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Tag: investment banking certifications

Fixed Income Securities: Corporate Bonds, Treasury Bonds, Municipal Bonds, etc., and Other Securities

Posted on by Imarticus Learning

Fixed-income securities, including corporate, government, and municipal bonds, are the cornerstone of conservative investing, providing stability and generating income. We emphasise the extreme importance of diversifying investment portfolios. Diversifying into different asset classes, such as fixed-income securities, is a good strategy and way to reduce risk and achieve long-term financial goals.

To build a career in investment banking, read this insightful article and learn about the best investment banking certification! This comprehensive guide will first look at fixed income and explain their nature and meaning.

Corporate Bonds

Corporate bonds are debt securities issued by companies to raise capital. These bonds have different characteristics, such as a fixed interest rate called a coupon and a predetermined term for repayment of the principal. They are considered relatively low-risk compared to other fixed-income securities.

Commercial loans also offer portfolio diversification opportunities. However, they involve risks, especially credit risk, in which the issuer may not make interest payments or principal repayments. Assessing credit ratings, industry trends, and a company’s financial condition is critical before investing. 

Treasury Bonds 

Treasury Bonds are an important debt instrument. These are government bonds that are known for their safety and are backed by the full faith and credit of the government. These bonds are distinguished by their long-term maturity period. The longer period makes them an attractive option for investors with long-term financial goals who are not looking forward to immediate liquidity needs. 

These play a major role in financial markets as they influence interest rates and act as benchmarks against other interest-bearing investments, thereby making them a cornerstone of investment portfolios and financial planning.

Municipal Bonds

Municipal loans play a crucial role in financing community development as a whole. One of the important advantages of municipal bonds is their benefits. The biggest advantage of interest income that is earned on most municipal bonds is that it is exempted from income tax.

One should be aware of the risks associated with municipal bonds. Investors should assess the issuer’s credit status based on information obtained from credit ratings and financial statements. Therefore, proper diversification of different municipalities and maturity can help reduce risks. A comprehensive banking course can help individuals understand this better. 

Risks Associated with Fixed-income Securities

Understanding and managing these risks is critical when including fixed income in your investment portfolio. One must take a banking and finance course to know more about associated risks. Diversification and thoughtful risk assessment can help reduce potential losses.

  • Interest rate risk: This risk arises when interest rates in the larger economy fluctuate. As interest rates rise, the market value of current fixed-income instruments falls, affecting bond prices. Bond prices often climb when interest rates decrease.
  • Liquidity risk: Liquidity risk arises when buying or selling a fixed-income security at the desired price and at the desired time, if it is difficult. Less liquid bonds may require investors to sell at a discount, causing potential losses. 
  • Inflation risk: Inflation weakens the purchasing power of interest-bearing investments, especially if the accumulated interest does not keep pace with price increases. Investors may experience reduced real returns in an inflationary environment. 

Building a Diverse Portfolio

For a career in banking and finance, one should know how to build a diverse portfolio of assets. Diversification has many benefits for you as an investor, but one of the biggest is that it can improve your potential returns and stabilise your results. By owning multiple assets that perform differently, you reduce the overall risk in your portfolio so that no investment hurts you too much.

Because assets perform differently in different economic times, diversification reduces your returns. While stocks may fall, bonds may rise and CDs may remain stable. If you hold a different amount of each asset, you get a weighted average of the performance of those assets.

While you won’t make amazing returns owning just one rocket ship, you won’t suffer its ups and downs either. Although diversification can reduce risks, it cannot eliminate all risks. Diversification reduces asset-specific risk – that is, the risk of owning too much of one stock (such as Amazon) or stocks in general relative to other investments. However, this does not eliminate market risk, which is the risk of owning this type of asset. One should go in for investment banking courses online to learn about more such insights into trading.

Current Trends in the Fixed-income Markets

Current interest rate market trends and forecasts are impacted by a variety of variables and are relevant to investors. Fixed-income assets are heavily influenced by economic variables such as interest rates, inflation forecasts, and creditworthiness.

Central banks play an important role in these markets, and their policies, such as quantitative easing and interest rate changes, have a large influence on bond rates and market dynamics. Investors are increasingly exploring creative techniques such as ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) bonds and sustainable investing to match their portfolios with social and environmental goals.

Furthermore, demand for high-yield fixed-income products, the introduction of digital bonds, and the expansion of fixed-income exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are altering the market. Keeping up with these emerging trends is important for investors who want to effectively navigate the fixed-income market and adapt to changing economic environments. 

