In keeping with its dedication to excellence in alternative investment education, the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) Association, in partnership with the Investment Management Consultants Association (IMCA), this month launched the Fundamentals of Alternative Investment Certificate Program®.
“The landscape for alternatives has changed dramatically, and it is imperative that the professionals charged with managing, analyzing, distributing, and regulating these products keep pace with a focus that has knowledge and education as its central tenet,” said William (Bill) Kelly, CAIA Association CEO. “The Fundamentals program is meant to be an answer to the continued quest for this knowledge coming from so many newer and more retail-oriented intermediaries and end-clients.
“A fair question would be, ‘Why this product and why now?’ The traditional distribution model for alternative investments has been almost exclusively focused on institutions and qualified purchasers, where products are packaged in private partnerships,” continued Kelly.
“Illiquidity and less-than-full transparency are part of the deal. The term ‘liquid alts,’ perhaps something of an oxymoron, is now part of the alternative investing vernacular, and this quiet little space has amassed more than $300 billion of assets, with forecasted growth rates that will breach the trillion-dollar mark in very short order,” said Kelly.
The self-paced online course consists of 20 one-hour modules and is taught by CAIA’s leading experts. The program provides an overview of portfolio construction, risk management and due diligence, in addition to in-depth sections on hedge funds, real assets, private equity, commodities and structured products.
“Alternative investments are going mainstream, and educated investment advisors are critical to ensuring that these products are properly employed in sound investment portfolios,” said Sean R. Walters, CAE, IMCA’s executive director and CEO. “Earning the Fundamentals of Alternative Investments Certificate® demonstrates a strong understanding of alternative investing and will give advisors greater confidence in positioning alternatives in portfolios.”
CAIA is proud to be in a partnership with IMCA and are sponsors at the upcoming IMCA National Conference to be held in Boston on May 4 – 7, 2014.
To learn more about Fundamentals of Alternative Investments Certificate Program®, visit caia.org/fundamentals.
