Program Experience

Highlights and Key Outcomes

Through the IFEBP-Wharton programs, you will:

  • Learn the core concepts and tools needed for effective portfolio oversight
  • Obtain a solid grounding in the principles of modern portfolio theory
  • Enhance your ability to assess the strategic impact of your competitors' moves and how to maintain competitive advantage
  • Learn the intricacies of alternate investment strategies, from real estate and hedge funds to private equity

Experience & Impact

Wharton faculty will apply their field-based research and the latest strategic insights to give you a strong foundation, theory, and practical application of investment management.

Each program is an independent unit that may be completed in any sequence, although we strongly encourage individuals with little experience with investment programs to complete the Portfolio Concepts and Management program as a foundation prior, to attending others.

Portfolio Concepts and Management

May 6–9, 2024, Philadelphia PA

This program provides the core principles of portfolio theory and investment performance measurement, offering practical tools and experiences to help you make reliable investment management decisions. Grow confidence in your ability to evaluate investments with a broad, fundamental understanding of investment products and practices. Program attendees will learn in a variety of settings — lecture/discussion sessions, problem solving exercises and small-group case study sessions.

Overall, you will:

  • Obtain a solid grounding in the principles of modern portfolio theory
  • Learn the fundamental concepts needed for effective portfolio oversight
  • Enhance your ability to manage pensions in a risky global environment
  • Apply what you have learned in an interactive case study

Advanced Investments Management

July 22–24, 2024, San Francisco, CA

This program is for those who have a solid grasp of investment management fundamentals and seek to learn more, or have taken the Portfolio Concepts and Management program and are looking for the “next step.” It is assumed participants will already understand the basic principles of portfolio theory, performance evaluation, and risk/return.

Overall, you will:

  • Engage in a thorough and rigorous program that builds on participants’ existing knowledge base and experience
  • Learn the latest trends in performance analysis and management
  • Discuss advanced asset-allocation topics
  • Apply what you have learned in an interactive case study

Alternative Investment Strategies

This program provides practical education to help you understand the complexities of alternative investments. Focused on the topics of hedge funds and real estate investing for benefit funds, this advanced-level program will provide you with the tools to make effective investment decisions. The course schedule covers lecture/discussion sessions, problem-solving exercises and group breakout sessions.

Overall, you will:

  • Engage in a thorough and rigorous program that builds on participants’ existing knowledge base and experience.
  • Discuss hedge fund allocation and investing
  • Learn what you should consider when investing in real estate
  • Hear what strategies your peers are using


Due to our application review period, applications submitted after 12:00 p.m. ET on Friday for programs beginning the following Monday may not be processed in time to grant admission. Applicants will be contacted by a member of our Client Relations Team to discuss options for future programs and dates.

Who Should Attend

International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans: Investment Courses is designed for International Foundation member trustees and other benefit professionals with varying levels of knowledge and experience, including administrators and staff, human resources and benefits professionals, corporate officers and executives, and finance personnel and investment managers. The courses also attract investment professionals and multiemployer and public plan trustees in both the U.S. and Canada.

Participants leave the program with an expanded peer network, plus specific tools and frameworks they can use to be more effective administrators and investment managers. They also gain new insight into the global marketplace and how it impacts their funds’ investment strategy.

Fluency in English, written and spoken, is required for participation in Wharton Executive Education programs unless otherwise indicated.

Faculty


Gordon Bodnar

Gordon Bodnar, PhDSee Faculty Bio

Director, International Economics Program, School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Johns Hopkins University

Research Interests: International finance, corporate finance


Itamar Drechsler

Itamar Drechsler, PhDSee Faculty Bio

Ervin Miller-Arthur M. Freedman Professor; Professor of Finance, Co-Director, Rodney L. White Center for Financial Research, The Wharton School


Chris Geczy

Christopher Geczy, PhDSee Faculty Bio

Adjunct Professor of Finance; Academic Director, Wharton Wealth Management Initiative; Academic Director, Jacobs Levy Equity Management Center for Quantitative Financial Research, The Wharton School


Vincent Glode

Vincent Glode, PhDSee Faculty Bio

Pasi M. Hamalainen Professor; Professor of Finance, The Wharton School

Research Interests: Financial intermediation, information economics


Craig Mackinlay

A. Craig MacKinlay, PhDSee Faculty Bio

Joseph P. Wargrove Professor of Finance, The Wharton School

Research Interests: Asset pricing models, behavior of futures prices, econometric modeling, stock market behavior


Olivia Mitchell

Olivia Mitchell, PhDSee Faculty Bio

International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans Professor, Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy, Professor of Insurance and Risk Management; Executive Director, Pension Research Council, The Wharton School

Research Interests: Economics of public and private pensions, employee benefits and compensation, risk and crisis management


Todd Sinai

Todd Sinai, PhDSee Faculty Bio

David B. Ford Professor; Professor of Real Estate; Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy; Chairperson, Real Estate Department, The Wharton School

Research Interests: Commercial real estate and real estate investment trusts, real estate and public economics, risk and pricing in housing markets, taxation of real estate and capital gains

Testimonials


The Foundation and Wharton continue to provide a stellar investment program. The curriculum and faculty present real-world information that I can take home and apply immediately. There is no doubt I will be a better trustee because of it.”

Michael Brown Board Chairman, Municipal Employees’ Retirement System of Michigan


An incredibly deep dive into emerging markets that broadened not only my understanding of the markets but my fiduciary responsibilities.”

James Rossler Jr. Trustee, Ohio School Employees Retirement System


Thought-provoking, mind-expanding yet understandable teaching from these professors who are very knowledgeable and experts in their fields. I will continue onward in the Wharton pathway of education for the board trustees.”

Barbara M. Phillips School Bus Driver, Ashland City Schools and Board Trustee, Ohio’s School Employee Retirement System


Download the program schedule, including session details and format.

Register via IFEBP Website

In Partnership With

International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans

Contact Us

To learn more about these programs, visit the International Foundation website or contact: Adam Abelson, at +1.262.373.7652 or via email.

For further information regarding the Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) designation, please contact +1.262.786.6710, option 3.

 +1.215.898.1776

 execed@wharton.upenn.edu


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