Conclusion

The Certified Investment Banking Operations Professional Course from Imarticus Learning is a valuable investment for aspiring financial professionals. This investment banking course helps students develop the skills and knowledge that they need to be successful in the investment banking domain. It focuses on real-world applications and provides students with the opportunity to practise the programs in a hands-on environment. It increases career opportunities and instils confidence and competence in participants. Choose Imarticus Learning for such an investment banker course for a strategic step towards a successful and fulfilling career in finance!

What are the Benefits of Investment Banking Certification

Posted on by Imarticus Learning

With the rapid pace at which technology and data have evolved in the last decade, organizations have had to find newer practices in financial management and banking too. Whether you wish to make a career, switching jobs or are aspiring for a promotion, organizations want to know before recruiting that the aspirant has sufficient experience and certification in banking practice. This is where the employers need a measurable validation of your banking experience from a reputed institution to provide them with exactly this information.

How the Investment Banking Course Helps

The aim of the Investment Banking course is to ensure

  • Prepares you for final investment banking certification exams.
  • Aspirants are job-ready from day one.
  • Frequent updates and mock interviews for job placement.
  • Career guidance and interview-skills workshops.
  • Resume writing, assistance and application techniques.
  • Assured job placements.

The best learning courses for IB certification ensure they bridge the gaps in technological and soft skills while producing job-ready aspirants who can hit the ground running. The three components covered are

  • Experiential learning: The courses have experiential practical training led by certified and industry-drawn instructors and mentors, Excel-based technology training, powerful discussion forums, Post-course engagement, and a host of assignments and case studies.
  • Soft-skills Learning: Inclusive of interpersonal communications, email and virtual communication, decision making, time management, problem-solving, assertiveness and emotional intelligence building.
  • Course Learning: This module is comprehensively handled through extensive classroom sessions using tools like video lectures, real-life simulations, assured placement sessions, resume writing and building sessions, mock interviews and more.

Why Investment Banking Certifications are So Essential:

Certifications like the investment banking certification besides being a goal achieved can also provide you with a number of other benefits like

  • Builds your confidence and adds to your resume.
  • Measures your Excel, technological and presentation skills.
  • Visibility in a pool of aspirants in the job market.
  • Salaries that are probably better and account for a better experience in banking practice.
  • Credibility that you know, implement and practice the techniques learnt in the course.
  • Match market and technological trends that are current and in demand.

Job Perks:

A quick look at the salaries range shows that IB salaries can range from 6 to 22 lacs. Those with certification do tend to draw and negotiate contracts paying them 20 to 40% more than the median salaries.
Recruiting Companies:
Recruiting companies includeJP Morgan Chase, Bank of America, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, Morgan and Stanley, Accenture, Datamatics, Deloitte, BSE, Adobe, Acer, Aaj Tak, Amazon, Yes Bank, Bajaj, Springboard, 99 acres, Mahindra group, Heng Seng Bank, BNP Paribas, HSBC, and more.

Minimum education:

Banking does require sound financial knowledge and though not mandatory graduation in economics, finance, business administration, math, etc does give you an edge. So do the certifications in the field, especially when they come from a reputed institute like Imarticus, and serve as measurable indices of skill and experience in the required concepts of banking like in IB or AM.

Climbing the job ladder:

Starting as an intern and working your way up to the licensing and certifications in the US is very popular.
• 2 to 3 years as an Intern Financial Analyst in both fields.
• AM/IB Associate.
• VP- Investment Banking/ Asset Management.
• IB/AM Director.
• MD, CFO etc.

Investment Banking Salaries

There is hardly any difference in the pay packages across the various sectors of IB. In early 2004, the median professional IB salary was 315,000 USD. A decade later the figures for the IB salary stood at 288,000 USD. Investopedia reports suggest the median 2015 the investment banker’s salary was in the range of 75,000 to 85,000 USD. The performance bonuses added to take it to 140,000 USD for bankers in the early first year. Asset managers pay packages varied between 55,000 to 100,000 USD with a flat cut in the funds managed by them. Thus the financial crisis, global shifts in capital markets and new financial products will see the IB salaries rise and the gaps in salaries across IB services close, according to an FT article source.
Conclusion:
Banking jobs are high-prestige, well-paying secure fixed-hours jobs. There is an unending demand of aspirants seeking bank- job prospects and the scope for the demand in personnel is always rising. The US Labor Department predicts a decade of growth of 12% starting from 2014. This is so as the financial instruments are also evolving fast based on market requirements and both the technology and concept applications get complex and new-age. Do your investment banking certification at Imarticus Learning and kick-start your career today.

