Effective January 1, 2026, the proficiency rules applicable to Investment Dealer Approved Persons with CIRO have changed. This course is no longer acceptable for the purposes of CIRO approval with an Investment Dealer. There may be circumstances where this course may be accepted for purposes of the CIM® designation. For more information, visit the CIRO Proficiency website.
What will you learn about?
- Details on the new investment product development process
- The use of ETFs in portfolio management
- Advanced fixed income strategies
- Fixed income trading operations
- The use and structure of credit derivatives and asset-backed securities
- Advanced portfolio building techniques
- Creating ownership and compensation structures
- Best practices to run effective front, middle and back offices
- Regulatory landscape and fiduciary responsibilities
- Use of alternative investments in institutional portfolio management
How will you learn?
CSI’s online learning system helps you meet your study goals. You’ll benefit from:
- Learning objectives that keep you focused
- Online post-chapter review questions to assess your progress
- Course updates to ensure you’re learning the most current and up-to-date practical material in your studies
- Assistance from CSI’s academic support specialists
What is the course syllabus?
Chapter 1 - Portfolio Management: Overview
Topics covered in this chapter are:
- What Is a Portfolio Manager?
- Registration Categories Under National Instrument (NI) 31-103
- Investment Industry Regulations
- Best Practices
- Managed Accounts Within an CIRO Dealer Member
Chapter 2 - Ethics and Portfolio Management
Topics covered in this chapter are:
- Ethics
- Code of Ethics
- Trust and Fiduciary Duty
Chapter 3 - The Institutional Investor
Topics covered in this chapter are:
- Financial Intermediation
- Governance
Chapter 4 - The Investment Management Firm
Topics covered in this chapter are:
- Ownership and Compensation Structures
- Regulations and Licensing
- Organizational Structure
- Investor Types
- Service Channels
- Investment Mandates
- Roles and Responsibilities of Institutional Investment Managers
- Investment Management Fees
- Industry Challenges
- Corporate Governance
Chapter 5 - The Front, Middle, and Back Offices
Topics covered in this chapter are:
- An Overview of the Front Office
- The Four Areas of the Front Office
- Information Flow Among Front-Office Staff
- Front Office Best Practices
- Getting Clients
- Losing Clients
- Overview of the Middle Office
- The Middle Office
- The Back Office
Chapter 6 - Managing Equity Portfolios
Topics covered in this chapter are:
- Bottom-Up and Top-Down Approaches
- Portfolio Management Styles
- The Use of Derivatives in Equity Portfolio Management
- Tax Considerations
- The Use of Exchange-Traded Funds in Equity Portfolio Management
Chapter 7 - Managing Fixed-Income Portfolios: Trading Operations, Management Styles, and Box Trades
Topics covered in this chapter are:
- Fixed-Income Trading Operations
- Bond Management Styles
- Box Trades
Chapter 8 - Managing Fixed Income Portfolios: Other Bond Portfolio Construction Techniques, High Yield Bonds, and ETFs
Topics covered in this chapter are:
- Other Bond Portfolio Construction Techniques
- High-Yield (Junk) Bonds
- Fixed Income Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs)
Chapter 9 - The Permitted Uses of Derivatives by Mutual Funds
Topics covered in this chapter are:
- The Types of Mutual Funds that Use Derivatives
- Mutual Fund Regulations
- How Mutual Funds Use Derivatives
- The Advantages of Derivatives
- The Potential Risks of Derivatives
Chapter 10 - Creating New Portfolio Management Mandates
Topics covered in this chapter are:
- New Investment Product Development Process
- Investment Guidelines and Restrictions
Chapter 11 - Alternative Investments
Topics covered in this chapter are:
- Definition of Alternative Investments
- Reasons to Invest in Alternative Investments
- Issues and Challenges with Alternative Investments
- Performance Attribution
- The Unique Risks of Alternative Investments
- Due Diligence
- Current Trends and Developments in Alternative Investing
Chapter 12 - Client Portfolio Reporting and Performance Attribution
Topics covered in this chapter are:
- Client Portfolio Reporting
- Portfolio Management Reports
- Performance Attribution
Course Completion, Wall Certificate and Digital Badge
Upon successfully completing this course, you will be able to download a Notice of Course Completion available through your student profile. This will remain on your profile as formal confirmation of course completion.
You can also accept a digital badge through your student profile after successful course completion. Digital badges are portable image files that allow you to share your credentials across the web. You can post them to your email signature, personal website, social media channels—even to electronic copies of your resume.
CSI will mail you a wall certificate within 4 – 6 weeks of course completion. Frames to display your certificate are available. Please ensure that your First and Last Name on your profile matches your First and Last Name on your Government Issued Photo identification – this will ensure you receive an accurate certificate.
CSI will be pleased to issue an Honours Certificate to all students who obtain a final course mark of 85% or higher.