing professional judgement, and making sound ethical decisions. 

  1. Recognise biases in decision making. 
  2. Apply ethical values in practice. 
  3. Use the Code of Ethics to resolve dilemmas. 
  4. Manage ethical risks. 
  5. Implement ethical decision-making frameworks. 

Taking the risk out of the compliance process

This module will help PY Candidates gain practical knowledge of compliance requirements, learn how to mitigate regulatory risk, and understand how to effectively respond to ASIC inquiries or investigations. 

This module will also help ensure your long-term success as a compliant, ethical and client-focused professional in the financial advice industry. 

  1. Understand your legal obligations under ASIC regulations and the Corporations Act 2001. 
  2. Implement best practices in record-keeping and client documentation. 
  3. Navigate regulatory scrutiny with confidence. 

Financial adviser exam preparation essentials

This module equips PY Candidates to be better prepared to sit ASIC’s Financial Adviser Exam and satisfy a key requirement to become a financial adviser in Australia. Content includes understanding the exam structure and effective study techniques and will also cover the three knowledge areas tested in the exam – regulatory and legal obligations, financial advice construction and applied ethical and professional reasoning and communication. The module concludes with the opportunity to undertake a practice exam and debrief so that PY Candidates can approach their real exam with increased confidence. 

  1. Gain essential knowledge of the purpose, format and focus areas of the Financial Adviser Exam
  2. Explore the three key knowledge areas 
  3. Acquire essential skills to structure a study plan and undertake the exam 
  4. Practise for the exam 

Personal development strategies to grow your emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence (EI) is a critical asset for PY Candidates to enhance their effectiveness and build stronger client relationships. This module equips PY Candidates with the emotional intelligence skills needed to thrive in client relationships. Through self-regulation, empathy, resilience and reflective practice, you will learn to manage stress, engage authentically, and grow professionally in a people-focused advice role, balancing emotional insight with the emerging influence of artificial intelligence. 

  1. Develop self-awareness of emotional responses and personal strengths relevant to financial advice delivery 
  2. Apply empathy and active listening skills to build stronger client connections and workplace relationships 
  3. Strengthen ability to regulate emotions and make sound, ethical decisions under pressure 
  4. Create a personal development plan that supports resilience, continuous learning, and growth throughout an advice career 

Practical tools to tackle client biases in practice

This module helps PY Candidates to discover practical strategies to recognise and manage client biases, helping you strengthen trust and deliver advice that truly resonates. This module equips PY Candidates with evidence-based tools to transform behavioural insights into better financial outcomes for their clients. 

  1. An understanding of the key behavioural biases that impact investment decision making 
  2. Ability to apply practical strategies to assist clients in dealing with their behavioural biases that will impact their long- term financial planning goals 

Client centric problem-solving strategies and techniques

This module provides PY Candidates an opportunity to build their financial advice expertise by learning to solve complex client challenges with strategic, ethical and personalised solutions that build lasting client relationships and deliver measurable value. 

The module will help PY Candidates build judgement, communication and reasoning skills to deliver advice aligned with clients’ goals, values and circumstances. 

  1. Recognise the personal, emotional and contextual factors that influence client decision-making. 
  2. Identify client values, motivations, life transitions and stressors to better interpret their goals and priorities. 
  3. Apply behavioural profiling and case-mapping techniques to uncover complexity in client situations. 
  4. Align your advice approach with ethical obligations by acting in the client’s best interests 

Techniques for building authenticity and trust with clients

This module is essential for PY Candidates seeking to foster strong client relationships in financial advice as well as gain insights into trustworthiness. It will help PY Candidates build practical client engagement capability through real-world application.

PY Candidates will develop the skills to build trust and credibility, apply socially responsible advice and confidently communicate value through ethical, inclusive and technology-enabled client engagement. It also helps PY Candidates to recognise how client behaviours and biases can influence their financial decisions.

  1. Establish rapport and credibility through active listening, effective questioning, and ethical, reliable advice interactions.
  2. Apply socially responsible advice by promoting financial wellbeing and understanding ESG, CSR, and broader societal impacts.
  3. Recognise and support client financial behaviours by identifying values, vulnerability, and strategies for healthier money habits.
  4. Communicate advice value and engage diverse clients by articulating costs clearly, using technology securely, and adapting inclusive communication strategies.

