Diploma in Mutual Fund Management via Online Distance Learning

Introduction to Financial Services

What are financial services; The financial services industry; Types of financial services; Roles of the financial system; Functions of financial services; Financial institutions; Changes in the financial service sector; Trends within the financial service; Professional bodies; The financial services consumer;

Financial Laws, Regulations and Compliance

Statutory bodies and regulators; Banking regulations; Banking laws; Regulation of other financial service institutions; Aims and objectives of regulations; International laws and authorities; Aspects of compliance; Compliance management;

Introduction to Mutual Fund Management

What Are Mutual Funds; Characteristics Of Mutual Funds; History; Introduction To Regulation; Types Of Mutual Funds: Open-End; Unit Investment Trust; Closed End; Exchange Traded; Classification By Investment (Money Market Funds; Bond/Fixed Income Funds; Stock/Equity Funds; Hybrid Funds); Index Funds; Actively Managed Funds; Fund Expenses; Organizational Structure; The Fund Manager; Types Of Securities; Advantages And Disadvantages Of Mutual Funds;

The Mutual Fund Prospectus

Defining The Mutual Fund Prospectus; The Prospectus Document; Uses; Information Held Within The Mutual Fund Prospectus; Long-Term Performance Disclosure; Managers Of The Mutual Fund Assets; Financial Statements; Compensation; Litigation; Material Properties; Biographies; Distribution; Prospectus Rules;

Money Market Funds

Introduction To Money Market Funds; Money Market Funds As An Open Ended Mutual Fund; Definition; History; Types Of Money Funds (Institutional Money Fund; Retail Money Fund); Aims And Objectives; Regulation; Risks And Benefits; Returns;

Fixed Income (Bond) Funds

Definition; Classification By Asset; Government/Treasury Funds; Mortgage Funds; Corporate Funds; Municipal Funds; Bond Indices; Advantages And Disadvantages; Risks; Returns; Yield; Diversification; Management Of The Bond Fund Portfolio; Credit Analysis; Credit Considerations;

Equity (Stock) Funds

Defining Stock Funds; Fund Types: Index Fund; Value Fund; Growth Fund; Sector Fund; Income Fund; Balance Fund; Funds Of Funds; Asset Allocation Funds; Methods; Fees; Strategies; Risks; Returns; Benefits And Disadvantages; Performance Indicators; Management Of Equity Fund Portfolio;

Mutual Funds – The Cost

Yearly Fees; Transaction Costs (Brokerage Commissions; Market; Impact; Spread Cost); The Expense Ratio; Management Fees; Administrative Costs; Advisory Fees; Front End Loads; Back End Loads; No-Load Fund; Tax Cost; Cash Drag;

Mutual Fund Risk

Defining Mutual Fund Risk; Risk Characteristics; Price Stability And Returns; Call Risks; Credit Risk; Income Risk; Interest Rate Risk; Risks Associated With The Economy; Market Risk; Principle Risk; Currency Risk; Inflation Risk; Management;

Valuation

Introduction To Valuation; Items That Are Valued; Valuing The Securities In The Portfolio; Financial Assets/Liabilities; Reasons For Valuation; Net Asset Value; Mutual Fund Prices; Market Fluctuations; Price Of Shares; Valuation Models; Regulation Of Valuation Methods; Fair Value Of Traded Securities; Valuation Date;

Performance Evaluation

Reasons For Measuring Performance; Aims And Objectives; The Focus Of Measurement; Principles Of Performance Measurement; The Investors Perspective; The Advisors Perspective; Performance Measures; The Expense Ratio; The Income Ratio; Portfolio Turnover Rate; Indices And Risk; The Importance Of Benchmarking; Appropriate Benchmarking; Collecting And Reporting Information; Processes And Strategies; Decision Making; Statistical Modeling; Performance Reference Model; Evaluating The Fund Manager;

Management: Investment

Investment instruments; Advantages and disadvantages of investment; Measuring and analyzing returns; Investment risks; Aspects behind choice of investment; Maturity management tools and strategies; Capital market investment instruments (notes and bonds);

Management: Liquidity and Reserves

Introduction to liquidity: demands and supply; Issues faced by firms in terms of liquidity; Liquidity strategies; Approximating liquidity requirements; Different sources of reserves; Legal reserves and money position management; Central bank reserve requirements internationally;

Fund Administration

Shareholder services (Applications; Redemptions; Transfers);Trading (Principal Features; Market to Market; Margin accounts); Equities (Principle Features; Weighted Average / FIFO Cost Allocation; Realised and Unrealised Profits and Losses; Equities; Gilts/Fixed Interest Securities; Custody (Settlement Procedures; Safekeeping; Corporate Actions; Income Collection; Taxation Services; Proxy Voting; Trustees);  Valuations;