How do I become an Investment Banker?

Posted on by Imarticus Learning

The investment banking industry is one of the most competitive ones out there and breaking into it may seem like a monumental task. Here’s Nikita’s story on how she took the first step.

Do you want a career in investment banking but are wondering where to begin? You’re not alone. Nikita, a commerce graduate, was looking to enter the investment banking industry but didn’t know where to begin.

Well, we’re glad to say, she’s well on the path to her dream job. Here’s her story:

Hi, my name is Nikita Iyer and I have a bachelor’s degree in finance and investment analysis from Amity University, Noida. I am currently pursuing the investment banking operations course from Imarticus Learning in Mumbai.

I always wanted to build a career in investment banking but never had a clear idea about the path to achieving my ambition. A relative of mine who had completed a course at Imarticus recommended the investment banking training.

Investment Banking Course

Truth be told, I was a little alarmed when I came across a couple of reviews that said Imarticus Learning is fake. My reaction – What? Turns out the reviews were baseless and I had nothing to worry about. I went through the course curriculum and the brochure spoke to a counselor at Imarticus and immediately enrolled for the program.

The best part about Imarticus is the guidance provided by the faculty even for the smallest problem that I faced.

On a scale of 1 – 5, I would rate the faculty a perfect 5.

The guest lectures also were an important part of the program and were very informative. The lecture covered options strategies and gave me a deep understanding of how options and securities are traded in the market.

As part of Imarticus Learning’s placement services, the team also reviewed my resume and helped me sharpen it. The faculty provided me with a lot of information about what to include and what to omit from my resume and helped me articulate my goals and objectives clearly and concisely.

I’m extremely happy with the progression of each module of the course.

The concepts that were taught were not just theoretical but also included plenty of practical applications. I was also exposed to the real world of investment banking through projects and trading simulations.

I would definitely recommend Imarticus because my learning experience has been fantastic so far.

Also Read: Ways to Get First Job At Investment Bank

Become an Investment Banker in 3 Months. Here’s How?

Posted on by Imarticus Learning

Shubhadeep’s transition from engineering to an investment banking job in three months truly is inspirational.
Career transitions are hard. Really hard.
Don’t we all occasionally have days when we step back from the daily grind of work and think – “If only I could be paid to do what I’m passionate about”?
Shubhadeep was having one of those days.
An engineering graduate, Shubhadeep was disappointed with the career opportunities that were presented to him after four years of college. He wanted to enter the world of finance, more specifically, he wanted to be an investment banker. The thing is, transitioning from engineering to investment banking is no piece of cake and he realized that.
Over a period of more than a week, Shubhadeep dived into researching the most effective means to achieve his ambitions. His brother, also an investment banker, gave positive reactions on Imarticus review glassdoor and pointed him toward the investment banking certifications. A face-to-face counseling session was the turning point and he decided to enroll for the investment banking course.
Investment Banking Course
“The course is crisp and clear and the lectures are in-depth. It’s very easy to co-relate everything I study in class to the investment banking industry,” he says.
Three months after enrolling for the course, Shubhadeep has landed a job with SS&C GlobeOp and now works as an associate within the investor services division.
Isn’t that great? We think so.
Do you want to be three months away from an investment banking job? Click here and speak to our career experts today.

Imarticus Learning’s Investment Banking Course Powers Career Transitions – Here’s Sanjita’s Story

Posted on by Imarticus Learning

 

Transitioning from consumer banking to investment banking, while improbable, is absolutely possible. We had a chat with Sanjita, a retail banking professional and student of the Certified Investment Banking training program at Imarticus Learning.

Here’s her story.

My name is Sanjita Pednekar. I have a master’s degree in commerce and graduated in management studies back in 2014. I am currently a part of batch 84 of the Certified Investment Operations course at Imarticus.

I heard about Imarticus on the internet. I was working in the retail banking industry but have always wanted to enter the investment banking division. I began looking for courses that would teach me the requisite knowledge and help me become an investment banker. I first did a bit of research into the skills an investment banker needs to learn and then went through the program webpage and curriculum. I found that the program has an overall view of investment banking and would build the skills that the industry needs. Moreover, Imarticus Learning reviews were very positive, and these were the factors that convinced me to enroll.

