Students

AFCP8145 – Advanced Investment Management

2024 – Term 1, Online-scheduled-weekday

General Information

Download as PDF
Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Dr Tano Pelosi
tano.pelosi@mq.edu.au
Unit Convenor
Aaron Minney
aaron.minney@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MAppFin or GradDipAppFin
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit connects the "Why" to the "How" of investment Management. It applies strategies and techniques employed by successful investment managers for investing to match the required outcomes for these investments, particularly in the accumulation and retirement phases of the superannuation and retirement industry.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Explain the tools and techniques used by industry participants to construct investment portfolios to meet long term objectives.
  • ULO2: Critically evaluate investment management strategies and solutions and their impact on objectives over time.
  • ULO3: Develop and defend recommended investment management strategy solution(s) and judgement(s).

General Assessment Information

Late Assessment Submission Penalty (written assessments) 

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical concern.  

For any late submissions of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, students need to submit an application for Special Consideration.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Investment Management Case Study 35% No Week 5
Lifecycle advice assignment 35% No Week 10
Final assessment 30% No Week 11

Investment Management Case Study

Assessment Type 1: Case study/analysis
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: Week 5
Weighting: 35%

 

A case study report of up to 2,000 words including both quantitative and qualitative analysis.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain the tools and techniques used by industry participants to construct investment portfolios to meet long term objectives.
  • Critically evaluate investment management strategies and solutions and their impact on objectives over time.
  • Develop and defend recommended investment management strategy solution(s) and judgement(s).

Lifecycle advice assignment

Assessment Type 1: Quantitative analysis task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Week 10
Weighting: 35%

 

Prepare and submit a report based on analysis of the data submitted using the lifecycle framework

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain the tools and techniques used by industry participants to construct investment portfolios to meet long term objectives.
  • Critically evaluate investment management strategies and solutions and their impact on objectives over time.
  • Develop and defend recommended investment management strategy solution(s) and judgement(s).

Final assessment

Assessment Type 1: Practice-based task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Week 11
Weighting: 30%

 

A time-constrained task based on scenarios. Open book.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain the tools and techniques used by industry participants to construct investment portfolios to meet long term objectives.
  • Critically evaluate investment management strategies and solutions and their impact on objectives over time.
  • Develop and defend recommended investment management strategy solution(s) and judgement(s).

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

See ilearn

Unit Schedule

Weekly Wednesday lectures commencing on 10 January, 2024

 Preliminary Week: Review of Portfolio Theory - Pre-reading

Week 1: Overview of Investment Process

Week 2: Capturing Investment Opportunities - Factor Models & Quant Investing

Week 3: (Weekend Block Class - 27 & 28 January): Asset Allocation - Hands-on Portfolio Construction

Week 4: Performance and Risk Measurement

Week 5: Institutional Investment & AI 

Week 6: Lifecycle Investing Concept

Week 7 (Weekend Block Class - 24 & 25 February): Lifecycle Investment Modelling

Week 8: Life stage Case Studies

Week 9: Retirement Challenges

Week 10: Solutions to Retirement Challenges

Week 11: Exam

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Unit information based on version 2024.02 of the Handbook