B8399-016 Global Investment and Wealth Management Course Description

This course will be of great interest to anyone aspiring to a career in asset, portfolio, private wealth, endowment, or pension fund management. As the course is intended to provide a fundamental understanding of the issues in asset management, whether institutional or private, students will benefit from the broad applicability of the course to other areas of finance such as investment banking, insurance, accounting and personal finance. In addition, students will learn how to better manage their future personal wealth.

The course has three main themes, mirroring the three main problems facing all investors:
  1. Asset Allocation – How do investors decide on the level of assets to allocate to individual asset classes?
    • Strategic asset allocation of pension funds/endowments
    • Global asset allocation (Quantitative asset management)
    • Individual’s asset allocation
  2. Implementation issues-How to implement the asset allocation?
    • Investment Vehicles – passive versus active management, ETFs, mutual funds, hedge funds and private equity
    • Portfolio Manager Selection
  3. Performance Measurement – How do investors determine how well money managers have performed? 
The course will include finance theory, statistical analysis and basic optimization theory, mirroring the investment management industry’s increased reliance on quantitative methods. However, because Private Wealth Management is differentiated by the impact of taxes, legal location of the assets, the need for wealth transfer, and behavioral influences, these topics will also be covered.

Fall 2010 Offerings: