FIN306 Applied Portfolio Management

This subject has been discontinued; it will not be available for enrolment after Study Period 5, 2023.

This subject focuses on the application of advanced investment principles to the field of investment advice and management. The subject examines in detail the investment decision making process and investigates the management of more complex portfolios at both the individual and institutional level. The subject also evaluates current portfolio management practices and discusses the common issues encountered when formulating investment policies and making portfolio decisions. As part of the subject assessment, students are tasked with simulated and real-world investment research and decision-making assignments. This provides an important, practical element to students’ learning experience.

For more information, please refer to the subject outline.

For Study Period 5 2022 onwards, please refer to the subject outline here.

  • Learning outcomes
    • On successful completion of this subject, individuals should be able to:

      1. Develop asset class returns to assess their utility in portfolio management
      2. Critically evaluate the different asset allocation approaches and techniques
      3. Critically analyse the role that behavioural finance plays in the investment management process
      4. Construct an investment policy statement by assessing the objectives and constraints of individual investors.
      5. Evaluate the investment objectives of the different types of institutional investors and their respective decision-making processes.
      6. Critically analyse the issues that fund managers face in managing portfolios.
  • Subject content
    • Topic Title
      Topic 1 Setting capital market expectations
      Topic 2 Asset allocation in practice
      Topic 3 Behavioural finance and portfolio management
      Topic 4 Portfolio management issues for individual investors
      Topic 5 Portfolio management issues in a global context
      Topic 6 Portfolio management issues for institutional investors
      Topic 7 Portfolio management execution
      Topic 8 Applied techniques in performance measurement

  • Duration
    • The duration of this subject is one study period (12 weeks).

  • Assessment
    • Assessment Type Assessed Weighting
      Task 1 research brief
      Group Task 1 Committee Meeting
      Week 4
      Week 6
      25%
      Task 2 research brief
      Group Task 2 Committee Meeting
      Week 8
      Week 10
      35%
      Exam Week 12 40%

      Click here for an assessment timetable.

      Note: Due to the group tasks there must be sufficient enrolment numbers in order to offer this subject. Should the required numbers not be reached Kaplan Professional will advise students as soon as possible to discuss alternative subject enrolments.  

      For Study Period 5 2022 onwards:

      Assessment Type Assessed Weighting
      Assignment 1 research brief submission

      Assignment 1 research brief meeting

      Week 4

      Week 5

      25%
      Assignment 2 research brief submission

      Assignment 2 research brief meeting

      Week 8

      Week 9

      35%
      Exam Week 12 40%

      Note: From Study Period 5 2022, this subject will not include any form of group assessment. Students will be required to participate in a meeting with their assessor in weeks 5 and 9 of the study period.

  • Prerequisites
    • There are no prerequisites for this subject. However, individuals should review the ‘Assumed Knowledge’ tab to understand the prior knowledge Kaplan advises they should hold before enrolling in this subject

  • Assumed knowledge
    • Whilst there are no prerequisites for this subject, Kaplan assumes that individuals have completed FIN251 Fixed Income Securities, or understand the content covered in this subject, prior to undertaking FIN306 Applied Portfolio Management.

  • Course transition subject equivalence
    • Individuals are not required to complete this subject if they have transitioned from a SIA/Finsia/Kaplan course and have completed the following subjects:

      • there are no equivalences for this subject.
  • Reading list
    • There is no prescribed text for this subject. Individuals are provided with key readings and access to Kaplan’s online databases. Individuals are encouraged to research and read widely on the topic.