Grad Dip Tutor

Tutoring help is now available for your Graduate Diploma studies

Grad. Dip. Tutoring Service

If you need help with your graduate diploma subjects (to be completed by 1 January 2026) let me know by filling in the online form above. The good news is that I now have a recently graduated (Master of Financial Planning) ‘brainiac’ adviser to assist me.

We will guide you in your approach to an assignment / exam and, where appropriate, provide notes explaining some of the more esoteric concepts in plain English; and answer questions to increase your understanding. I stress that we will not do the assignments for you or show you someone else’s assignment.

There are a couple of subjects that cause a lot of consternation to existing advisers; and two of those subjects are detailed below.

Investments / Finance Theory

Regardless of the tertiary institution offering this subject, it will contain common elements. This subject intimidates a lot of advisers because it can get quite academic and theoretical in its approach.

Some of the first theories you encounter include Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH) and the role of Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT) in developing investment advice.

The Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT) is a theory of investment that allows risk-averse investors to assemble an asset portfolio that maximizes expected return for a given level of risk.

One method of reducing risk is by means of diversification. While everyone is familiar with this ‘don’t put all your eggs in one basket’ concept, you quickly realise that you need to understand the types of risks that exist in portfolios; how diversification actually works, and which part of portfolio risk it works on. And, as you delve deeper, you also need to come to grips with terms like expected returns, standard deviation, risk-free rate, positive & negative correlation, efficient frontier capital allocation line and the Sharpe ratio.

And then there is the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) which helps to calculate investment risk and what return on investment an investor should expect. Not surprisingly, there is a formula associated with it. Also wrapped up in this are the concepts of alpha and beta. Although they are both are historical measures of past performances, you need to know the difference and how they fit with the model.

This subject also moves closer to real world investing by introducing a number different types of listed and non-listed securities. For example you will need to know the difference between owning shares directly and owning units in a Listed Investment Company (or Trust).

You will need to know the main asset types are (e.g. shares, property, fixed interest, alternatives), as well as geared investments, ethical investments, index funds, hedged / un-hedged funds, and managed investments. It is also critical in this subject that you understand how a bond (fixed interest) works, particularly the relationship between price and yield.

Finally, you will generally have to pull all of this together in an advice document (SoA) where you are required to provide investment advice, based on a given risk profile, usually to a fictitious client with very specific needs and concerns.

Client Engagement Skills / Consumer Behaviour / Investor Decision Making

Again, regardless of the tertiary institution offering this subject, it typically contains a number of common elements. And once again, it gets quite academic and theoretical in its approach.

This subject introduces a number of theoretical concepts including decision making theory. It usually starts with Expected Utility – a linear concept which assumes 100% decision maker rationality; and progresses to the more modern decision making theory of Prospect Theory which focuses on the non-linear concept of value, and takes into account that decision makers aren’t always rational and importantly that the value is not a ‘final’ value as it is in Expected Utility Theory, but a change in financial position, the value of which is in the eye of the beholder and very much dependent on the decision maker’s wealth / poverty start point.

This subsequently introduces a range of real world heuristics (e.g. trial & error, rule of thumb, educated guess), biases and decision errors made by fund managers, financial advisers and clients alike, in a financial services context. This is the province of Behavioural Finance where is necessary to understand a wide range of different biases. Of course these nuances of human behaviour have knock-on effects in investor risk profiling and portfolio construction.

This subject typically addresses Emotional Intelligence (e.g. self-awareness, self-regulation, social skills, empathy, motivation) and Critical Thinking (inquisitive, well-informed, open-minded, strong reasoning, prudent judgment). The combination of these factors can directly influence client engagement, content of financial advice and how it is delivered.

Also relevant to this subject is the communication styles of both adviser and client. With a range of communication and feedback styles (e.g. assertive, aggressive, passive, passive aggressive, manipulative) it is no surprise that misunderstandings and communication gaps exist.

Finally, there is often an assignment where these concepts are pulled together. Typically, it is a communication plan or similar for a client based on a specific scenario.