Asset Allocation

Course Overview

The “Asset Allocation” course is meticulously designed to guide financial professionals through the complex process of managing asset class selection and risk to optimize investment portfolios for a variety of clients, including pensions, wealth managers, private banks, endowments, and foundations.

Starting with an introduction to asset allocation profiles and the criteria for selecting asset classes, the course delves into strategies tailored for both liability-driven and non-liability driven investors. The programme further explores the practice of strategic asset allocation, addressing market drivers, investment risks, the impact of behavioural finance, and the challenges of benchmarking returns.

Participants will learn the intricate process of asset allocation decision-making, the strategic vs. tactical approaches, and the nuances of portfolio optimization using modern and post-modern portfolio theory. The course also covers tactical asset allocation plans, capital preservation strategies, and the incorporation of alternative assets to provide downside protection.

Through current examples, theory reviews, and practical plans, this course equips participants with the skills to make informed allocation decisions, navigate market volatilities, and achieve diversified, optimized portfolios for their clients.

Learning Objectives

• Understand the fundamentals of asset allocation, including the process of selecting asset classes based on client profiles, such as pensions, wealth managers, and endowments, and the distinction between liability-driven and non-liability driven investment strategies.
• Gain insights into the practice of strategic asset allocation, including an in-depth analysis of asset class drivers, investment risks, the impact of market volatilities, and the role of behavioural finance in determining market movements.
• Master the decision-making process involved in asset allocation, encompassing both strategic and tactical approaches, the selection of asset classes, benchmarking, tracking error objectives, and the evaluation of diversification levels.
• Acquire knowledge on modern and post-modern portfolio theory, mean-variance optimization, and the creation of efficient frontiers, enabling participants to outline risk profiles and optimize asset mixes according to expected returns and risks.
• Learn to implement tactical and practical asset allocation plans, understanding the importance of business cycles, portable alpha plans, tactical asset allocation overlays, and the role of rebalancing within global macro investment strategies.
• Explore capital preservation strategies and the allocation to alternative assets, including the assessment of down-market protection, the integration of alternative investments into asset allocation processes, and the analysis of alternative beta and alpha as drivers of returns.