Securing Investment Returns in the Long Run

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/investment-returns-long-run

Introduction

**Course Review: Securing Investment Returns in the Long Run** If you're looking for a comprehensive and insightful course that delves into the nuances of investment strategies, "Securing Investment Returns in the Long Run" on Coursera is an excellent choice. This course offers participants an in-depth understanding of active versus passive investing, performance measurement, and the emerging trends in the investment management sector. ### Overview The course is structured to guide you through the fundamental concepts of investment performance, providing clarity on the active versus passive investment debate that has intrigued both academia and industry practitioners for decades. You’ll get a thorough grounding in how to measure investment success and the complexities that lie within various investment vehicles. This knowledge is crucial for anyone looking to secure their financial future through informed investment choices. ### Syllabus Breakdown #### 1. General Introduction and Key Concepts The course begins with an engaging introductory module that sets the stage for your learning journey. You will be briefed on common investment pitfalls to avoid and gain insights into the foundational debate between active and passive management. This module ensures you build a solid context before diving deeper into the intricacies of investment performance. #### 2. Assessing Performance The second module is a treasure trove of information focused on understanding investment performance. Here, you will learn to distinguish between absolute and relative performance, and you'll be introduced to risk-adjusted performance ratios. This knowledge is essential, as it arms you with analytical tools to assess how well investment managers are performing against expectations. The module emphasizes the significance of performance attribution, offering clarity on how various investment decisions contribute to overall results. #### 3. Investment Vehicles Moving into the third module, you will explore the landscape of active and passive funds. The critical examination of whether active management adds value to a portfolio is an important discussion that every investor must understand. The course also equips you with the skills to select appropriate investment vehicles, ensuring you can navigate the diverse options available in today’s market. Engaging discussions with a corporate partner present real-world insights that bridge the gap between theory and practice. #### 4. Future Trends The final module delves into the future of investment management, touching on topics that will shape the industry moving forward. You will learn about sustainable investing, neurofinance, and the impact of fintech on investment strategies. Such knowledge is not just innovative but necessary, as these trends are already reshaping investor behavior and expectations. ### Recommendation I highly recommend "Securing Investment Returns in the Long Run" for anyone interested in enhancing their investment acumen. Whether you're a novice wanting to understand the basics or an experienced investor looking to refine your strategies, this course offers valuable insights applicable in the real world. With clear explanations, expert discussions, and a well-structured syllabus, you'll walk away with a robust understanding of investment dynamics that will empower you to make informed decisions. In conclusion, the course is an investment in your own financial literacy and future. Sign up today and take a significant step towards mastering the art and science of investment management!

Syllabus

General Introduction and Key Concepts

Welcome to the course and this introductory module! After reviewing some mistakes you will no longer make after following this course and some useful things to know before the course, we will dive into one of the main topics of this course: the active versus passive investment management debate.

Welcome to the second module of the course! Here, we will start by talking about absolute versus relative performance and mandates. The second topic of this module will be performance measurement using risk-adjusted performance ratios but also asset pricing models. Finally, we will see how to decompose and attribute performance between the different types of investment decisions undertaken by fund managers.

Welcome to the third module of the course! In this module, we will explore the worlds of active and passive funds and try to address whether or not active fund management provides added value to a portfolio. But before doing so, we will see how to choose the best investment vehicles among both active and passive funds. The module ends with a discussion with our corporate partner on topics that often divides the world of finance between academia on one side and practitioners on the other.

Welcome to the fourth and last module of the course! This module is dedicated to future trends in investment management that are already starting to change how we think about and apply some of the ideas presented in the specialization. We will start with sustainable investing: defining it, examining its value proposition and see how it can be implemented in the context of a widely diversified portfolio. We will then take a quick look at what neurofinance is and how it can help us make better investment decisions. Finally, we will leave you with some insights as to how fintech (i.e. information technology solutions applied to finance) is likely to shape the future of the investment management industry.