I would rate the course 5/5 

The best thing about the course is the comprehensive curriculum that’s precise and practically oriented. Each lesson is co-related to hands-on case studies and projects, and that’s what helped me through my learning journey. The learning management system – Learntron, also is an excellent resource and was accessible 24/7.

Guest lectures were conducted periodically by industry experts, and they were invaluable 

The lectures gave me a perspective of investment banking from an industry point of view. One of the sessions that I clearly remember and can relate to was on an options strategy. It helped me understand how the options strategy works in the market and how it can impact the derivatives market.

The resume building process was a key highlight of the program

When I compare my old resume with the post-Imarticus one, there certainly is a drastic change. I’ve been able to present myself effectively through my resume because of the prompt guidance from the faculty.

The faculty get a superstar rating from me, especially Lourdes Maam

The entire faculty was approachable and friendly and would take extra care to clear all my doubts and questions.

I’d recommend the course to everyone looking for a career in investment banking; it will give you an edge over the competition – guaranteed!

Are you interested in an investment banking career? Click here and speak to a career specialist now.

Is a Career in Investment Banking Lucrative For Any Individual?

Posted on by Imarticus Learning

 

For many, investment banking is a career that gives the best of all worlds-job satisfaction, money and a respectable lifestyle. Read onto to find out why everyone wants to join this industry.

Fancy suits and briefcases and a gait with pride are only the exterior attributes of an investment banker. Today, many are vying to join the extremely competitive and challenging workforce of an investment banking company. This is predominantly due to the fact that a career in investment banking is highly lucrative and rewarding. Many educational institutes are also providing investment banking certifications to help support the influx of candidates who want to pursue a career in this field. Individuals who have completed an investment banking course are prolific, intelligent and detail-oriented which many banking firms look for. 

Here are the top reasons why many individuals are considering a career in investment banking.  

High Salaries

One of the biggest reasons many people join this industry is due to the fact that most banking and fintech firms provide high salaries to both freshers and seasoned professionals. This is mainly due to the fact that these are the people who are dealing with money, to begin with. Everyone is highly competitive and earning big pay cheques which can support a good luxurious lifestyle.

Interesting work portfolio 

Investment bankers get to work on deals and plan strategies for their clients which in itself is fun work. Many get to be part of massive decision making when it comes to large MNCs in various industries thereby adding curiosity and challenge to the work.  Individuals also get to work with the smartest and most driven bankers in the financial sector, thereby creating a good work atmosphere. From raising capital for a startup to looking at mergers or acquisitions, there are many responsibilities that one gets to take care of as an investment banker. 

Symbol of Pride

 Investment banking is a field that is revered the world over due to the competitive and volatile nature of the industry. It is a matter of pride and dominance which drives many individuals to join the field. The job adds a prestigious feeling and helps them achieve respect in the community. The earnings derived from an investment banking career can set you up for a comfortable and respectable lifestyle and also help individuals better plan their own personal investments. 

Conclusion

Investment banking is a great career choice if you are passionate about numbers, you are driven and looking for a luxurious lifestyle. 

Investment Banking Business Model and Financial Stability

Posted on by Imarticus Learning

Investment banking is the clear winner when it comes to advisory and mediation roles. It takes care of investing from end to end, by assessing the risk and evaluating the flow of credit.
Not only do they cater to private investors, but also to large and small companies alike, and also to governmental organizations. With so much to offer, how does investment banking generate revenue and profit? How does an investment bank thrive? This article attempts to answer these questions by taking a look at the business or financial model of investment banks and their methods for financial stability.
Financial modeling is crucial during decision-making. The prices are decided by the financial model. Previous trends are analyzed, changes are incorporated, and future trends are predicted. These are important data points that aid in making the right decisions. Financial modeling helps investment bankers in equity research and credit ratings. The models are used to analyze the value of a company, thereby deciding whether to go for a merger or an acquisition. Companies use the financial model to assess their standing and growth.