Managing Risk: Changing Interest Rates

Asset management strategies; Liability management strategies; Funds management strategy; Factors affecting interest rates; Measuring interest rates; Responding to interest rate; Interest –sensitive gap management; Time as an interest rate risk factor;

Managing Risk: Dealing with Interest Rate Risks & Risk Management Tools

Derivative contracts; Ways of dealing with interest rate risks: financial futures contracts; Interest rate swaps; Interest rate caps; collars and floors; Interest rate options; Short and long hedges; The securitizing process; Sales of loans to raise funds; Standby credits; Credit derivatives; Credit default swaps (CDS); Collateralized debt obligations (CDOs);

Fraud Protection

Introduction to fraud; Fraudulent activity; Types of fraud (access to account; card fraud; Internet; identify theft; counterfeit identification; phishing); Impact on the financial services sector; Cost of fraud; Consumer confidence; Legalities and regulations; National Fraud Authority (NFA); Fraud protection services;

Macroeconomics

Introduction to macroeconomics; Understanding macroeconomics; Principles of economics; How the market works; Gross domestic product; International trade; Open economy; Labour market; Income; expenditure and the circular flow; The consumer price index; Cost of taxation; Employment; Cost of living; The Philips Curve; National income; Supply and demand for goods and services; Money and inflation; The quantity theory of money; Interest rates; Social costs of inflation; Hyperinflation; Exchange rates; Economic fluctuations; Economic growth; Economy in the long run; Accumulation of capital; Population growth; Policies to promote growth; The Solow Model; The business cycle; Aggregate demand and supply; The IS-LM Model; The money market; How fiscal and monetary policies shift the LM Curve; Floating and fixed exchange rates; The Mundell-Fleming Model; Policy debates; Investment; Government policies;

Microeconomics

Introduction to microeconomics; Trade; Trade-offs and government policy; Production and supply’ Elasticities; Individual choice in supply and demand; Production and cost analysis; Competitive markets; Oligopoly and monopolistic competition; Strategic pricing; Uncertainty;

Marketing Financial Services

Introduction to marketing; Researching the marketplace; Ethics in research and information management; Segmenting and targeting the financial services marketplace; Consumer segments; Business segments; Targeting; positioning; Customer relationship management (CRM); Customer value; Loyalty programmes; Customer satisfaction; Relationships with stakeholders; Relationship with businesses; Internal marketing; Relationship lifecycle;

Financial Accounting

Introduction to financial accounting; Users of financial information; Key accounting models; Terminology; Need for financial statements; The balance sheet; Balance sheet layouts; Ratio and the balance sheet; Income statement and layout; Ratios; revenues and trade receivables; Owners’ equity; Cash flow measurement and documentation; Inventories and cost of sales; Tangible and intangible assets; Liabilities; Financial statements and recording transactions; Preparing financial statements; Analyzing and interpreting financial statements; Analysis tools; Auditing;

Spreadsheets (Calc)

Introduction to spreadsheets; Step by step instructions on using the features; Functions and applications for spreadsheets; Customizing the spreadsheet software; Installing the spreadsheet software; Security; Platforms; Operating system compatibility;

Setting Up & Marketing Your Own Consultancy

The Business Plan; Legalities; Setting Up; the Marketing Strategy; Knowing Your Competitors; Promotional Tools;

Presentation Skills

Preparation and Research; Speech Content; Subject Matter and Objectives; Speech Delivery and Variety; Body Language; Eye Contact; Presentation Aids; Management of Locations and Audiences; Presentation Structure;

On successful completion of this course you will receive a Professional Diploma qualification that is certified and awarded by the ICM (Institute of Commercial Management).

The Institute of Commercial Management was founded in 1979 and is one of the leading Professional Examination and Certification Bodies in the world today. Fitzwilliam Institute have developed and provided practical skills training courses in liaison with the Institute of Commercial Management qualifications and certifications framework for over 25 years. The Institute of Commercial Management certifications and continual professional development training awards are recognised by leading industries, bodies and professions.

next start date: 29th November 2024

Duration: You will have full access to online resources and subject expert support for one calendar year. However, you can complete the course in as little as 4 - 6 months, by dedicating 6-8 hours of study per week.

Course Fees: 795.00 GPB

To secure your place on the course the full fee is required. All fees must be paid in full before the course begins. Please note, the full course fees are inclusive of all course materials and certification costs.

Enrolment intake is strictly limited on this course. Early application is advised. Places are allocated on a first come first served basis.

Fitzwilliam Institute closes on Bank Holidays and for a number of days at Christmas and New Year. Fitzwilliam Institute reserves the right to postpone, cancel or alter courses without notice or to change any of the details in this brochure. Fees are not refundable unless the course is cancelled by Fitzwilliam Institute. Distance Learning courses are provided by Fitzwilliam Institute BGLS Ltd.