Postgraduate Diploma in Estate Planning

Purpose

The purpose of the Postgraduate Diploma in Estate Planning is to enable working professionals in the Financial Planning industry to undertake advanced reflection and development by means of current thinking, practice and literature review in Estate Planning. The qualification demands a high level of theoretical engagement and intellectual independence, as well as the ability to relate knowledge to a range of contexts in estate planning, trusts, taxation of trust and administration of estates in order to undertake professional or highly-skilled work in Estate Planning.

The qualification comprises a focused curriculum to prepare the student for a career in Estate Planning. The curriculum includes three topic areas ranging from estate planning, administration of estates and trusts and the taxation of trusts. Mastering of the curriculum will provide students with the ability to evaluate and apply complex estate planning principles in a holistic financial planning process, when implementing advice or at the administration of an estate at death. In-depth understanding of estate planning and trust principles will be gained enabling the qualifying student to work in today's professional world of financial planning. The programme emphasises competence, integrity, and application of ethics in a professional environment. The successful student will gain a holistic estate planning perspective and an in-depth understanding of estate planning which will provide them with a competitive advantage for employment in the financial planning industry.

Rationale

The rationale for this programme is to improve and broaden the current academic offering of the Department of Finance and Investment Management. Currently, only a broad based Bachelor Honours degree is being offered in terms of Financial Planning. The proposed Postgraduate Diploma in Estate Planning is a specialised qualification that is currently in demand in the Financial Planning industry which would like to specialise or focus on estate planning.

The Faculty proposes to offer this qualification to graduates who have completed a Financial Planning qualification and who would like to focus on estate planning, a specialised area within Financial Planning. There is currently a demand by learners and advisors in the industry to focus on estate planning, after completing a Financial Planning qualification.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The Faculty accepts Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) as an integral part of education and academic practice. It is acknowledged that all learning has value and the Faculty accepts the challenge to assess prior learning and award credit that is aligned to Faculty programmes to promote lifelong learning. An example of prior learning refers to work experience relevant to the Financial Planning industry, such as experience on projects related to the Financial Planning industry.

The purpose of the University of Johannesburg's RPL policy (please refer to uploaded document), which directs the Faculty's RPL procedure, is to recognise prior learning in order to provide for access into programmes, grant advanced placement in programmes and grant credits for modules on the principles and processes that serve as basis for faculty-specific RPL practices.

Entry Requirements

To gain access to this qualification, an applicant is required to have an

• NQF Level 7 qualification with a Financial Planning module at NQF Level 7.
• NQF Level 7 qualification with relevant financial planning experience.

The qualification comprises four compulsory modules, each worth 30 Credits.

Compulsory Modules

• Estate Planning.
• Law of Trusts.
• Administration of Estates.
• Application of Trusts.

1. Apply an in-depth knowledge of Estate Planning.
2. Critically evaluate the different components of Estate Planning.
3. Construct multiple options of applying and integrating the different components of Estate Planning into a holistic financial plan.
4. Present an in-depth knowledge of key aspects and implications of an estate plan, different and changing situations and the effect of these situations on the holistic financial plan.

The following Assessment Criteria are applied in an integrated way to modules and specialised learning areas, where applicable, to determine competence in the Exit Level Outcomes:

• The principles of estate planning are correctly understood.
• The estate planning principles and components are adequately applied in a practical case study.
• The different components of estate planning are correctly identified.
• Multiple options of applying the different components of estate planning are adequately identified and constructed.
• The different components of estate planning are correctly integrated with each other.
• The key aspects of an estate plan are correctly and adequately understood.
• The effect of changing situations of a holistic financial plan is sufficiently identified.

Integrated Assessment

Written integrated formative assessments and a summative assessment are written during the semester. Formative assessments are written throughout the semester and discussed in class once these assessments have been marked and received by learners. The final assessment is a summative assessment which is written at the end of the semester.