Morningstar U.S. | Web-Based Training - Asset Allocation and Behavioral Finance


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Web-Based Training


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Practical. Interactive. Thorough.
Professional Web-based courses.

Companies can help their employees keep pace with the investment theories and practices of today’s marketplace by offering Web-Based Training courses from Morningstar. Developed by Ibbotson Associates, the courses introduce asset allocation methodologies and practical methods for optimizing both portfolios and client relationships. Accessible online, the courses give professionals the freedom to learn at their own pace and earn continuing education credits.

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Key Features

	Meet continuing education and compliance needs

	Strengthen communication and sales skills

	Integrate powerful asset allocation and behavioral finance concepts into daily business

	Train individuals distributed over a wide geographic area

	Offer opportunities to learn at an individual pace

	Track progress through features such as pre-tests, exercises, mastery tests, and a final exam

	Evaluate employee test scores with administrative tools

Web-Based Courses Available

Using Behavioral Finance in Client Relationships
Created by industry specialist Michael Pompian, this course includes ten strategic lessons to build advisors’ knowledge of behavioral finance. By considering different investor archetypes, advisors can learn how to tailor asset allocations to their clients’ preferred risk level. This personalized approach helps advisors establish robust, long-term client relationships.

	Review basic concepts of behavioral investment theory

	Assess clients’ risk sensitivity through psychographic classifications

	Identify the four predominant Behavioral Investor Types and their associated traits

	Discover the limitations of traditional risk-tolerance questionnaires and methods for better profiling clients’ investment objectives

	Learn how to modify asset allocation suggestions for different behavioral biases and wealth levels

Continuing Education Credits:
CFP® Board (CFP license): 9 hours
CIMA/CIMC: 9 hours

Conveying Asset Allocation to Investors
This course helps investment professionals develop effective strategies for educating investors about complex financial theories and the value of strategic asset allocation. Simulated interactions with a sample client present real-world scenarios and solutions for overcoming communication challenges.

	Learn how to explain asset allocation concepts in plain-English terms

	Communicate the benefits and limitations of asset allocation and diversification

	Describe the importance of rebalancing and the methodology behind it

	Understand and address investor irrationalities

	Explore strategies for overcoming communication obstacles including those arising from misleading media coverage, short-term vs. long-term performance expectations, or misconceptions about higher-risk asset classes

Continuing Education Credits:
CFP® Board (CFP license): 2 hours
PACE (ChFC/CLU designations): 2 hours
CIMA/CIMC: 5 hours

Core Asset Allocation Concepts
For entry-level financial services professionals or those who want to review the basics, this course covers the fundamental asset allocation concepts necessary to understand today’s investment world.

	Define the asset classes

	Address the foundations of asset allocation including historical performance, the benefits and limitations of diversification, and the dangers of market timing

	Learn to develop an asset allocation policy

	Understand mean-variance optimization and how to derive the efficient frontier

	Forecast expected returns, risk, and correlations

	Implement an asset allocation policy by evaluating a mutual fund or money manager, measuring style consistency, and choosing appropriate benchmarks

	Incorporate international and alternative asset classes into a portfolio

	Identify the importance of rebalancing and reallocating

Continuing Education Credits:
CFP® Board (CFP license): 2 hours
PACE (ChFC/CLU designations): 2 hours
CIMA/CIMC: 4 hours

Advanced Asset Allocation Concepts
For financial planners, investment advisors, and other investment professionals with a solid understanding of asset allocation methodology, this course explores the practical aspects of asset allocation in greater depth. Investment professionals can practice developing asset allocation policies for individuals and institutions while learning how to get the most from a mean-variance optimizer.

	Review the foundations of asset allocation, including the benefits of diversification and historical asset class performance

	Learn how to determine client goals and risk tolerance

	Create efficient frontiers based on reliable and objective forecasts of expected returns, volatilities, and correlations

	Explore mean-variance analysis and the practical problems with optimization in portfolio construction

	Review sensitivity testing of portfolios

	Address advanced implementation issues and the practical considerations of manager selection

Continuing Education Credits:
CFP® Board (CFP license): 3.5 hours
PACE (ChFC/CLU designations): 3.5 hours
CIMA/CIMC: 8 hours

Advanced Asset Allocation Concepts—Short Course
A condensed version of Advanced Asset Allocation Concepts, this course covers the same topics at a higher level and requires less of a time commitment to complete. Like the longer course, it equips financial professionals who understand asset allocation methodology with knowledge they can use to build optimized portfolios.

	Address the key issues in building an efficient portfolio: risk, return, and correlation

	Differentiate between asset allocation and market timing

	Learn how to determine client goals and risk tolerance

	Create efficient frontiers based on reliable and objective forecasts of expected returns, volatilities, and correlations

	Explore mean-variance analysis and the practical problems with optimization in portfolio construction

Continuing Education Credits:
CFP® Board (CFP license): 2 hours
PACE (ChFC/CLU designations): 2 hours
CIMA/CIMC: 4 hours