Elevating Professional Skills Through Authentic, Scaffolded Learning in a Financial Planning Capstone
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61190/fsr.v33i4.4084Keywords:
Financial Planning Education, Authentic Learning, Capstone, Professional Skills Development, Industry EngagementAbstract
This paper presents an evidence-based redesign of a financial planning capstone unit in an accredited Australian financial planning degree. Five innovations were introduced to strengthen students’ professional capability development: (1) an authentic, dynamic client case; (2) a practitioner-led workshop on client engagement; (3) layered scaffolding to support digital literacy and professional communication skills; (4) a redesigned assessment structure featuring role-based expert pitches evaluated by industry judges; and (5) structured teamwork supports to develop collaborative capability. The impact of the redesign was evaluated by triangulating student performance, student evaluations, thematic analysis of reflective accounts, and an independent expert peer review. Findings demonstrate improved communication, teamwork, and perceived job readiness, alongside stronger alignment between assessment tasks and real-world financial planning practice.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Elisabeth Sinnewe
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