CORPFIN 6004 - Global Wealth Management

North Terrace Campus - Summer - 2015

This course is taught by a diverse team of specialised lecturers. It examines diversification of risk management and portfolio performance measurement. The vital importance of asset allocation, both strategic and tactical are explained and workshopped. There is a growing global interest in Islamic banking, and therefore the history and current market position of popular Islamic financing products is studied. The rapid growth of the global funds management industry and the financial planning and advice industry are looked at and opportunities for investors explored.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code CORPFIN 6004
    Course Global Wealth Management
    Coordinating Unit Adelaide Business School
    Term Summer
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Assumed Knowledge CORPFIN 7005
    Course Description This course is taught by a diverse team of specialised lecturers. It examines diversification of risk management and portfolio performance measurement. The vital importance of asset allocation, both strategic and tactical are explained and workshopped. There is a growing global interest in Islamic banking, and therefore the history and current market position of popular Islamic financing products is studied. The rapid growth of the global funds management industry and the financial planning and advice industry are looked at and opportunities for investors explored.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Professor Ralf Zurbrugg

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1. A basic knowledge of the four moments of a distribution
    2. The ability to conceptualise the benefits of diversification
    3. The ability to read portfolio performance reports
    4. Profiling the investor and creating and Investment Policy Statement (or a Statement of Advice)
    5. Preliminary asset allocation for specific investors
    6. Identify the roots and reasons for the fundamental prohibitions in Islam of receiving and paying interest and engaging in excessive gambling.
    7. Identify the specifics of basic alternative financial contracts that stem from profit-and-loss sharing arrangements and are shaped by the prohibitions.
    8. Identify the reasons, evolution and scope of capital adequacy issues of the international banking regulations, in particular the Basel Agreements.
    9. An appreciation of the size and impact of the managed fund industry and its importance to investors globally. They should also appreciate the structure and operation of the managed funds industry in Australia and internationally.
    10. The role and responsibilities of the Dealer
    11. Explore the needs of clients that seek Private Banking services
    12. A consideration of the services of family offices and broader issues such as philanthropy, investment structures, intergenerational wealth transfer and estate planning
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally recognised. All
    The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner. All
    An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems. All
    Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork and communication. All
    A proficiency in the appropriate use of contemporary technologies. All
    A commitment to continuous learning and the capacity to maintain intellectual curiosity throughout life. All
    A commitment to the highest standards of professional endeavour and the ability to take a leadership role in the community. All
    An awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues within a global context and their importance in the exercise of professional skills and responsibilities. All
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Additional readings will be advised to students
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Due to the intensive nature of this course it is a requirement that participants attend 80% of the scheduled seminars. Consideration will be given to medical and compassionate reasons for non attendance but supporting documentation will need to be presented with these requests. If 80% attendance is not met participants will be ineligible to sit for the exam.

    As with all intensive executive style programs students are expected to contribute to all discussions and be positively interactive. There is a strong assumption that students will engage in seminar discussions in an informed way.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    The University expects full-time students (i.e. those taking 12 units per semester) to devote a total of 48 hours per week to their studies. This means that you are expected to commit approximately 9 hours for a three-unit course or 13 hours for a four-unit course, of private study outside of your regular classes.
    Learning Activities Summary
    Day 1
    Course Introduction
    Modern Portfolio Theory and the Evaluation of Portfolio Performance

    Day 2
    Asset Allocation decision
    Strategic Asset Allocation
    Ranges for Tactical Asset Allocation
    Case Study and Workshop to use Solver
    Issues in Asset Allocation

    Day 3
    This topic explores the world of Private Banking. Private Banking is a exclusive subset of wealth management. It is one of the fastest growing segments of banking, despite Private Banking having its origins back in the 17th century, however as the affluence of the world has increased the providers of private banking services no longer exist in England and Switzerland. We will examine traditional services offered by private banks as well as the newer offerings in this space. In addition, we explore the needs of the clients that the Private Banks seek to serve with such offerings. We will also consider the services of "family offices" that exist both within and outside private banks. Broader issues will also be discussed such as philanthropy, investment structures, intergenerational wealth transfer and estate planning.

    Day 4
    Banking Standards and Regulation
    Concepts of Islamic Banking Products

    Day 5
    Scope & magnitude of Managed Funds
    Master Funds & Platforms
    Regulation & compliance of Financial Advice
    Information available to investors
    Global growth of financial planning

    Day 6
    Presentations

    Exam

  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    To gain a pass for this course, a mark of at least 50% (complete) must be obtained on the examination as well as a total of at least 50% overall. Students not achieving the minimum exam mark will be awarded no more than 49.

    In course assessment 5%
    Assignment 18% Learning Outcomes 1-5
    Presentation 27% Learning Outcomes 1-5
    3 hour open book exam 50% 3, 6-10
    Total 100%
    Assessment Detail
    Presentation of Assignments
    • Please must retain a copy of all assignments submitted.
    • Please attach an ‘Assignment Cover Sheet’, which is signed and dated by you before submission.
    • An assignment drop box will be made available for you on the Ground Floor, 10 Pulteney Street

    Lecturers can refuse to accept assignments, which do not have a signed acknowledgement of the University’s policy on plagiarism.

    Assignment Guidelines including Referencing Details
    A copy of the Postgraduate Programs: Communication Skills Guide will have been given to you at the beginning of your program. This guide will assist you structure your assignments. A copy of the guide can also be downloaded from http://www.business.adelaide.edu.au/current/mba/download/2009MBACommSkillsGuide.pdf 

    This publication also provides guidelines on a range of other important communication skills including writing essays and management reports, making oral presentations etc.
    In preparing any written piece of assessment for your postgraduate studies it is important to draw on the relevant ‘literature’ to support critical analysis. Also essential is to reference the literature used. Correct referencing is important because it identifies the source of the ideas and arguments that you present, and sometimes the source of the actual words you use, and helps to avoid the problem of plagiarism. (Further information on plagiarism is provided later in this course outline.)
    The Harvard system is widely used in the Business School. Guidelines for the use of this style of referencing can be found in the Communication Skills Guide.

    Further assistance with referencing is available from the Faculty’s Learning Support Advisors. The contact details are provided on page 6 of the Communication Skills Guide.

    Late Assignment Submission
    Students are expected to submit their work by the due date to maintain a fair and equitable system. Extensions will generally only be given for medical or other serious reasons. All requests for extensions must be emailed to the lecturer in charge of the course before the due date. Each request will be assessed on its merits. A late assignment (without prior arrangement) will be penalised by a 5% mark reduction for each day that it is late.

    Return of Assignments
    Lecturer’s aim to mark and return assignments to students within two (2) weeks of the due date with written feedback. Students are responsible for collecting their marked assignments as advised via email. If assignments aren’t collected after two (2) weeks, the assignments will be available at the Student Hub for two (2) weeks. The remaining assignments will only be posted out to the students, if the correct mailing addresses are on the assignments.
    Submission

    No information currently available.

    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.