An Introduction to the Investment Management Industry

This course provides an introduction to the world of investment management and is aimed primarily at those who are entering the industry for the first time, or for those seeking a foundation level course to cover the basics. The course structure is participative and interactive in nature.

This one-day course will give confidence to participants by explaining what the industry is, what it does and how it works. The course clarifies common uncertainties and demystifies areas of confusion, as well as "jargon-busting" those technical terms which are commonplace in the sector.

Key Learning Objectives:

• Understand the aims and objectives of investment management
• Provide a functional overview of the industry and its organisational structure
• Compare types of individual and institutional investors and their expectations
• Gain knowledge of the different investment strategies and styles
• Provide an overview of asset allocation and the steps involved in portfolio construction
• Review of the retail product structures and customer servicing and the typical client interaction cycle
• Identify specific types of regulation and describe the reasons for each

Contact the IA Training Team to ask questions regarding any of the courses we run, or if you are experiencing problems or difficulties when attempting to register, please email: Training@theia.org

09:30 What is investment management?

• The three key tasks of the investment manager

09:45 The typical investment management organisational structure

• Functional overview of the industry and third-party market participants and the services they provide
• From custodial managers to trade and professional bodies
• Functions and activities within an investment company

10:00 Investment objectives and constraints

• The concept of risk and return
• What is risk and what is the investor’s willingness to take risk?

10:30 Investor profiles and client expectations

• Who are the investors? – from individual to institutional clients
• Understanding the different client categories and their key characteristics
• ESG and client portfolio perspectives

11:00 Break

11:15 The portfolio risk universe and the different asset classes

• Traditional vs. alternative investments and their risk and return characteristics

11:30 Investment strategies and styles – the different types of funds available

• Active vs. passive management styles
• What is meant by alpha and beta?
• Growth vs. value vs. momentum

11:45 Investment management as a process

• The three-step process – planning, execution and feedback

12:00 What is asset allocation? Why is it performed?

• The benefits of asset allocation and factors to consider

12:15 Measuring a fund’s performance

• Why do we do it? How is it down?
• Understanding the role of benchmarking

12:30 Lunch

13:30 Investment wrappers

• The benefits of collective investment schemes
• What are Open-Ended Investment Companies (OEICs)? – Key elements
• Authorised vs. unauthorised funds
• Unit trusts vs. investment trusts
• What are Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs)?
• Collective investment comparison

14:00 Customer service – what services are required?

• Communicating with investors
• Valuations, fees and client reporting
• Responsibilities of stewardship
• What is it? Why do it?

15:00 Break

15:15 The UK regulatory landscape

• Role of the FCAS and PRA – scope and remit
• The FCA four objectives
• Treating customers fairly and professional standards

15:30 The regulation around client assets (CASS)

• Keeping client assets safe
• What can go wrong? Do you have the right permissions?

15:45 What is MiFID II, PRIIPS and Key Information Documents

• MiFID for investment managers – relations with customers
• What is best execution?
• PRIIPS and Key Information Documents
• What are their objectives? What information do they contain?
• Review of a generic KID

16:30 Additional Q&A session and End

This training course is run under the Chatham House Rule, for reference please see here

As a foundation course, this is suitable for anyone who wants to improve their knowledge of the industry. 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.

Aimed at those who are entering the industry for the first time or for those seeking a foundation level that covers the industry basics.

Russell Hammerson

Russell Hammerson is an experienced banker working with structured products and exotic options over 15 years.

Russell started his career in the fixed income trading division at Chase Manhattan in 1986. After having graduated from the Chase nine-month advanced financial risk analysis programme, he was seconded to the Chase insurance banking division for a year. Taking his insurance expertise with him, he later moved to Citibank to work in the financial engineering division, structuring fixed income and equity products for institutional investors.

From Citibank, Russell moved to Bear Stearns to help set up the newly established equity derivatives group as associate director responsible for marketing and structuring of European products prior to becoming head of structured products at Commerzbank.

Before moving into the technical training arena, Russell ran the structured product group at Banque Nationale de Paris followed by Bankgesellschaft Berlin, London, in a similar role as head of engineered products and international new issues and director of the London Management Committee.

Russell has been training all areas of capital markets since 2001. At BG Consulting (now trading as ZISHI Cornerstone), he specialises in structured products, equity and credit derivatives and exotic options.

IA Member £645.00 +VAT
Non-Member £795.00 +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.

Hybrid Training Courses:

Hybrid deliveries of our training allows participants on our courses the option to attend in-person here from our offices at Camomile Court, or you can attend virtually via MS Teams.

Please be advised a training course could change from hybrid delivery to solely virtual delivery. In such an event, we will inform delegates at least one week prior to the course delivery date.

There are a limited number of in-person spaces available on this course and this will be allocated on a first come first served basis.