Wharton Investment Courses

The International Foundation’s longstanding relationship with the Wharton School brings prestige and excellence in education to you. Spanning over 30 years, the alliance has resulted in the distinguished CEBS designation as well as high-quality investment courses.

The Wharton School, founded in 1881 as the first collegiate business school, is recognized globally for intellectual leadership and ongoing innovation across every major discipline of business education. As the most comprehensive source of business knowledge in the world, Wharton bridges research and practice through its broad engagement with the global business community.

Formed through in-depth, groundbreaking academic research and extensive industry experience, Wharton executive education programs offer a supportive and challenging context in which participants gain the skills necessary for their next level of executive development. Wharton’s Aresty Institute of Executive Education serves up to 8,000 mid- to senior-level executives annually.

Through partnership programs, International Foundation members have the opportunity to engage with faculty who are the most cited, most published faculty of all top-tier business schools.  With a profound influence upon global business, Wharton faculty members are the sought-after, trusted advisors of corporations and governments worldwide.

CEBS Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS)

Since the inception of CEBS in 1977, the International Foundation has been privileged to partner with the Wharton School. This unique partnership distinguishes CEBS and its university-based curriculum from other total compensation designations. In its partnership role, the Foundation is responsible for program administration and the Wharton School is responsible for all academic standards including curriculum design and examinations.

Investments Mangement Education

Held annually at Wharton campuses, select investment management courses are offered to International Foundation member trustees and other benefit professionals with varying levels of knowledge and experience.  Wharton’s skilled educators and researchers, award-winning authors and leading authorities in the investment management field teach and/or oversee the curriculum of the investment courses.

Portfolio Concepts and Management
May 24-27, 2010
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Portfolio Concepts and Management replaces the former Fundamentals of Money Management program. This is a 3½-day course with lecture and discussion sessions, problem-solving exercises and small group breakout sessions.

Hedge Funds, Real Estate and Other Alternative Investments
July 19-21, 2010
San Francisco, California
This course provides practical education for helping you make the fine distinctions in the arena of alternative investments. The course schedule allows for 2½ days of lecture and discussion sessions, problem-solving exercises and group breakout sessions.

Advanced Investments Management

Next offered in 2011.
This course is designed to build upon participants’ existing knowledge base and experience through formal instruction, an interactive case study and small group work over an intensive 3½ days.

International Investing and Emerging Markets

Next course offering to be determined.
This course will provide the tools to assist you in formulating global investment policies and managing your international investment portfolio. You will also learn about the opportunities and corresponding risks presented by emerging markets.

Brief Course Outline

  • Capital markets: A global overview
  • International diversification
  • Exchange rates, international investing and bond markets
  • Financial trends in emerging markets
  • Social aspects of investing in emerging markets

While there are no formal prerequisites for these courses, those without prior knowledge of fundamental investment topics will most likely find the specialty courses too difficult and are encouraged to register for the more basic Portfolio Concepts and Management program offered yearly at Wharton’s Philadelphia campus.

The Learning Environments

The Wharton School - University of Pennsylvania
Steinberg Executive Conference Center
255 South 38th Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6359

Classes are held at the Steinberg Executive Conference Center on the University of Pennsylvania campus. Lecture rooms offer a state-of-the-art, comfortable environment conducive to adult learning. Breakout rooms allow for small group discussion. Direct interaction with faculty is encouraged and aided by the limited class size.

Wharton West - San Francisco
101 Howard Street, Suite 500
San Francisco, California 94105

Classes are held in a state-of-the-art educational facility designed to facilitate the learning style that Wharton has pioneered. Wharton West is conveniently located in San Francisco’s business and financial district, in the historic Folger Building. Programs at Wharton West draw their faculty and courses from the same world-renowned resources available at Wharton’s Philadelphia campus.

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