Investment banks receive a commission for all the successful transactions they make between agreeing parties. The bigger the deal, the more they earn! They earn money through trading by employing traders to invest in shares and derivatives. The banks also receive asset management fees from their clients for evaluating and protecting their assets. For all the advisory and compliance roles, the banks charge the corresponding service fees. Investment banks generate revenue from dividends too. They receive income for underwriting stocks and bonds. Investment banks spend a huge chunk of their resources on research and analysis. Once through research is done and reports are generated, the important data and insights are sold to hedge funds and mutual funds managers.
Some investment banks also generate revenue by performing wealth management roles.
There are a few business models in investment banking that can be used during turbulent times, for higher performance. These are :
Flow Monster: This business model demands competitive pricing, strong sales relationships, high-quality research, and highly efficient technology.
Product Specialist: Holds conviction to a particular product or technology or type of trade. Here, the product managers must be fully knowledgeable about the product and what differentiates them.
Risk Master: This business model tries to ace risk assessment and management. Calculated and intelligent risks are taken. It is not a common model but is quite successful.
To enhance and optimize their business models, investment banks can try to focus on client-centric initiatives. Smooth onboarding and regulatory checks are generally expected. Simplifying the IT infrastructure, reducing overheads helps in reducing operational costs. Investment banks can invest in financial technologies to help overcome technological glitches and improve stability. Often ignored is the organizational structure in investment banks. By changing the internal culture and hierarchy, sometimes a lot can be achieved. Having said that, maintaining standard procedures is equally important.
These are areas where the banks can work on to maximize efficiency and maintain financial stability.
Financial technology plays a major role in investment banking. Currently, there is no unified structure for all the technologies used. They are diverse and heavily layered, which increases the complexity of regulation. Cybersecurity is a major challenge for the banking sector. Commonly suggested, is the two-factor authentication method for verification of identity.
Financial engineering requirements sometimes determine the success of banking. A flexible model that evolves with the ever growing and changing technology, that is more adaptable is the need of the hour for Investment Banking Courses and business models. It is generally suggested that the banks spend considerable resources on strategy and optimization to avoid bad transactions and financial instability. To turn around investment banking, some fundamental, yet simple transformations are required. And finally, investment banks need to address the disruptors and attackers of the economy, so as to adapt to changing ecosystems and maintaining a resilient system.

Career After Investment Banking Certification

Posted on by Imarticus Learning

Investment Banking prospects in India are very promising. Planning a shift in careers or a fresher, this is one stream worth considering. Specially, if you are an individual who finds the idea of making money from money exciting.
In simple words, investment banking is a profession where you match the expectations of people who have the capital with those who need it. Although it is not as simple as it sounds. As you will be advising people or institutions on money matters across various phases of a life cycle of a project, ranging from the start up stage to the listing of stock markets, you need to maintain the optimum valuation. It requires great understanding of the market so that you can offer the most optimum advice to your client, on options like mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures etc…,
Certain skill sets required to excel in this choice of work are, high research and an analytical mind-set, par excellence communication skills, an innovators mind set, troubleshooting capability, genuine ease of working and analysing numbers, forecast sales and budget, technical knowledge. A person from any steam can think of starting their career in investment banking, but it important to have a good understanding in math, economics, business studies. Although you can pursue an MBA, to have a specialised course will serve as a spring board to your efforts and help you secure a job in a reputed company, or help you get that promotion you are waiting for since long.
There are very limited options you have in terms of getting a holistic training on investment banking, however one that has proven to be closest to giving you the best exposure and highly recognised in the industry is, the Certified Investment Banking Operations Professionals (CIBOP), it is a flexible program for both fresher’s and experienced professionals. And CIBOP can be considered as a pre prep for the CISI IOC certification program, it is highly regarded by investment houses globally and passing this certification echoes the thought that an individual does have a sound understanding of the financial services industry.

The CIBOP program offered by Imarticus, is a 180 hours’ program dedicated in understanding complex securities and derivatives, their trade life cycle, along with operational risk and regulation. CIBOP offers operations and domain training augmented with a personal development program. CIBOP has an industry relevant program, supplemented with industry stalwarts as faculty, and real case studies.
On completing the CIBOP course from Imarticus learning you will get an industry endorsed CIBOP certificate along with the optional CISI certified IOC certificate, besides this, Imarticus has career services and their placement team will guide and assist you throughout the program, providing the best career opportunities.
CIBOP is a hybrid program with online self-paced videos and live classes, along with classroom training. The CIBOP program also has a host of guest lectures, by experienced industry veterans, which presents abundant opportunities for students to raise questions and clarify doubts and get clear actual industry insights.
On completing CIBOP course you will have a sound understanding of every aspect of Investment banking along with practical aspects of the sector. So if you have an inclination towards this field and have some of the prerequisites in place, don’t wait and enrol with Imarticus Learning and take the CIBOP certification.