Considerations when calculating life insurance needs

Learn how to determine appropriate life insurance cover by keeping client goals at the centre of your advice, balancing premiums with sustainability, and meeting your ethical obligations with confidence.

Move beyond ‘how much cover?’ to delivering ethical, client-centred life insurance recommendations that protect what matters most.

Calculating life insurance needs is more than a numbers exercise. It is a professional judgement that shapes a client’s financial security and long-term wellbeing.

In this module, PY Candidates will develop how to centre your recommendations on what the client is truly seeking to protect. You will explore practical ways to assess appropriate levels of cover, balance and affordability with sustainable premium structures, and apply sound professional judgement in complex client scenarios.

The focus is on delivering recommendations that are ethical, defensible and clearly aligned to client goals, so you can confidently explain not just how much cover is appropriate, but why it matters.

  1. An understanding of the importance of keeping the client’s goals and needs at the centre of life insurance recommendations
  2. The ability to meet an adviser’s ethical responsibilities when providing life insurance recommendations
  3. Development of skills to determine which life events a clients should protect against using life insurance products

Probabilistic thinking – managing with purpose

Develop the capability to make sound decisions in uncertain and complex environments. Using probabilistic thinking, you will explore how behavioural biases shape financial judgement and apply practical strategies to guide clients with greater clarity, discipline and long-term focus.

Probabilistic thinking – managing with purpose equips PY Candidates with the mindset and tools to navigate ambiguity, uncertainty and complex decision-making.

This module strengthens the PY Candidate’s ability to apply data-informed judgement, recognise behavioural biases and support clients in achieving long-term financial goals in an unpredictable environment.

  1. An understanding of the key behavioural biases that impact investment decision making
  2. The ability to use strategies to assist clients in dealing with their behavioural biases that will impact their long-term financial planning goals.

 

More modules coming soon...

  • Managing organisational and client conflicts effectively
  • Plus more coming in 2026

Available Now

Taking the Risk out of Compliance

Coming Soon

Techniques for building authenticity and trust with clients

Client centric problem-solving strategies and techniques

Managing organisational and client conflicts effectively

Practical tools to tackle client biases

Personal development strategies to grow your emotional intelligence

Probabilistic thinking – managing with purpose

Financial adviser exam preparation

Coming Later in 2025

Essential skills for effective communication in financial advice

This module equips students with essential skills for effective communication in financial advice. It covers professional communication styles, collaboration, cross cultural dynamics, and tailoring messages to individual client needs. By mastering these skills, advisers enhance client satisfaction, trust, and overall success in the financial services industry.

Client-driven marketing strategies to grow your business

This module provides students with essential insights into consumer decision-making. By exploring fast and slow thinking processes, understanding behavioural biases, and addressing common biases in financial services, students will gain practical tools they can apply in making marketing decisions in financial advice and engaging their client base. They learn to rationalise biased decision-making, tackle behavioural biases, and enhance their professional development. Ultimately, this knowledge empowers advisers to guide clients toward better financial choices, fostering positive outcomes and client satisfaction.

Mastering the art of negotiation

This module will enable students to master the art of negotiation, equipping them to achieve win-win outcomes with clients. Students will delve into negotiation strategies, understanding how to plan and execute effective negotiations. The focus is on techniques for creating mutually beneficial deals while maintaining client relationships. Additionally, students will explore more complex financial negotiations, applying practical approaches to achieve successful results. Self-awareness will be emphasised, enabling professionals to adapt their negotiation style and enhance their effectiveness over time.

Futureproofing for a resilient financial advice practice

In this module, students will gain essential skills for building and maintaining resilient practices in the dynamic world of financial services. They will learn to conduct industry and market analysis, understanding external factors that impact their practice, as well as understanding how to effectively analyse their internal environment. Using this information, they will explore how to develop strategic plans and implement effective financial controls in order to manage risk and safeguard client interests. Leveraging technology for efficient practice management will also be emphasised, provide students with skills to adapt and thrive in the ever evolving financial advice landscape.

A guide to the critical aspects of delivering compliant advice

This module guides students to explore the critical aspects of delivering compliant advice within the complex landscape of financial services. They will gain insights into the function of governance and compliance, understanding the impact of laws, regulations, codes of conduct, and organisational policies. The focus is on ensuring compliance through best practice while maintaining ethical standards. Students will also learn to balance compliance requirements with innovation and identify personal development opportunities to ensure they stay ahead of regulatory change.

