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365-1145-00L 1 Credits NDS D-MTEC
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Managers’ Guide to Investing

Lecturers & Examiners: Dr. Sassan Zaker
Exclusively for MAS MTEC students (3rd semester).
VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-02-05 16:16:34

Abstract

This is a practical guide to investing for decision makers.Successful investing requires an understanding of assets, markets, and strategies to achieve your financial goals. Whether you delegate this task or get involved personally, you need to understand how professional investing works.The goal is to enable you to define your own personal investment strategy.

Objective

- Understand your pension fund as one of your largest investments - Learn from pension fund investment methodology - Understand main asset building blocks: stocks, bonds, and alternatives - Understand how markets work are influenced by central banks - Appreciate importance of leverage, arbitrage, and the role of derivatives - Design your first investment strategy

Content

1. How your Pension Fund works? - Contributions vs. Investments: how assets are built up over decades - Assets vs. Liabilities. Investments vs. pension promises - Choice of risk level: asset-liability derived investment dictates risk level - Importance of conversion rate: how your pension salary fluctuates - Your potential flexibility: discover personalization your pension fund offers Case Study: Understand key information of your pension fund 2. How your Pension Fund invests? - Asset classes: the pillars of pension fund investing - Diversification and risk: the main line of defense for pension funds - Optimal asset-allocation: how pension fund decides on asset mix - Passive vs. active: why active fails and pension funds passivize investments - ESG factor considerations Case Study: Portfolio optimization techniques 3. How Markets work? - Monetary policy: central banks decide on interest rates impacting markets - Fiscal policy: governments borrowing to finance projects, risk of debt - Inflation: how it is controlled, and when it is not - Developed vs. emerging markets: higher growth at higher risk - Market cycles: the dynamics of markets and economy Case Study: Covid crash 2020, Post Covid bubble 2021, Inflation crash 2022 4. How Asset Classes work? - Bond markets and valuation: why bond prices fall when interest rates rise - Stock markets and valuation: why stock prices fluctuate - Derivative instruments: key concepts and how to use them without the math - Alternatives: Private Equity, Hedge Funds, Insurance Linked Case Study: Stock valuation; Bond risk measure: “duration" 5. How to design my Personal Investment Strategy? - Start with the pension fund methodology: what can I learn? - Investment horizon: long-term vs. Short-term - Risk capacity and appetite: Biting off more than one can chew - ESG other criteria - My personal “edge” Case Study: Design/explain/defend your personal strategy

General Information

Language
English
Levels
NDS
Frequency
Yearly recurring

Examination

Type
ungraded semester performance
Credit points will only be assigned if the following criteria are met: Full attendance of all course days and full completion of all course assignments.

Registration & Places

Max Places
45
Signup End
10.09.2023
Priority: Registration for the course unit is only possible for the primary target group

Course Components

Type Title Time & Place Hours
seminar Managers’ Guide to Investing
Two-day course. Saturday: 08:30-16:45.
  • 30.09 Date 08:15-17:00 (HG E 33.3)
  • 30.09 Date 08:15-17:00 (HG E 33.5)
  • 07.10 Date 08:15-17:00 (HG G 26.3)
  • 07.10 Date 08:15-17:00 (HG G 26.5)
16 h semesterly

Offered In