Finance Assignment Guidelines
Finance Assignment Guidelines
IMPORTANT
Extensions and Late Submissions
The University requires students to adhere to submission deadlines for any form of assessment.
Penalties applied in relation to unauthorized late submission of work are as follows:
a) Coursework submitted within one week after the deadline will be accepted for a maximum
mark of 40%.
b) Any coursework handed in after seven days, without an agreed extension, will be regarded as
non-submission and awarded zero.
c) Submission of resit coursework must adhere strictly to the deadline.
No extension will be given and late submissions will be awarded zero.
Subject lecturers are authorized to grant extensions for coursework within their own subjects and
agreements will be documented.
FIN3154/Group Assignment/Sept 2024
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FIN3154/Group Assignment/Sept 2024
are residing overseas with families of their own except for Peter, who is the second son. Her daughter, Dorothy is
married and has five children to support. Dorothy’s husband does not get along very well with Dorothy’s family. Besides,
Dorothy and her husband, reside in Alor Star and do not hold high paying jobs and are unable to provide for Madam’s
Catherine’s wellbeing for the long-term. Peter contributes RM350 to his mother every month. Based on the prescription
of a registered medical practitioner, Peter spent about RM200 per month on medical prescriptions for Madam Catherine
in 2023.
Before Peter’s father passed away six years ago, he gave Peter an apartment in Petaling Jaya. Peter’s father bought
the property for RM295,000 fourteen years ago. However, when Peter inherited this apartment, the value was
RM450,000. The current value of the property is RM540,000. The property is currently being rented out or RM1,750
per month. The annual quit rent and assessment is RM550. The fire insurance policy is RM400 per annum and the
monthly maintenance fee is RM250.
Amanda goes to a public school while Keith attends a private school in Subang Jaya. The monthly school fees for Keith
is RM1,675 respectively. Peter also hires a private Mandarin tutor for the children. The rate per hour for each session
for both the children is RM120. They have two sessions a week. Daphne also sends Amanda for Ballet classes which
costs RM130 per month. Amanda also takes private piano lessons which cost RM380 per month. Keith goes for private
swimming lessons with a professional coach which costs RM600 per month.
Daphne’s parents live in Melaka. They are retired civil servants. Daphne’s father, 75 years old, is a retired police officer,
and her mother, 74 years old, is a retired secondary school teacher. Daphne’s father is a diabetic and has hypertension.
Her mother has stage 1 breast cancer. Now, they are staying a few streets away from Daphne’s brother and his family
home. They go for regular check-ups and to get their medication supplies at the government hospital. Daphne sends
an allowance of RM350 to her parents every month and tries to visit them with the children during the school semester
breaks.
Peter and Daphne are covered by their companies Group Life insurance to the value of RM150,000 and RM50,000
respectively. However, Peter has his own whole life insurance with a critical illness rider that provides a sum assured
of RM600,000. The current accumulated cash value is RM58,000. The premium for this policy which he purchased
when he was 28 years old was RM7,200 per annum. Daphne has a thirty-year term policy with a convertibility rider
with a sum assured of RM200,000. The annual premium is RM2,800 per annum. At present, their companies cover the
outpatient treatment for medical expenses for themselves and their children is sufficient.
Daphne’s personal expenses include RM150 for personal toiletries, makeup and facials. She also spends RM200 per
month on her hair and manicures. Her job requires her maintain a professional and presentable appearance. In 2023,
she registered for a part-time Master’s in Business Administration program. She paid a total of RM8,000 in 2023. If all
goes well, she will graduate in September 2025.
Peter’s expenses include membership for a gym membership of RM150 per month. He also spends about RM100 on
personal grooming.
Last year, Peter and Daphne took the children to the United Kingdom for a week’s holiday. They also went to watch a
west-end play and visited London, Oxford and Cambridge. They stayed with Peter’s brother and family for 2 nights.
However, the expenses for the rest of the travelling, food, tourist fees and shopping amounted to RM25,000. Peter and
Daphne charged most of the expenses for the trip onto their credit cards.
The summary of expenses for the month for the Yeoh household is as follows.
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FIN3154/Group Assignment/Sept 2024
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FIN3154/Group Assignment/Sept 2024
Note :
o X denotes figures that need to be calculated or inserted based on the facts provided in the case. It also
indicates the party that pays for the expense.
o For calculations, for children’s activities assume there are 4 weeks in a month and the balance are non-paid
weeks for holidays.
Although the couple have some understanding about managing family expenses, they do not agree on some issues.