Delivering impactful feedback for effective team management

In this module, students will gain essential skills for guiding and developing themselves and their teams. They will learn to distinguish between mentoring, coaching, and training -each playing a unique role in professional growth. The focus is on individual and team motivation, role design and effective performance measurement. Students will explore practical techniques for providing constructive feedback, conducting successful mentoring sessions, coaching effectively, and delivering impactful training. By mastering these skills, students can enhance their own performance and contribute to the success of their clients and organisations.

Navigating the adviser ethical compass

In this module, students will explore the ethical landscape of their profession. They will delve into the foundations of ethical financial practices, understanding regulatory compliance, standards, and fiduciary responsibilities. Students will gain practical insights into making ethical decisions while prioritising client needs. Additionally, the focus on client centred ethical conduct ensures that students learn how to maintain trust and integrity in their interactions. The module also covers corporate governance and ethical leadership, equipping advisers to navigate complex situations with professionalism and a strong ethical compass.

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A summary of each module is below:

Module name Summary of module
Launching your financial advice career In this module, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the essential functions and responsibilities in a financial planning practice. They will also delve into the six-step financial planning process, starting with fact-finding and analysis, through to SOA preparation and presentation, and culminating in implementation and ongoing client reviews. By examining real-world case studies, students will enhance their ability to gather and analyse client information, develop tailored financial plans, and maintain robust client relationships through consistent monitoring and adjustments, ultimately ensuring their clients achieve their financial goals.
Mastering the art of strategic client meetings This module equips students with the tools to conduct productive client meetings, build trust, and drive positive outcomes for clients and their financial goals. Learners explore strategic development, technical financial planning strategies, effective meeting preparation, communication skills during meetings, and successful strategy implementation. By mastering these skills, advisers enhance their ability to serve clients effectively and achieve mutual success in financial planning.
Navigating ethical dilemmas in financial advice This module equips students with essential tools to address ethical dilemmas effectively in financial advice. It explores the six-step financial planning process in practice, including how to identify and resolve ethical challenges, and the critical role of self-reflection and peer perspectives in this process.
Achieving personal goals as an effective team player This module equips students with essential personal workplace competencies, as well as skills to navigate working with others. It explores key personal attributes, effective goal setting, time management, impactful presentations, and continuous personal and professional development. The skills to interact and work well with others, such as teamwork and communication skills are also examined. Students have the opportunity to apply these skills using realistic scenarios in the assessments. By mastering these skills, financial planners enhance their effectiveness, client satisfaction, and overall success in the industry.
Preparing for the Financial Adviser Examination This module equips students with essential personal workplace competencies, as well as skills to navigate working with others. It explores key personal attributes, effective goal setting, time management, impactful presentations, and continuous personal and professional development. The skills to interact and work well with others, such teamwork and communication skills are also examined. Students have the opportunity to apply these skills using realistic scenarios in the assessments. By mastering these skills, financial planners enhance their effectiveness, client satisfaction, and overall success in the industry.
Module name Summary of module
Essential skills for effective communication in financial advice This module equips students with essential skills for effective communication in financial advice. It covers professional communication styles, collaboration, cross cultural dynamics, and tailoring messages to individual client needs. By mastering these skills, advisers enhance client satisfaction, trust, and overall success in the financial services industry.
Practical tools to tackle client biases This module provides essential insights for students into decision-making processes, behavioral biases, and strategies for better client interactions and ultimately, client service. Specifically, it explores common biases prevalent in financial services, such as recency bias, loss aversion bias, confirmation bias, familiarity/home bias, and anchoring bias. It then moves onto to present practical tools to tackle biases, including education and self-reflection, fostering informed decision-making and stronger client relationships.
Personal development strategies to grow your emotional intelligence Emotional intelligence (EI) is a critical asset for advisers to enhance their effectiveness and build stronger client relationships. This module covers the fundamentals of EI, its impact on decision-making, stress management, emotional resilience, and strategies for effective leadership. Students are able to undertake their own EI self-assessment and create personal development strategies to grow their EI, leading to more effective client and leadership skills.
