Wealth Management Institute

Master of Science in Wealth Management - Asia’s wealth awaits you.

Jointly offered by WMI and the Singapore Management University (SMU), the Master of Science in Wealth Management (MWM) imparts more than theoretical knowledge. It equips you with the skills and expertise required for a successful career as an asset manager or private banker.

Developed in close collaboration with the Swiss Finance Institute and Yale School of Management (SOM), this prestigious programme brings together renowned industry practitioners and eminent academics to create a holistic, industry-driven learning experience for both seasoned and aspiring wealth management professionals.

Key features

  • Specialised curriculum in global wealth management with an Asian focus.
  • Master’s degree awarded by SMU, with certificates awarded by Swiss Finance Institute and Yale SOM.
  • Modular structure allows participants to meet professional obligations while pursuing the degree.
  • Pedagogy includes case studies, team activities, pre-course assignments, computer-aided learning, industry talks and field trips.
  • Recognised as a graduate programme associated with the CFA Institute.
  • Internship opportunities with leading fund management companies and private banks.
  • Scholarships and student loans available to qualified participants.

The exposure and the quality of education coupled with the intense interaction with industry practitioners from various wealth management disciplines will enhance one's ability to handle the challenging demands of the wealth management industry.

Dewin Lee, Head, Citigold Private Client
Graduate, Master of Science in Wealth Management (2010)

SMU Swiss Finance Institute Yale School of Management

Programme structure

  • Programme comprises five intensive two-week study blocks.
  • Study Block IV is conducted overseas at the Swiss Finance Institute (SFI) in Switzerland and Yale School of Management (SOM) in the USA.
  • Internships are conducted between study blocks.

Programme structure

Highlights

  • Singapore Management University: Build on industry-relevant knowledge and develop strong competence in wealth management via a top-notch faculty committed to your success.
  • Swiss Finance Institute: Learn about the Swiss way of wealth management, including niche areas such as family businesses. » Learn more
  • Yale SOM: Gain American perspectives on alternative investing and the opportunity to visit a leading hedge fund.
    » Learn more

The external module provides participants with the opportunity to immerse in a different culture with different dynamics. Coupled with the strong foundation in financial instruments, this exposure will put all participants in good stead for this growing industry.

Elaine Bun, Graduate, Master of Science in Wealth Management (2008)

SMU Swiss Finance Institute Yale School of Management

Curriculum

Programme structure View Study Block I details View Study Block II details View Study Block III details View Study Block IV details View Study Block V details View Advanced Study Project details View Advanced Study Project details View Advanced Study Project details

Study Block I – July 2012: Building Blocks to Managing Wealth

Financial Statement Analysis
This course examines key financial accounting and reporting issues relating to corporations as well as the analysis and interpretation of financial statements prepared under international accounting standards. The objective is to attain technical and analytical proficiency in using financial reports to evaluate the operating performance and financial health of companies. Topics include financial ratios, profitability analysis, cash flow analysis, credit risk analysis, business combinations, leases, off-balance sheet transactions, intangible assets, impairment of assets, revenue recognition and foreign exchange accounting.
Macroeconomics for Financial Markets
This course provides participants with a foundation in the economic concepts and theories necessary to understand and analyse the state and outlook of the global economy and their impact on financial markets. Basic concepts in macro-economics will be introduced. The role of monetary policy and exchange rate policy in managing interest rates, inflation and trade competitiveness will be discussed and the linkages to strategies for investment management will be highlighted.
Quantitative Methods for Investment Analysis
This course covers basic techniques in data analysis with special reference to investment. A practical orientation will be adopted focusing on identification of appropriate techniques, execution of analysis and sound interpretation of results. Topics include probability distributions, confidence interval estimation, hypothesis testing, correlation and regression analysis, and time series analysis.
Global Financial Markets
This course equips participants with the ability to decipher market dynamics. Participants will be able to determine what moves the market and why; how to stay close to the market and feel its pulse; how to make informed decisions about market movements, and how to make an educated conjecture about evolving trends.

Please visit SMU for the latest curriculum information.

Study Block II – October 2012: Deepening Wealth Knowledge

Corporate Finance
This course focuses on decisions affecting corporations in the area of investment, financing/dividend payments and operational decisions. It equips participants with conceptual and analytical skills necessary to make both routine and non-routine financial decisions. It covers financial analysis and planning, capital budgeting, cost of capital, capital structure and dividend policy. It will include topics such as IPOs, Mergers & Acquisitions and Corporate Restructuring. Cases are used to illustrate the concepts and tools introduced in the course.
Analysis of Equities
This course provides a blend of theory and practice to analyse equities as an asset class. It covers the process of fundamental analysis as a tool for security selection. It discusses a number of equity valuation techniques for specific industries and/or companies. These include both absolute and relative valuation approaches using asset values, earnings, dividends, cash flows and technical analysis.
Analysis of Fixed Income
The course focuses on fixed income markets, products and basic analytical tools used in analysing fixed income securities. Topics include term structure of interest rates, yield curve dynamics, duration and convexity, bond portfolio management strategies and credit rating. The coverage includes more advanced array of fixed income instruments including high yield bonds, asset-backed securities, swaps and credit derivatives.

