Elite - Professional Training & Development

Banks, investment firms and family offices increasingly need relationship managers, advisers and support staff who understand the full range of wealth and investment services. New entrants often learn product by product, without a clear picture of how markets work, how different assets behave, what regulation requires of them and how a client's circumstances shape advice. This creates risk for clients and for the firm: unsuitable recommendations, weak disclosure and loss of trust.

This programme builds knowledge in a logical sequence. It starts with the financial services industry and the economic environment, moves through the main asset classes and markets, then covers collective investment and other financial products, followed by regulation and professional integrity, and finally the financial planning process, client needs and portfolio construction. Each area is linked to practical client situations.

Built on recognised practice. The content follows the knowledge areas of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) International Certificate in Wealth & Investment Management and helps participants prepare for its examination. It also references international principles on anti-money laundering from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the IOSCO objectives and principles of securities regulation. Examination registration is made directly with CISI; Elite Academy is not an examination body.

What this changes in practice. How participants explain the risks and features of different investments to clients; how they gather client information and assess risk profile and suitability; when a product or structure is inappropriate for a client; and how they recognise and escalate regulatory and ethical concerns.

How it is delivered. Twenty hours across five sessions, built around one running case: three client profiles at different life stages whose needs are analysed as each topic is covered, ending with a simple portfolio proposal. Short knowledge checks and practice questions reinforce each area.

In-house option. For banks and investment firms, the programme can be tailored to your own product range, client segments and local regulatory context, and scheduled around staff examination plans.

Who Should Attend

New entrants to wealth management: graduates and staff recently joined from other banking roles

Client-facing staff: junior relationship managers, assistant advisers and private banking officers

Support staff: investment administration, operations and paraplanning teams

Compliance and risk staff who need a working understanding of wealth products

Professionals from related fields such as retail banking or insurance moving into wealth management

Objectives

Describe the structure of the financial services industry and the roles of the main participants

Explain key economic indicators, monetary and fiscal policy and their effect on investment markets

Compare the features, risks and returns of cash, bonds, equities, property and alternative investments

Explain how derivatives work and how they are used for hedging and investment

Distinguish the main types of collective investment funds and their charges and structures

Describe other financial products used in wealth management, such as loans, mortgages, life assurance and pensions

Explain the purpose of financial regulation, anti-money laundering obligations and professional integrity

Apply the financial planning process to gather client information and identify needs

Assess client risk profile and explain the principles of suitability

Outline asset allocation, portfolio construction and performance measurement principles

Course Outline

The Industry and the Economic Environment

The financial services industry: banks, investment firms, asset managers and insurers
Wealth management services and client segments
Key economic indicators: growth, inflation, employment and trade
Monetary policy, interest rates and the role of central banks
Fiscal policy and the business cycle
Time value of money and basic investment calculations

Financial Assets and Markets

Cash deposits and money market instruments
Bonds: types, pricing, yields and credit risk
Equities: shareholder rights, corporate actions and valuation basics
Stock exchanges, trading, clearing and settlement
Property and alternative investments
Foreign exchange and its effect on international portfolios

Derivatives, Investment Funds and Other Products

Futures, options and swaps: features and uses
Collective investment: open and closed-ended funds
Exchange-traded funds and index investing
Structured products and their risks
Loans, mortgages, life assurance and pensions
Sharia-compliant investment products: an overview

Regulation and Professional Integrity

The purpose and structure of financial regulation
International standards: IOSCO principles and FATF recommendations
Anti-money laundering, know your customer and sanctions
Market abuse, insider dealing and data protection
Conflicts of interest and treating clients fairly
Ethics and professional integrity in client relationships

Financial Planning and Portfolio Construction

The financial planning process and client fact-finding
Client objectives, time horizon and capacity for loss
Risk profiling and suitability
Asset allocation and diversification
Portfolio construction and investment strategies
Measuring and reporting performance
Examination preparation: practice questions and review

Competencies

Financial services industry structure

Economic environment and market drivers

Bond, equity and alternative asset fundamentals

Derivatives basics

Collective investment funds

Financial regulation and anti-money laundering

Ethics and professional integrity

Financial planning and client risk profiling

Asset allocation and portfolio construction

Live Online

Access Elite Academy’s complete training portfolio live online. Organizations, distributed teams and professionals can join scheduled interactive sessions or request any program to be delivered online, subject to scheduling and delivery requirements. Elite Academy’s Live Online Training provides access to our complete portfolio of professional programs without linking availability to a physical destination. Organizations, multi-location teams and individual professionals can join scheduled instructor-led sessions or request any program from the Elite Academy portfolio for live online delivery, subject to scheduling and delivery requirements. The format preserves real-time interaction, expert guidance and practical learning while removing the need to travel. Browse the current Live Online schedule below or request your preferred program and dates.

International Certificate in Wealth and Investment Management