Asset and Portfolio Management Certificate Program

Course Description

$1,000
Duration: 4 weeks

In this asset and portfolio management course, you’ll learn key concepts and terms in the investment industry, such as efficient market hypothesis, frontier of risky assets, tangency portfolio, Sharpe ratio, and diversification.

Fundamentals of Portfolio Management is the first online investment course in our Asset and Portfolio Management Certificate Program and was designed by professors Jules van Binsbergen and Christopher Geczy to help you evaluate investment strategies and performance. Throughout this course, you’ll develop a strong understanding of risk-reward tradeoffs and the benefits of portfolio diversification. You’ll also learn about the fiduciary duty of an investment advisor, transnational regulation, financial intermediaries, and the regulation of mutual funds.

By the end of this course, you’ll have a firm grasp on the industry’s principles, attributes, players, strategies, and regulations.

Course Modules

1. Asset Management Overview
2. Investment Analysis and the Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT)
3. Equilibrium in the Asset Management Market
4. Regulation

Participants will learn how to:

• Differentiate between passive and active investment strategies
• Complete a mean-variance analysis for a set of assets
• Assess the distribution of payoffs and returns
• Optimize asset utility using the capital asset pricing model (CAPM)
• Leverage a diversified portfolio for better return on investments

Course Description

$1,000
Duration: 4 weeks

This investment portfolio management course offers a comprehensive view of investment products and the key strategies used by professional investors. With this knowledge, you’ll hone your ability to calculate risks and returns.

Investment Products was designed by professors David Musto and Jules van Binsbergen so you can optimize portfolios by integrating asset and investment products. Through this online investment course, you’ll learn about equity asset management, derivatives, commodities, mortgage-backed securities, and other financial products. You’ll also learn the difference between open-ended mutual funds and exchange-traded funds while discovering how investors prepare for interest rate fluctuations.

By the end of this course, you’ll understand various asset management investment products and how they can help you achieve better return on your investments.

Course Modules

1. Equity Asset Management
2. Interest Rate Asset Management
3. Other Products
4. Using Derivatives for Asset Management

Participants will learn how to:

• Assess the alpha and beta within equity funds
• Estimate and analyze the value of bond assets
• Optimize credit risk by choosing the right bonds for your portfolio
• Evaluate the effectiveness of commodities, money market funds, and mortgage-backed securities
• Use derivatives to enhance ROI strategies

Course Description

$1,000
Duration: 4 weeks

In this asset allocation course, you’ll build on your portfolio management knowledge by exploring the importance of asset allocation in investing.

Asset Allocation was designed by professors Christopher Geczy and Jules van Binsbergen to equip you with different portfolio strategies and risk management tools. You’ll analyze the theoretical frameworks of the modern portfolio theory (MPT) and the capital asset pricing model (CAPM) while exploring how to apply multi-factor asset pricing models. Real-life examples are used to discuss asset allocation models, long- versus short-term considerations, and portfolio attribution analysis.

By the end of this asset allocation course and online portfolio management certificate program, you’ll employ models of allocation to better analyze correlation and volatility in your investments—so you can ultimately achieve better return on your investments.

Course Modules

1. Asset Pricing Models
2. Traditional Asset Allocation
3. New Strategic Allocation
4. Performance Attribution Analysis

Participants will learn how to:

• Implement the CAPM formula and other multi-factor asset pricing models
• Differentiate hedge, private equity, and venture capital funds from mutual fund strategies
• Employ models of allocation to better analyze investment correlation and volatility
• Assist investors in assessing risk tolerance
• Assess performance persistence and discuss whether past performance is indicative of future results

Access to and a basic understanding of Microsoft Excel is required to complete the final case study project for the Asset Allocation course.