They lament not having enough despite their salaries being in the T20 bracket. The couple believe in living a lifestyle
that reflects a certain social standing to keep up with their colleagues and neighbours. They also believe in providing
the best that they can do for their children. Peter is sometimes stressed that he needs to settle most of the expenses
while Daphne is of the opinion that she should be able to keep more of what she earns to do the things that she wants.
Daphne also feels sad that they cannot afford to send Amanda to private school even with Peter’s high income.
Peter has tried his hand at investing, but he has not always been successful. Both Peter and Daphne invest based on
hearsay and intuition and often make piecemeal lump sum investments. They would like to start a proper regular
investment plan for their children’s education and retirement. Before that, they would like to have an emergency fund
of at least six months based on their total monthly living expenses.
Peter and Daphne have a joint savings account (with automatic teller machine and online banking facilities) with a
current balance of RM24,500. Based on the couple’s understanding, this is to be used for payment of joint expenses.
Besides this, Peter and Daphne have their own personal fixed deposit accounts of RM45,000 and RM28,000
respectively.
Peter had purchased 20,000 shares of MR DIY when it was listed at RM1.60 per share on 26 October 2020. The had
subsequently purchased another 1
5,000 shares at RM1.99 per share on 5 October 2023. On 4 April 2020, Peter invested in 15,000 shares of Sime Darby
Berhad for RM2.00 per share. He also purchased 6,000 Maybank shares on 27 January 2021 at RM7.87 per share,
As of 31 December 2023, the share closing prices for Mr DIY, Sime Darby Berhad and Maybank Bhd were RM1.45,
RM2.35 and RM8.89 per share respectively.
Daphne likes companies that promote healthcare products and services. She bought 20,000 shares of KPJ Healthcare
Bhd (KPJ) on 11 March 2021 for RM1.02 per share. She also bought 3,000 shares of IHH Healthcare Bhd for RM5.97
(IHH). The current share prices for KPJ and IHH were RM1.45 and RM6.03 respectively.
Both Peter and Daphne are active Employee Provident Fund (EPF). Peter’s accumulated EPF balance is RM307,800
and RM55,350 respectively as of 31 December 2023. In the past, they have withdrawn some of their balances of
Account 2 to pay the downpayment for the house.
Daphne loves gold, and everything else that glitters. She has accumulated a current value of RM35,600 in gold
ornaments (916 over the years through physical purchase and wedding gifts). In addition, her paternal grandmother
also gave her some heirloom jewelry, including a set containing a necklace, a pair of earrings and a ring that is
estimated to have a current value of RM25,700. She was told to pass the heirloom jewelry to her daughter. She also
has a gold investment account with a current balance as of 31 December 2023 is RM25,890.
Peter and Daphne have credit limits of RM50,000 and RM 20,000 on their credit cards respectively. Their outstanding
credit card balances are RM36,700 and RM15,690 respectively as of 31 December 2023. They have a habit of making
only partial payments on their cards because they think it is their privilege and entitlement to do so. Besides, they
reckon that they can invest the balance not paid in the meantime for higher returns.
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FIN3154/Group Assignment/Sept 2024
Peter envisages that Keith will be a good candidate to pursue a medical degree at the International Medical University,
Malaysia. while Amanda will pursue a law degree at a private higher education institution in Klang Valley. If the children
would like to pursue any post-graduate studies beyond this, they would need to be financially independent and pay for
their own keep.
The estimated inflation rate for tuition fees and cost of living in Malaysia are 4% and 5% per annum respectively.
The Yeoh’s would like to set up a contingency retirement fund of RM 2 million from now till Peter retires at 60. This
amount will exclude all existing assets including the Employees Provident Fund.
The Yeoh’s have approached your team for some advice on financial planning.
Assignment requirements:
▪ Tax Planning
▪ Prepare the tax computation for Peter Yeoh and Daphne Lim respectively for the year of assessment
2023.
▪ Comment on three (3) different concepts of tax that they can utilize to reduce their personal taxes
legally. Please note that your points should be relevant and consistent for their job grade.
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FIN3154/Group Assignment/Sept 2024
▪ Determine when would they be able to achieve 6 months emergency funding as well as fully
address their credit card debt outstanding. Provide proper calculations and justifications to
support your explanations.
▪ Critically discuss three (3) reasons why modern households such of the Yeohs often feel financially
stressed and suggest a practical way to address each of the issues you have highlighted above.
▪ Investment planning
▪ When will the Yeoh household be able to start their regular investment plan?
▪ Assess the risk profile of the Yeoh household by considering three (3) major contributing factors.
▪ Design a portfolio comprising three (3) unit trusts investments to finance their children’s
education plan and retirement plan respectively.