Techniques for building authenticity and trust with clients This module is essential for students seeking to foster strong client relationships in financial advice. In this module, students will gain insights into trustworthiness from both institutional and personal perspectives. They will explore human values, understand authenticity as perceived by consumers, and learn practical methods for measuring and cultivating trust with customers. Additionally, professional development strategies will enhance trustworthiness and authenticity, enabling the creation of lasting bonds with clients and cultivation of business success.
Module name Summary of module
Client-driven marketing strategies to grow your business This module provides students with essential insights into consumer decision-making. By exploring fast and slow thinking processes, understanding behavioral biases, and addressing common biases in financial services, students will gain practical tools they can apply in making marketing decisions in financial advice and engaging their client base. They learn to rationalise biased decision-making, tackle behavioral biases, and enhance their professional development. Ultimately, this knowledge empowers advisers to guide clients toward better financial choices, fostering positive outcomes and client satisfaction.
Client-centric problem-solving strategies and techniques In this module, students will develop essential problem-solving skills to effectively address their clients’ needs. Students will learn a systematic approach, starting with identifying and defining the problem, then they will explore techniques for generating potential solutions and evaluating alternatives. The focus is on making informed decisions to arrive at the optimal solution. Students will also learn how to implement and evaluate their chosen solution/s, thereby ensuring that improvements and future actions can be identified and implemented for enhanced client service.
Managing organisational and client conflicts effectively: Essentials skills and knowledge In this module, students will gain essential skills for managing conflicts effectively within financial services organisations. They will gain an understanding of sources of conflict, learn to identify stakeholders, and understand the consequences of unresolved disputes. Students will then learn to uncover underlying causes and interests driving conflicts, allowing for targeted solutions. The focus is on conflict transformation, using practical tools and techniques to resolve disputes while maintaining positive client relationships. Additionally, professional development opportunities will enhance students’ abilities to navigate conflicts and foster successful outcomes for their clients.
Mastering the art of negotiation and persuasion This module will enable students to master the art of negotiation, equipping them to achieve win-win outcomes with clients. Students will delve into negotiation strategies, understanding how to plan and execute effective negotiations. The focus is on techniques for creating mutually beneficial deals while maintaining client relationships. Additionally, students will explore more complex financial negotiations, applying practical approaches to achieve successful results. Self-awareness will be emphasised, enabling professionals to adapt their negotiation style and enhance their effectiveness over time.
Module name Summary of module
Futureproofing for a resilient financial advice practice In this module, students will gain essential skills for building and maintaining resilient practices in the dynamic world of financial services. They will learn to conduct industry and market analysis, understanding external factors that impact their practice, as well as understanding how to effectively analyse their internal environment. Using this information, they will explore how to develop strategic plans and implement effective financial controls in order to manage risk and safeguard client interests. Leveraging technology for efficient practice management will also be emphasised, provide students with skills to adapt and thrive in the everevolving financial advice landscape.
A guide to the critical aspects of delivering compliant advice This module guides students to explore the critical aspects of delivering compliant advice within the complex landscape of financial services. They will gain insights into the function of governance and compliance, understanding the impact of laws, regulations, codes of conduct, and organisational policies. The focus is on ensuring compliance through best practice while maintaining ethical standards. Students will also learn to balance compliance requirements with innovation and identify personal development opportunities to ensure they stay ahead of regulatory change.
Delivering impactful feedback for effective team management In this module, students will gain essential skills for guiding and developing themselves and their teams. They will learn to distinguish between mentoring, coaching, and training -each playing a unique role in professional growth. The focus is on individual and team motivation, role design and effective performance measurement. Students will explore practical techniques for providing constructive feedback, conducting successful mentoring sessions, coaching effectively, and delivering impactful training. By mastering these skills, students can enhance their own performance and contribute to the success of their clients and organisations.
Navigating the adviser ethical compass In this module, students will explore the ethical landscape of their profession. They will delve into the foundations of ethical financial practices, understanding regulatory compliance, standards, and fiduciary responsibilities. Students will gain practical insights into making ethical decisions while prioritising client needs. Additionally, the focus on clientcentered ethical conduct ensures that students learn how to maintain trust and integrity in their interactions. The module also covers corporate governance and ethical leadership, equipping advisers to navigate complex situations with professionalism and a strong ethical compass.

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