Introduction to Alternative Investments

Delivery  : Online Training Course (via Zoom or MS Teams or similar online platform)

Timing : 6 times 3 hours per day starting 5pm-8pm = 18 hours

Assessment Details: 

The trainer will need to assess assignments, and grade the participant on 5 areas:

1. Attendance
2. Participation
3. In-class pop quiz and
4. Final Assessment (Work-Specific Assignment)
5. Post-training follow-up

As part of a final assessment project, the trainer will provide each participant with their work-specific assignment, subject to their area of job responsibility and relevant to topic of training. They will need to resolve and submit as an assignment on or before a specific deadline (within a week after the training completion).

The trainer will conduct a 2-hour post-training session with the participants 2 to 3 weeks after the training, to evaluate the continued understanding of various concepts covered during the training and to clear doubts, if any.

Course Overview: 

This qualification provides an in-depth introduction to the alternative investment options available in wealth management and private banking, which allow investors to make well-balanced portfolios targeting different types of risk-return profiles.

This module will enable participants to:

• Understand key financial principles including assets classes, diversification and importance of low correlation, and investment classes such as hedge funds, real estate, private equity, commodities, structured products.
• Develop understanding of alternative asset classes as an investment super-category
• Identify areas of concern in any client’s portfolio by assessing concentration risk
• Understand the importance of assessing diversification at portfolio-level
• Acquire working knowledge of all the main product types covered
• Familiarize oneself with main terms and glossary of alternative investment products
• Develop a model to assess investment risks and return potential to be able to advise clients with confidence

Delivery Method: 

• Course material: Reading material will be provided for pre-session reading covering basic theoretical concepts.
• Case Studies: Relevant case studies will be given for participants to prepare and submit responses during class or separately to the trainer.
• Discussions: Participants will go through various interactive sessions such as exercises in individual and group settings, in which the trainer will provide them with exercises related to the subject.
• Presentations: Participants will be encouraged to present their analysis and course topics to the rest of the group, thereby sharing their understanding in their own words
• Pop quiz: Milestone-based quick questions during the sessions, to ensure every participant is up to the speed on key concepts discussed so far.

COURSE OUTLINE: 

I) Introduction

• Importance of Diversification in portfolio management

• Introduction to Different Asset Classes in investments

• Alternatives as an Asset Class

II) Private Equity

• What is private equity?

• Key players and structures

• Analysing PE investments and unique risks

III) Real Estate

• Types of Real estate investments

• Unique risks and returns in RE investing

IV) Commodities and Currencies

• Key characteristics

• Investment options

V) Structured Products

• Basics of structured products

• Uses and flexibility of SPs

• Most popular payoffs and SP ideas

VI) Hedge Funds

• Introduction to Hedge Funds

• Main Strategies in Hedge Funds

VII) Collectibles

• Types of assets as collectibles

• Typical investors’ and sellers’ expectations

VIII) Conclusion

• Key takeaways

• Final assessment