▪ What would be the weighted average rate of return for the children’s education plan and
retirement plan respectively.
▪ Retirement plan
▪ How much would the Yeoh’s need to invest every month for their children’s education plan?
▪ Will they be able to achieve their goal of achieving their retirement contingency fund of
RM2,000,000.
▪ Discuss three (3) challenges that parents (such as the Yeoh’s) can face in balancing their children’s
education plan and retirement planning. Suggest a practical way to address each of these challenges
mentioned above.
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FIN3154 Personal Financial Planning/FIN3084 Financial Planning
Group Assignment Marking Rubrics – September 2024 Semester FIN3154/Group Assignment/Sept 2024
0 to 1.4 marks 1.5 to 2.4 marks 2.5 to 3.4 marks 3.5 to 4.4 marks 4.5 to 5 marks Marks
Tax Planning 2 ▪ Unclear/incorrect tax ▪ Some aspects of tax ▪ Generally clear and correct ▪ Clear and correct of tax ▪ Clear and correct of tax 10
computations computations not of tax computations computations computations
▪ Superficial suggestions on clear/correct ▪ Suggestions on relevant ▪ Provide 2 points on ▪ Suggestions on relevant
relevant ways to reduce tax ▪ Unclear suggestions on ways to reduce tax payable benefit in kind (BIK) ways to reduce tax
payable. relevant ways to reduce tax generally linked to negotiation payable well linked to
▪ Provide at least 1 point of payable. calculations ▪ BIK calculations clear calculations
analysis on reducing tax ▪ Provide at least 1 to 2 points ▪ Satisfactory to jib grade ▪ Suggestions on ▪ Provide 3 points of
payable of analysis on reducing tax and responsibilities relevant ways to analysis on reducing tax
payable ▪ Provide at least 2 points of reduce tax payable payable
▪ Some inaccuracies in analysis on reducing tax linked to calculations ▪ Show good practical
computation. payable ▪ Provide 2 to 3 points of application to job grade
▪ “Textbook view” and not ▪ Rather lengthy analysis on reducing and responsibilities.
necessarily practical for job tax payable ▪ Discussions succinct and
grade and responsibilities ▪ Discussions generally well substantiated with
substantiated with additional research
additional research
Cash Flow and Debt 5 ▪ Do not understand the ▪ Show some understanding ▪ Show understanding on the ▪ Generally good ▪ Good understanding on 25
Management concept of net worth and on the concept of net worth concept of net worth and understanding on the the concept of net worth
net debt to income ratio well and net debt to income ratio net debt to income ratio concept of net worth and net debt to income
▪ Superficial calculations ▪ Calculations not shown ▪ Calculations generally and net debt to income ratio
▪ Budget classifications not clearly clear ratio ▪ Calculations clearly
clear ▪ Budget classifications not ▪ Provide at least 2 to ▪ Calculations generally shown and correct
▪ Provide at least 1 point of completely justified 3points of analysis on clearly shown and ▪ Provide 3 points of
analysis on cash flow ▪ Provide 1 to 2 point of spending trend correct analysis on spending
improvement analysis on improvement of ▪ Classifications satisfactory ▪ Provide 3 points of trend
▪ Lack of discussion on debt cash flow but too general although some analysis on spending ▪ Discussions are succinct
management ▪ Discussions on issues assumptions unclear trend and linked to calculations
▪ Lack of discussion on pertaining to debt ▪ Discussions on issues ▪ Discussions are and practice.
adequacy of emergency management, emergency pertaining to debt generally clear and ▪ Evidence of additional
funding funding and potential management, emergency linked to calculations research from credible
▪ Lack of discussion on mortgage loan are rather funding and potential and practice. sources
potential mortgage loan. general mortgage loan are ▪ Evidence of additional
▪ Practically no links between ▪ Links between calculation satisfactory. research
calculations and case and case is ▪ Some links to calculations
discussion unclear/unsatisfactory or practice however, nor
▪ Overall, “textbook” view- comprehensive enough
lack practical examples.
