Investments
Investing is about maximizing return per unit of risk, a balance that separates successful investors from the rest. This course teaches you to think like a portfolio manager, blending quantitative analysis with strategic decision-making. You'll master modern portfolio theory, value securities across asset classes, use derivatives to improve performance, and apply these skills to personal finance, retirement planning, and insurance.
Course Topics
- Analyze Investment Markets and Asset Classification
Examine stocks, bonds, derivatives, and funds within market structures, understanding how different asset classes contribute to portfolio construction and risk-return optimization.
- Evaluate Risk-Return Relationships and Portfolio Optimization
Apply modern portfolio theory and CAPM to understand how risk and return interact, focusing on maximizing return per unit of risk through systematic portfolio construction.
- Assess Portfolio Risk and Diversification Strategies
Analyze how individual securities combine to form portfolios, examining diversification benefits, asset allocation principles, and the reduction of unsystematic risk.
- Value Fixed Income Securities and Interest Rate Analysis
Apply bond valuation techniques, duration, and convexity analysis while understanding how term structure affects fixed income investment decisions.
- Analyze Equity Securities and Valuation Models
Evaluate stock characteristics and apply various equity valuation techniques, understanding factors that drive stock performance and classification systems.
- Apply Derivatives for Risk Management and Portfolio Enhancement
Examine how options, futures, forwards, and swaps enhance portfolio efficiency and provide risk management tools while understanding their payoff structures.
- Evaluate Mutual Funds and Investment Vehicles
Analyze pooled investment structures, comparing costs, benefits, and performance characteristics of various fund types in portfolio implementation.
- Apply Investment Principles to Personal Financial Planning
Examine retirement savings strategies including 401(k) plans, insurance fundamentals, and systematic savings approaches, applying portfolio theory concepts to personal wealth building and financial goal achievement.
- Measure Investment Performance and Risk-Adjusted Returns
Calculate and interpret performance metrics that assess how well portfolios maximize return per unit of risk, including Sharpe ratios, alpha, and other risk-adjusted measures.
300
Disclosure
This course is delivered online through an institution of the Lower Cost Models Consortium (LCMC) that is different than your degree-granting institution that awards the academic credit for the course.
