Investment Management in an Evolving and Volatile World by HEC Paris and AXA Investment Managers

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/investment-management

Introduction

### Course Review: Investment Management in an Evolving and Volatile World by HEC Paris and AXA Investment Managers Navigating the world of financial investments can often feel overwhelming for both novice and seasoned investors alike. Many individuals express concerns about lacking the necessary knowledge or tools to make informed investment decisions. If you're one of those individuals looking to demystify investment management, the "Investment Management in an Evolving and Volatile World" course offered by HEC Paris and AXA Investment Managers on Coursera is an excellent choice. #### Overview This course provides a comprehensive introduction to investment management, focusing on essential concepts that will empower you to make calculated financial decisions. The partnership between HEC Paris, a leading business school, and AXA Investment Managers, a prominent player in the financial industry, assures participants of the high-quality content and industry relevance. The course is strategically designed to cover critical aspects of investment management, making it suitable for individuals ranging from beginners wanting to dip their toes in investment, to more experienced investors aiming to sharpen their skills. #### What You Will Learn The course is structured into four main modules, each focusing on a cornerstone of investment management: 1. **Defining Your Objectives and Universe**: In the inaugural module, learners identify their investment objectives and assess the various types of investors. You’ll gain an overview of investible assets and the financial market, which are crucial for aligning your objectives with potential investments. Additionally, concepts of risk and return in portfolio management are introduced, laying the groundwork for smarter investment decisions. 2. **How to Build an Investment Solution**: The second module delves into portfolio optimization. Participants will learn how to tailor portfolio allocations based on their unique investment goals and constraints. This section also introduces asset pricing models and hedging techniques—a fundamental skill set for anyone serious about improving their portfolio’s performance. 3. **Exploring Specific Portfolio Management Techniques**: Here, learners examine various investment strategies. The module covers both quantitative and qualitative strategies, evaluating their benefits and real-world applications. Insights into how to navigate extreme market events will subsequently enhance your understanding of risk management and market dynamics. 4. **The Asset Management Industry: Selecting or Becoming a Fund Manager**: In the final module, the focus shifts to the asset management industry itself. From evaluating fund managers to understanding the inner workings of asset management firms, this section also highlights different career paths within the industry. Moreover, it sheds light on the lifecycle of investment products and regulatory impacts, crucial knowledge for anyone looking to venture into asset management. #### Who Should Take This Course? This course is highly recommended for individuals eager to understand investment management from the ground up. It is ideal for those who: - Are new to investment and wish to build foundational knowledge. - Seek to make more informed personal investment decisions. - Are considering a career in finance or asset management and want to understand industry dynamics. #### Conclusion and Recommendation The "Investment Management in an Evolving and Volatile World" course stands out as a thorough, insightful, and practical introduction to the complexities of investment management. Its structured approach combines theoretical knowledge with actionable insights, making it relevant for a broad audience. Whether your aim is to enhance your personal investment decisions or to lay the groundwork for a career in finance, this course is an invaluable resource that combines the academic excellence of HEC Paris with real-world application from AXA Investment Managers. Sign up today on Coursera and take your first step towards mastering the world of investment management!

Syllabus

Defining Your Objectives and Universe

As the first module of the course, we will start with helping you to identify which kind of investor you are, and what are your investment objectives. Then, we will give you an overall view of investible assets and the financial market. In addition, we will introduce the concepts of risk and returns in portfolio management which will help you to make better investment decisions.

This is the second week of our study. We first learn how to optimize a portfolio allocation given your investment objectives. Then we will learn how to integrate your investment constraints to find a feasible investment solution. You will use asset pricing models to improve your portfolio performance by improving your understanding of financial asset returns. Finally, you will apply different hedging techniques to remove unwanted risk in our portfolios.

We take in this module a closer look at investment strategies. We start by examining both quantitative active and qualitative strategies, and understanding their respective benefits. In the second lesson, we will learn how to apply these strategies in real life, including how to translate a strategies into transactions. We finish by examining extreme events in financial markets during which investment strategies were challenged.

In this final module, we cover the details of the asset management industry. We start by understanding what it takes to make a proper decision when hiring a fund manager. We will learn how to evaluate his or her performance, and to select the right one depending on our investment objectives. Then, we cover the functioning of an asset management firm. We will learn the different career paths within an asset management firm. We will also cover the different stages of the life cycle of an investment product, including the role of each department within the firm and the impact of regulations on their design.