AFA ® Accredited Financial Analyst ® Program

( FAD Financial Analyst Designate & CMA Chartered Market Analyst )

If you have a degree from one of these programs, you may already be qualified

As a keen financial professional looking to constantly enhance your skills, we would like to invite you to participate in the AFA ® program that will provide you with unique but essential finance skills while providing a valuable qualification that you can use in the market place – Board Certification & Accreditation in Financial Analysis

This AFA Accredited Financial Analyst ® Designation course focuses on the global markets and analysis thereof while also preparing the professional to understand financial statements and analyze financial, legal and economic data.  It presents invaluable tools and techniques for market analysts who analyze such data, along with specialist issues including CFOs, Executives, Manager, financial managers, financial planners, portfolio managers, hedge fund managers, professionals in mergers and acquisitions, equity research professionals.

The world recognized American Academy of Financial Management ® (AAFM) awards the certification and accreditation for this program. A formal professional designation will be provided by the AAFM ® in recognition of successful completion of the course, along with the status as fellow member of the Academy.  On satisfactory completion of the course you will be entitled to use the designation Accredited Financial Analyst ® credential – andn the Chartered Market Analyst (CMA™) on your business cards and resume.

In addition, if you are seeking a further qualification as a financial services professional you may choose to take additional financial services training courses over the next two years and earn an International Certification In Financial Services.

AFA ® Accredited Financial Analyst Designation - Course Pre-Requisites

While there are no formal prerequisites for finance executives who seek these courses, the terminology used and learning assumes a working knowledge of finance at the graduate level as a minimum. Individuals working within the financial services sector will be familiar with the base terms and theories used in course work. Those without financial services experience will be required to do both pre-reading and additional study during the course to ensure a successful passing grade. AACSB, ACBSP, EQUIS/EFMD CHEA or ABA degree generally required.

Who Will Benefit From This Course?

• Executives & Private Bankers

• Wealth Managers and Analysts

• Retail Branch Managers

• Corporate Account Managers

• Family Office professionals

• Brokerage and Market Analysts

• Investment Advisors and Financial Planners

• Investment Managers and Analysts

• Stock Market Professionals

• Portfolio and Asset Managers

• Financial Marketing Professionals

• Heads of Financial Accounts

• Financial Controllers

• Operation and Planning Managers

• Research Officers and Media Professionals

By Attending This Course You Will:

• Learn Key Concepts in International Finance, Investment Selection and analysis.

• Understand the principles of corporate valuations and finance against market operations

• Examine the differences between the debt and equity markets

• Learn the specifics of financial statements and corporate valuations

• Determine the fundamental and regulatory frameworks for mergers and acquisitions

• Examine the necessary research, reporting and marketing techniques for analysts

Key benefits of attending this course

• Explore the latest advances in modern market analysis theory and differentiate your portfolio management skills by adopting international best practice

• Develop a checklist of key applied techniques in markets and financial analysis that will remain with you throughout your career

• Become an expert in interpreting risk and strategy in financial decisions

• Integrate optimum mix of legal, risk management, macro-forces, and valuation analysis development strategies

• Maximize and improve understanding of variables that affect IPOs, Secondary Markets, Portfolios, ETFs, Funds, and more.

• Appreciate the complexities of investing in emerging markets and develop strategies for managing risk and maximizing returns

What Will You Learn From This Series Of Courses?

The program concentrates on the practical application of financial and capital markets theory, investment and portfolio management and principles at the operational level within the financial services organization, thus providing momentum for continuing professional and personal development.

Designation Recognition – awards the AFA ® Accredited Financial Analyst which is also the “FAD-CMA™” post-nominal, or Financial Analyst Designate – Chartered Market Analyst “Superior Standards as seen in the FINRA Reference Guide and also in the Investopedia Dictionary.”

Course Topics

AFA ® Module One sets the scene for the program by reviewing macro-economic principals and the basics of corporate valuations and finance against market operations

Part 1 – Macro Fundamentals

• Impact of economics on financial markets

• Understanding impact of economic state

Part 2 – Corporate Finance

• Time value of money/present value

• Net Present Value (NPV) and other methodologies (e.g. IRR)

• Risk/return analysis

• The capital asset pricing model

• Measuring betas

• Efficient markets theory and random walk model

AFA ® Module Two

Introduction To Financial Markets And

Operations

AFA Module Two examines the difference between

debt and equity markets

Part 1 – Equity Markets

• What is equity?

• Types of equity

• Cost of equity revisited

• Operation of equity markets

Part 2 - Debt Markets

• What is debt?

• Debt forms

• Cost of debt revisited

• Operation of debt markets

AFA ® Module 3

Financial Analysis And Valuations

After examining key market operations, we look to the specifics of financial statements and corporate valuations

Part 1 – Financial Statements

• Key elements of financial statements

• Interpretation of financial statements

• Financial ratios

• Relationships between balance sheet, profit and loss account and cash flow statements

Group Exercise:

Common-value balance sheet exercise

Part 2 – Valuation And Analysis

• Valuation methodologies

• Effects of environmental factors

• Understanding accounting assumptions

and their effects

• Detection of financial report engineering

• Predicting financial distress

• Working capital management and analysis

AFA ® Module Four

Mergers And Acquisitions (M&As) And Regulatory Framework – Market Cause And Effect

Part four leads you into mergers and acquisitions, a primary vehicle for increasing market value/reach and long-term shareholder value, and regulatory frameworks for operating in international markets

Mergers And Acquisitions: The Deal Fundamentals

• Historical background

• Overview of the contemporary M&A marketplace

• Why engage in M&A?

• Results of M&A for acquirers

• Deal synergy

• Calculating M&A value

Regulatory Frameworks

• Regulatory framework

• Role and responsibilities of securities regulators and exchange operators

• Sponsor rules for IPOs, as an example of the regulatory roles

• Corporate governance and its effect on companies (including the ACGA study)

• Conduct rules and ethics

AFA ® Module Five

Research, Reporting And Marketing

Techniques For Analysts

AFA Module five examines research and reporting techniques that are essential for success as a professional in the analyst field. In addition, the program looks at specialist finance marketing techniques.

Part 1 – Research And Reporting Techniques

• Resources available to the market analyst

• Structuring data, scenarios and hypotheses

• Reporting techniques

- Writing an analyst report

- Presenting analyst data in a public forum

Group Exercise:

Preparation of an analyst report for a press release or market seminar for professional investors

OR Preparation of a formal press release or teleconference for investors

Part 2: Marketing And Sales For Finance

• Managing professional staff

• Organizational issues and strategies

• Marketing and brand issues

• Special issues for marketing hedge funds

• Business development strategies

• Understanding individual client needs

• Investment advisor’s duty of care

AFA ® Assessment - Written Essays and Quizzes each day.

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