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Greenwashing is the act of distributing false information about something being more environmentally friendly than it actually is.

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In the first video of this two-part video series, Elisa introduces us to sustainability. She begins by looking at the difference between sustainability and corporate social responsibility, two terms that can be easily confused.

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Banking Essentials - Part I

This pathway will walk us through the basics of banks, starting with some of the different types and their main functions, then starting to look at the regulation faced by the banks, both before and after the Global Financial Crisis.

Greenwashing

Greenwashing is the act of distributing false information about something being more environmentally friendly than it actually is.

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Our Platform

Expert led content

+1,000 expert presented, on-demand video modules

Learning analytics

Keep track of learning progress with our comprehensive data

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Engage with our video hotspots and knowledge check-ins

Testing & certification

Gain CPD / CPE credits and professional certification

Managed learning

Build, scale and manage your organisation’s learning

Integrations

Connect Finance Unlocked to your current platform

Featured Content

More featured content

Tackling the Cost of Living Crisis

In this video, Max discusses the cost-of-living crisis currently enveloping the UK. He examines its impact on households as well as the overall economy.

CSR and Sustainability in Financial Services

In the first video of this two-part video series, Elisa introduces us to sustainability. She begins by looking at the difference between sustainability and corporate social responsibility, two terms that can be easily confused.

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Book a demo

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The Asset Management Life Cycle

The Asset Management Life Cycle

Mark Doran

40 years: Fund management

In this video, Mark explores the ins and outs of the asset management life cycle, including how mutual funds and hedge funds differ from one another.

In this video, Mark explores the ins and outs of the asset management life cycle, including how mutual funds and hedge funds differ from one another.

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The Asset Management Life Cycle

11 mins 54 secs

Key learning objectives:

  • Understand how a mutual fund is created

  • Outline the lifecycle of a mutual fund

  • Understand how a hedge fund is created and its goals

Overview:

Although the asset management life cycle of different types of investment funds may be similar in some respects, they also have a number of differences. It is essential that the people working in this area perform their duties accordingly so that their respective funds can operate as effectively as possible for their investors. There are differences in how the funds are set up, managed and their end objectives.

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Summary

How is a mutual fund created?

Creation of a mutual fund starts with a sponsor, the entity who initiates the creation of a mutual fund, they will approach the local regulator for authorisation and subsequent registration. 

The sponsor will then appoint an Asset Management Company to manage the investors money, they will handle the day-to-day operations and money management.  

The sponsors then establish a trust and appoint trustees, who are the entity authorised to act on behalf of the trust. Once the trust is registered, it will become known as a mutual fund. 

What is the life cycle of a mutual fund?

Once the asset management company has been appointed, a portfolio investment manager is employed to make the day-to-day investments of the fund. They will work alongside a specific person or team of people called asset managers who are responsible for making investment decisions. Their role is to either track or outperform a specific benchmark, and they charge management fees for this service. 

The asset management company is split into front, middle and back office. The front office side (asset managers) generate revenue for the company. The middle office must ensure that positions are correct, as well as checking trade confirmations and monitoring settlement activity. The back office is the area made up of non-client-facing administration and support functions. Settlement of units bought and sold in the fund itself and record keeping of what assets the fund owns must be undertaken by this part of the company. They are also responsible for ensuring compliance with any regulatory frameworks. Back office also deals with the creation of financial statements on valuation, as well as corporate actions, and keeping an up-to-date record of ownership within the fund. 

What is the life cycle of a hedge fund?

Hedge funds are often domiciled in countries such as Grand Cayman, which have very low income tax for foreign investors. The investment managers can be anywhere, but usually based in London, New York or Singapore. 

Hedge funds use prime brokers (banks) to fulfil the necessary roles such as trading, settlement, safekeeping, risk management, cash borrowing, stock borrowing, derivatives trading and so on. 

Hedge funds are closed-ended companies and only accept investors who suit their investment strategy. Minimum investments vary from $50,000 - $1,000,000 and redemptions are infrequent, making hedge funds illiquid investments. 

Strategies of hedge funds are often complex, and investments can only be sold to professional investors. 

Hedge fund managers can close the funds in unfavourable market conditions and re-open when the market has improved. 

 

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Mark Doran

Mark Doran

Mark Doran is an independent Trainer and former Trader at Bank of Montreal and HSBC. He was Non-Executive Director on the Risk Committee for an Asset Manager for over 5 years. Started delivering Financial Markets training over 20 years ago and now runs his own private investment portfolio. His area of expertise include Investments, Trading, Risk and Operations as well as owning a private investment company.

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