FI 347 Financial Engineering and Risk Management — 3 units Covers risk management techniques for corporations and managers of equity, bond and derivative portfolios. Topics include measurement of corporate risk exposure, portfolio risk exposure and value at risk for financial institutions; hedging the price risk of commodities, exchange rates, interest rates and equity markets; credit risk management; portfolio insurance; portfolio immunization; synthetic assets; and computer applications. Prerequisite: FI 340; Co-requisite: FI 346.

 

FI 350 Portfolio Management — 3 units

Applies the theoretical principles of portfolio management to domestic and international asset allocation, the management of equity and fixed income portfolios and the use of derivatives to manage portfolio risk. Topics include passive and active management; quadratic optimization; international diversification; tactical asset allocation; market timing; factor models for risk measurement, optimization and performance attribution; hedging; and computer applications. Prerequisite: FI 340.

 

FI 352 Technical Analysis of Securities — 3 units Examines empirical evidence concerning non-efficient markets in which technical analysis is thought to apply. Topics include trend analysis, turning-point analysis, charting techniques, volume and open interest indicators, contrary opinion theories, and technical theories such as Dow theory and Elliott waves. Prerequisite: FI 203 (or FI 100) or FI 300A.

 

FI 354 Wyckoff Method I — 3 units

Studies the Richard D. Wyckoff method, a complete, time-tested and effective approach to market analysis and trading. The action sequence is a unique active-learning way to acquire the skills and judgment needed to apply the Wyckoff method. Prerequisite: FI 352 or consent of the department.

 

FI 355 Wyckoff Method II — 3 units

Continues the study of the Richard D. Wyckoff method, a complete, time-tested and effective approach to market analysis and trading. The action sequence is a unique active-learning way to acquire the skills and judgment needed to apply the Wyckoff method. Prerequisite: FI 352 and FI 354, or consent of the department.

 

FI 358 Technical Market Analysis Strategies — 3 units Provides advanced studies in technical analysis and trading. Money management, investor psychology and technical analysis elements are considered. Focuses upon development of a trading plan. Prerequisite: FI 352 or consent of the department.

 

FI 360 Behavioral Finance — 3 units

Introduces the theories developed by research into cognitive biases, investor emotions and herd effects; it explores the applications of these theories in corporate finance and investment management and suggests approaches through which sophisticated investors can exploit the opportunities created by nonrational investors. Traditional (or standard) finance builds its theories on the presumption that assets are valued in modern financial markets through the buy-and-sell decisions of rational, profit-maximizing investors. An accumulating body of research challenges this fundamental presumption, suggesting instead that investment decisions are motivated by a complex array of nonrational psychological factors.

FI 382 Management of Banks and Financial Holding Companies — 3 units Analyzes the management of the operations of banks, savings and loans, credit unions and other lending institutions. Topics include the banking industry, firm organizational structure, the legal and regulatory environment, performance analysis, services and financial statements, constraints on management decisions, and marketing strategies. Prerequisite: FI 203 (or FI 100) or FI 300A.

 

FI 420 Personal Financial Planning — 3 units Introduces the broad scope of financial planning as it relates to personal goals/values, as well as its role in the financial services industry. Topics include careers in financial services, management of personal financial statements, time-value-of-money analysis, calculator/computer applications, insurance, social security, house-buying strategies, investments, retirement planning, income tax and estate planning. Satisfies part of the educational requirements to sit for the CFP^® examination.* Prerequisite: FI 203 (or FI 100) or FI 300A.

 

FI 421 Personal Investment Management — 3 units Investigates the investment process from the perspective of the individual investor. Typically, such investors have small portfolios and must work with lower-quality information, greater time constraints, and less sophisticated analytical skills than their institutional counterparts. This course will discuss approaches and techniques that enable individual investors to build and manage portfolios that offer returns commensurate with their risks. Familiarity with the universe of securities, the mechanics of trading, the many and varied sources of investment information, and with the vocabulary of investing will be emphasized. Satisfies part of the educational requirements to sit for the CFP^® examination.* Prerequisite: FI 203 (or FI 100) or FI 300A. This course is not open to students who have completed FI 340.

 

FI 422 Retirement and Employee Benefits Planning — 3 units Introduces strategies used by financial planners to help clients assess employee benefits and to reduce the tax burden while planning for retirement. Topics include retirement needs analysis, defined benefit and contribution plans; profit sharing; 401k; 403b; ESOP; IRA; SEP-IRA; Roth-IRA; Keogh; TSA; social security benefits and integration; vesting; employee benefits analysis; funding vehicles; plan installation and administration; asset balancing; buy-sell agreements, ERISA; stock redemption and cross-purchase plans; evaluation of retirement timing; life-cycle planning, retirement lifestyle issues, distribution planning, and post-retirement financial and qualitative assessment of needs. Satisfies part of the educational requirements to sit for the CFP^® examination.* Co-requisite: FI 420 (or FI 160) or FI 425 (or ACCTG 108A), or consent of the department.

 

FI 425 Income Tax Planning — 3 units

Introduces strategies used by financial planners to help clients achieve greater tax efficiency. Topics include income tax concepts and calculations, income tax research methods, gross income realization, exclusions and deductions, passive activities, alternative minimum tax, tax considerations of business forms, taxable and nontaxable property transactions, compensation planning, family tax planning, audit risk and dealing with the IRS. Satisfies part of the requirements to sit for the CFP^® examination.* Prerequisite: FI 420 or FI 160.