Please visit SMU for the latest curriculum information.

Study Block III – January 2013: Specialisation of Wealth Needs

Analysis and Applications of Derivatives
This course covers concepts of derivative pricing for instruments such as forwards, futures, options, and swaps. Participants will develop an understanding of how these instruments work, how they are used, and how they are priced including basic valuation models such as the Black-Scholes model.
Private Equity and Venture Capital
This course provides an introduction into the workings of the private equity and venture capital markets. It will discuss the principles of entrepreneurial financing from the perspective of an entrepreneur, and how venture capitalist looking to invest in promising startups. Investment principles and valuation models such as discounted cash flow models, P/E multiples, and alternative-pricing models will be covered.
Hedge Fund Investment
This course provides participants with an understanding of theoretical and practical aspects of hedge fund investments, strategies, products and the risk/return of hedge fund investments.
Portfolio Management
This course focuses on the process of fund management. It covers the basic concepts of investments, including risk and return, portfolio diversification and performance evaluation.
Trusts and Inter-Generation Wealth Planning
The course provides participants an overview of wealth planning including an understanding of multi-jurisdiction legislation for international wealth transfers. Participants will learn to appreciate the use of trusts in inter-generation wealth planning.

Please visit SMU for the latest curriculum information.

Study Block IV – April 2013: Global Wealth Outlook

Client Relationship Management
The course discusses the building blocks of great client experience, how to go about building a great client book and the investment advisory process.
Special Topics in Wealth Management
The course covers topics relevant to wealth management such as Family Business and the Family Office.
Alternative Investing
The course covers alternative investments including private equity, real estate and commodities. Other topics including behavioral finance will also be discussed.

Please visit SMU for the latest curriculum information.

Study Block V – May to June 2013: Wealth Expansion and Development

Structured Products
This course covers the foundations and use of structured products by banks, financial institutions and investment managers. It covers equity structures, fixed income structures, currency structures, commodity structures and hedge fund wrappers. Some of these structures range from simple derivatives like warrants, option-embedded bonds, equity-linked notes, dual currency options, reverse floaters and similar forms of innovative financial instruments. Participants will develop an understanding of the risk, return and structuring of some of these products, and their use in investment management.
Ethics
Participants will develop an appreciation and understanding of business, financial and personal ethics. It explores business responsibility from rival theoretical and management perspectives. Topics include Financial Management, Product Safety, Ethics and Corporate Responsibility, and creating an Ethical environment within the organisation.
Financial Advisers Law
This course covers the essential aspects of the law as it affects financial advisers. The topics include the regulation of financial advisers, negligence liability, contractual liability and international legal issues in financial advice contracts.

Please visit SMU for the latest curriculum information.

Advanced Study Project

All participants are required to complete a project which allows them to apply the concepts and principles of wealth management in a commercial setting. Participants may focus their final projects on one of the following areas:
1. Private banking
2. Asset management
3. Innovative products, processes or services in wealth management

Please visit SMU for the latest curriculum information.

This programme has been life-changing for me. Industry networking has allowed me to explore opportunities which would not have come my way. My one-year investment in education has harvested a lifetime of opportunities.

Li Chao, Caliburn Capital Partners
Graduate, Master of Science in Wealth Management (2010)

This course has helped me in making a huge step in my career transition from an engineer to my dream job in asset management. It has also equipped me with a vast breadth as well as exceptional depth of financial knowledge. The lecturers – who are veteran practicing fund managers, private bankers and other financial professionals – bring to the classroom materials that go way beyond the textbooks.

Ker Jyn, Investment Analyst
Graduate, Master of Science in Wealth Management (2008)

SMU Swiss Finance Institute Yale School of Management

Internships

WMI believes in the importance of on-the-ground learning to complement education in the classroom. WMI facilitates the process of placing students new to the industry in internship positions with prominent financial institutions, providing opportunities for a more holistic learning experience.

Students without wealth management experience are strongly encouraged to take part in the internship programme to gain relevant experience and enhance employability.

The WMI internship programme provides interns with an opportunity to experience the reality of the money management industry. For the prospective employer, it is very much like an extended interview process where an employer gets ample time to assess how a potential candidate will fit.

Lester Gray, CEO, Asia Pacific, Schroder Investment Management

» See our list of industry partners

SMU Swiss Finance Institute Yale School of Management

Related Information

Conducted in an interactive and practical setting by lecturers who are currently renowned experts in their respective fields of financial specialty, I have benefited tremendously from this programme and it has definitely given my product specialist career a very strong boost.

Heng Koon How
Director, Commodities Product Specialist, Credit Suisse Private Bank

Topics at SFI emphasise on the Swiss way of wealth management, including niche areas such as family businesses.