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FIN3154 Personal Financial Planning/FIN3084 Financial Planning
Group Assignment Marking Rubrics – September 2024 Semester FIN3154/Group Assignment/Sept 2024
0 to 1.4 marks 1.5 to 2.4 marks 2.5 to 3.4 marks 3.5 to 4.4 marks 4.5 to 5 marks Marks
Investment Planning 6 ▪ Calculations not ▪ Calculations not ▪ Calculations are ▪ Calculations are clear ▪ Calculations are clear 30
complete/clear complete/clear satisfactorily clear ▪ Good risk profiling ▪ Succinct risk profiling
▪ Rather superficial risk ▪ Rather general risk profiling ▪ Risk profiling satisfactorily practices exhibited with proper research
profiling ▪ “Textbook” strategies- may conducted ▪ Discussion on ▪ Succinct discussion of
▪ Rather superficial strategies not be properly applied to ▪ Satisfactory discussion on strategies strategies with relevant
▪ Able to provide at least 1 the case. strategies accompanied by research
relevant investment product ▪ Able to provide 1 to 2 ▪ Able to provide at least 2 evidence of additional ▪ Provide 3 relevant
▪ Superficial calculation of relevant investment relevant products and relevant research products
weighted average return on products ▪ Portfolio for children’s ▪ Able to provide 3 ▪ Portfolio for children’s
investments. ▪ Portfolio for children’s education and retirement relevant products education and retirement
▪ Portfolio for children’s education and retirement funding are satisfactory ▪ Portfolio for children’s funding are well-justified.
education and retirement funding are not well justified ▪ Evidence of research education and ▪ Justifications and
funding are not well justified ▪ Research limited and not satisfactory although some retirement funding are discussions clear and
and superficial. well linked to case unclear reasoning justified succinct
▪ Justifications and ▪ Justifications and ▪ Justifications and ▪ Justifications and ▪ Good evidence of
discussions on alternative discussions of alternative discussions satisfactory discussions regarding additional research and
education plans are rather education plans are rather but rather lengthy alternative education succinct links to the case
general and superficial. general and “textbook”. ▪ Some duplications in plans and problems
▪ Justifications and ▪ Justifications and discussions. ▪ Some good evidence
discussions on problems discussions of problems are ▪ Satisfactory discussion of of additional research
rather general and rather general – very little alternative education plans and support
superficial. research and “Textbook with some research. ▪ Minimum duplications
▪ Too many tables used. view”. ▪ Satisfactory discussion of
problems with some
practical research and
reflection.
▪ Some unnecessary
repetitions
Group Reflections 5 ▪ Rather surface statements ▪ “Textbook” view, ▪ At least 2 to 3 points of ▪ Provide 3 points of ▪ Provide 3 points of 25
that are not well linked to ▪ Reflection on 1 or 2 in reflection for each of the reflection indifferent reflection indifferent
the case. different areas of financial questions areas of financial areas of financial
▪ Superficial analysis. planning in each of the ▪ Reflections are satisfactory planning in each of the planning in each of the
questions. and well justified. questions. questions.
▪ Not comprehensive. ▪ Shows teamwork in ▪ Reflections well ▪ Reflections well justified.
▪ “Touch and go” analysis and reflection. justified. ▪ Shows deeper
too general ▪ Shows application of application of principles
▪ Repetitive. principles to self. to self.
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FIN3154 Personal Financial Planning/FIN3084 Financial Planning
Group Assignment Marking Rubrics – September 2024 Semester FIN3154/Group Assignment/Sept 2024
0 to 1.4 marks 1.5 to 2.4 marks 2.5 to 3.4 marks 3.5 to 4.4 marks 4.5 to 5 marks Marks
Convert to 30% 30
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FIN3154/Group Assignment/Sept 2024
Appendix I
STUDENT’S DECLARATION
1. I hereby declare that this assignment is based on my own work except where
acknowledgement of sources is made.
2. I also declare that this work has not been previously submitted or concurrently submitted for
any other courses in Sunway University/College or other institutions.
[ Submit “Turn-it-in” report (please tick √): Yes _____ No _____ ]
Marker’s Comments:
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FIN3154/Group Assignment/Sept 2024
ADDENDUM
Students are allowed to use AI to support completion of assessments. However, students are reminded
to do so ethically and transparently. This is so that (a) submissions can be fairly and accurately marked;
and (b) feedback can be provided on the content that reflects student ability, in order to help with future
submissions. Students are also reminded that in accordance with the University’s Academic Malpractice
Policy, Item 4.11.2, “… the representation of work: written, visual, practical or otherwise, of any other
person, including another student or anonymous web-based material [emphasis added], or any
institution, as the candidate’s own” is considered malpractice.
Declaration
e.g. ChatGPT e.g. Generating points for e.g. “Give me 5 key talking e.g. The main point for Section
the essay points for an essay on…” 1.2 and 1.3 were generated by
AI, but the discussion was not.
Structuring the essay “Show me a structure for an
essay on…” The organization / structure of
the essay was suggested by AI
e.g. Grammarly e.g. Correcting grammar N/A e.g. Grammarly suggestions
and spelling, improving were used for all sections of the
sentence structure essay
OR
[ ] I / We did not use any A.I. tools to produce any of the content in this submission.
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