Investment Consultant

HSE IPAA invites you to take the Investment Consultant course, which prepares you for the international Investment Advisor qualification of the Academy of Certified Professional Managers (ACPM). The program covers the full scope of an advisor's work: from analyzing a client's financial position to building, maintaining and rebalancing an investment portfolio.

The Investment Advisor qualification is awarded by ACPM based on its own assessment. On completing the course, you receive an HSE IPAA certificate of completion.

Why study with us

• Taught by a practicing investment advisor.
• Every module is reinforced with case studies and practical assignments.
• Session recordings and handouts are available in your personal account under /learn for 6 months, so you can return to them at any time and from any device.
• A bonus discount system applies to subsequent courses.

Program details

How the training works

Practice in every module:

• analysis of cases and problems from a consultant's practice;
• development of individual financial plans for clients;
• instructor feedback and review of results.

Format:

• online lectures and webinars;
• projects and discussions;
• practical assignments and case studies;
• one-on-one consultations and mentoring.

Assessment:

• interim tests;
• evaluation of projects and practical work;
• final course exam.

The fee includes:

• a study guide summarizing the course;
• online classes via video conference and 6 months of access to recordings;
• instructor consultations after the course ends;
• a group chat for questions and sharing materials;
• an HSE IPAA certificate of completion.

Curriculum

Module 1. Introduction to the investment advisor profession (2 hours)

1.1. Role and responsibilities of an investment consultant. How the profession benefits individual and corporate clients.

1.2. Fundamentals of financial planning. Advising on planning, investments and asset management. Assessing a client's financial position, preparing an individual plan, monitoring and adjusting it.

1.3. Ethics and professional standards. Integrity, objectivity, confidentiality, competence. Conflicts of interest and how to avoid them. Codes of professional ethics (including CFA).

1.4. Regulation of investment advisors in Russia and compliance. Career development.

Module 2. Fundamentals of financial analysis and planning (4 hours)

2.1. Analyzing a client's financial position: gathering information, assessing assets and liabilities, analyzing income and expenses, calculating net worth.

2.2. Setting financial goals: short- and long-term goals, their feasibility, the SMART method, prioritization.

2.3. Preparing to implement the plan: the gap between income and expenses, an emergency fund, debt management. Implementation tools, monitoring and adjustment.

2.4. Developing and implementing a financial plan in practice.

Module 3. Investment instruments and strategies (12 hours)

3.1. Overview of instruments: stocks, bonds, funds, real estate, currencies, precious metals, investment insurance. Characteristics and applications.

3.2. Fundamentals of portfolio investing: diversification, asset correlation and volatility, portfolio structure and optimization.

3.3. Risk and return: standard deviation, beta, calculating expected return, risk management, insuring risks and the investor's life.

3.4. Modern portfolio theory (the Markowitz model): the efficient portfolio and the efficient frontier.

Module 4. Risk profile and investment portfolio management (8 hours)

4.1. Client risk profiling: why it matters when selecting instruments and how to conduct it.

4.2. Building and rebalancing a portfolio: selecting instruments, rebalancing methods.

4.3. Asset analysis and selection. Fundamentals of fundamental analysis.

4.4. Simple strategies for beginner investors: exchange-traded funds, dividend stocks, bonds.

Module 5. Financial markets and the economic environment (4 hours)

5.1. How financial markets work. The role of exchanges, asset management companies and funds.

5.2. Macroeconomic indicators (GDP, inflation, unemployment, PMI, etc.) and their impact on markets.

5.3. Microeconomic analysis: market structure and competition, industry and company analysis.

5.4. Indicators of economic activity. Multiples.

Module 6. Taxation and legal aspects (4 hours)

6.1. Fundamentals of tax planning.

6.2. Taxation of income from various investment instruments under the Russian Tax Code.

6.3. Legal aspects of investment activity.

6.4. Estate and property planning.

Module 7. Technology in a financial advisor's work (4 hours)

7.1. Software for financial analysis and planning: overview and use cases.

7.2. Cybersecurity and client data protection: key threats and safeguards.

7.3. Supporting software for advisors.

7.4. Online services in an advisor's work.

Module 8. Communication and client relations (4 hours)

8.1. Negotiations: fundamentals, strategies and tactics, conflict management, handling objections.

8.2. The psychology of financial advice: how emotions affect financial decisions, managing client stress, building trust.

8.3. Promoting a consultant's personal brand. An advisor's sources of income.

8.4. Long-term client relationships: loyalty, retention, personalized services.

Instructor

Sergey Gabov is a practicing investment advisor and a graduate of Logic Planning Group (USA). A private investor with over 10 years of experience, he is an analyst, commentator and instructor of investment courses.

• investment editor at Vinvestor JSC (Skolkovo);
• financial security expert at Tinkoff Journal;
• author and host of the personal finance and investment podcast “Sovet da finansy”;
• editor and analyst of an investment-focused Telegram channel;
• author of analytical reviews in business media.