Investing Fundamentals and Products

Course Description:

This basic course covers the preparation for investing by determining goals and objectives, learning the vehicles and indexes that may be used, and determining your loss tolerance. The different facets of the securities markets are covered as well as the various risks involved in investing and the tools used to measure those risks. One can only loan money or purchase an ownership interest in a firm. These two basic investments are examined as to the various vehicles used within each. The decisions that are to be made are discussed. These include the risks to be taken, diversification of assets, asset allocation, whether to attempt to time the market, and whether to do all of the investing based on your own knowledge or to seek the assistance of a financial advisor. After your portfolio has been finalized and implemented do you want to periodically review it?

Learning Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Introduce the preparations such as setting goals and objectives that are needed before reaching any decisions.
• Describe the security markets that will be used to purchase the securities that are going to be a part of your portfolio.
• Present the various risks that are always a part of investing and how to measure those risks. Measures of performance are also addressed.
• Present and explain the main fixed investment vehicles that are available to be included in your portfolio.
• Describe the main equity investment vehicles that are available to be included in your portfolio.
• Highlight the decisions to be made in determining your specific portfolio and then the management of it over time.