Fundamentals of Asset Allocation - Training Webinar

This 90 minute course provides a foundational understanding of asset allocation – the process of dividing investments among major asset classes to balance risk and return. The goal is to equip participants with a clear understanding of how to construct and manage a diversified investment portfolio. Attendees will learn why asset allocation is the cornerstone of long term and why diversification matters.

Key Learning Objectives

• Articulate why the mix of asset classes drives most of a portfolio’s long term return and risk profile
• Differentiate between asset allocation and security selection
• Identify the main asset classes (equities, fixed income, cash, alternatives) and their risk-return characteristics
• Illustrate the benefits of diversification and how it reduces portfolio volatility
• Distinguish between strategic (long-term) and tactical (short-term) allocation approaches

• Asset allocation overview
• What is it and why it matters
• The significance of the Investment Policy Statement (IPS)
• Understanding risk, return and diversification
• Differentiating between asset allocation and security selection
• The major asset classes and their roles in a portfolio
• Example of a resilient portfolio structure
• How to implement asset allocation
• Strategic (SAA) vs. tactical allocation (TAA)
• The strength and limitations of each approach
• Integrating SAA and TAA – the core/satellite approach
• Dynamic allocation – a business cycle approach

Duncan Hughes has over 30 years experience in finance gained from senior positions held within investment banking as well as asset management and as a partner in a hedge fund.

He was responsible for overseeing the development of sustainable investment products at one of the largest global investment managers and, in recent years has lectured on ESG and sustainability in finance through leading international professional development firms for many of the world’s leading financial institutions.

In addition to his extensive experience in banking and financial markets, Duncan has been a Visiting Professor in Practice on postgraduate programmes at a number of London universities and seeks to combine academic rigour with real-life practical application in his courses.

A past winner of the Institute of Investment Management & Research’s Quantitative Methods & Statistics Institute prize, Duncan has been an examiner for the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) organisation and has taught CFA Candidate preparation programmes at all three levels. He also teaches on programmes preparing candidates for the CFA ESG and Climate Change examinations.

As a foundation course, this is suitable for anyone who wants to improve their knowledge of the how to build a robust investment portfolio. This course is equally suited to experienced professionals who are joining the industry from other sectors and those who are joining at the early stages of their careers.

£95.00 + VAT

Pay using a credit card online, or if you wish to be invoiced please email your full details to: Training@theia.org

PLEASE NOTE: Full payment for the course must be made prior to the course commencement date.

• Any cancellation must be made in writing.
• For all cancellation received 15-30 days prior to the course start date, 50% of the course fee is still payable.
• No refund is given for a cancellation made 14 days or less prior to the commencement of a course.
• Transferring from one course to another is treated as a cancellation.
• You can substitute one delegate for another at no additional cost. In this instance, please give two business days’ notice.