Certified Investment Advisor

What an investment advisor does

An investment consultant (advisor) is a specialist who helps clients make investment decisions: choosing what to invest in and allocating funds across different instruments. The advisor analyzes markets and instruments, assesses the risk–return trade-off and selects solutions that match the client's goals.

An investment advisor develops an individual strategy based on the client's needs, savings goals, investment horizon and amount of capital. To do this, the advisor analyzes financial assets and determines their investment characteristics.

The advisor provides recommendations on managing investments and an investment portfolio, and on investing in various markets — securities, real estate, bank deposits and other instruments. Clients can be private individuals as well as companies and organizations.

In essence, an investment advisor is a financial analyst who has a solid grasp of investment matters and can explain them to the client.

What an investment advisor's work involves

The advisor assesses the client's financial position and, on that basis, helps build an investment portfolio and a plan for allocating capital across different assets:

• investment funds;
• endowment and investment life insurance;
• stocks and other securities;
• pension savings;
• bank investments — deposits and foreign currency deposits.

In addition to analysis and recommendations, the client receives help implementing the investment strategy and ongoing support throughout the investment process.

Qualities an advisor needs

An investment professional must have a strong command of financial analysis methods and financing specifics, and be able to make forecasts and evaluate investment markets and instruments. Communication skills are just as important: the ability to build relationships with clients, present ideas clearly and concisely, and explain investment specifics in plain language. The success of the advisor–client relationship largely depends on mutual trust.

Regulation in Russia

In the Russian Federation, investment advisory activity is regulated by securities market legislation. Such services may be provided by persons included in the Bank of Russia's unified register of investment advisors. The program provides professional knowledge but does not in itself replace the requirements established for investment advisors.

Qualification levels

• Level 1 — “Certified Investment Advisor”: the exam consists of test questions only.
• Level 2 — “Professional Investment Advisor”: the exam includes test questions and problems.

Training format

• individual;
• corporate;
• distance learning.

Class days and times are by arrangement. The cost depends on the training format — please inquire via the Contacts section.

Document on completion

HSE IPAA certificate of completion.