What will I learn in this alternative investment course?

In this alternative investment course, you will learn how alternative investments like hedge funds, private equity, and real estate work, along with strategies to diversify portfolios and manage risk effectively.

What are alternative investments in finance?

Alternative investments include assets beyond traditional stocks and bonds, such as hedge fund investment, private equity, commodities, real estate, and digital assets.

How do alternative investment strategies help investors?

Alternative investment strategies help investors improve diversification, reduce risk, and generate returns through unique approaches like long/short strategies and macro investing.

What is a hedge fund investment?

A hedge fund investment uses advanced strategies like leverage, derivatives, and short selling to generate high returns and manage portfolio risk.

What are passive income investments in alternative assets?

Passive income investments include real estate and infrastructure assets that generate steady income through rent, dividends, or long-term contracts.

What is an AIF alternative investment fund?

An AIF (Alternative Investment Fund) is a pooled investment structure that invests in non-traditional assets like private equity, hedge funds, or real assets.

Do I need prior finance knowledge for this course?

Basic finance knowledge is helpful but not required. The course explains alternative investments and strategies in a clear and structured way.

How do alternative investments improve portfolio diversification?

Alternative investments have low correlation with traditional assets, helping reduce overall portfolio risk and improve long-term returns.

What are the risks of alternative investments?

Alternative investments may involve risks like low liquidity, high fees, complex structures, and limited transparency compared to traditional investments.

How long does it take to complete this course?

This course can be completed in about 5–6 weeks with 4–5 hours of study per week. It offers a flexible schedule so you can learn at your own pace.

Are digital assets part of alternative investments?

Yes, digital assets like cryptocurrencies and blockchain-based investments are considered emerging alternative investments.

What career benefits does this course provide?

This course helps build skills in portfolio management, investment analysis, and alternative asset evaluation, useful for finance and investment roles.

Can beginners learn alternative investments easily?

Yes, the course is designed to explain concepts step by step, making it suitable for beginners as well as finance professionals.

What tools are used in alternative investment analysis?

Tools include IRR, portfolio diversification models, real estate valuation methods, and risk-return analysis frameworks.

Why are alternative investments becoming popular?

Alternative investments are popular because they offer diversification, higher return potential, and protection against market volatility and inflation.

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?

When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.

Is financial aid available?

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

Prepare for CFA Level 1: Alternative Investments and Assets

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Prepare for CFA Level 1: Alternative Investments and Assets

This course is part of Prepare for CFA Level 1 Exam: Master Core Finance Concepts Specialization

Instructor: Board Infinity

Included with

Learn more

6 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

2 weeks to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

6 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

2 weeks to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Apply alternative investment strategies to diversify portfolios and manage risk effectively.
Analyze hedge fund investment models and evaluate risk-return across different strategies.
Identify passive income investments like real estate and infrastructure for stable cash flow.
Build diversified portfolios using alternative assets, including AIF and digital investments.

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

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Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the Prepare for CFA Level 1 Exam: Master Core Finance Concepts Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 6 modules in this course

Build practical skills to analyze and invest in alternative assets with confidence. This alternative investment course helps you learn real-world tools, frameworks, and strategies used to evaluate private equity, hedge fund investment, real estate, commodities, and digital assets in modern portfolios.

You will start by exploring the expanding universe of alternative investments and their role in diversification. Next, you will learn private capital concepts, including private equity and debt, along with passive income investments. The course then covers real estate and infrastructure, including valuation methods and exposure to best renewable energy stocks. You will also explore natural resources and commodities, followed by hedge fund investment strategies like long/short and macro. Finally, you will understand digital assets and emerging alternative investment strategies shaping modern finance. By the end of this course, you will: • Apply alternative investment strategies to diversify portfolios and manage risk • Analyze hedge fund investment models and evaluate performance • Identify passive income investments across real assets • Build portfolios using AIF alternative investment fund structures • Evaluate digital assets and commodity-based investments This course is ideal for finance students, aspiring analysts, investment professionals, and anyone interested in alternative investments. Start building your expertise and make smarter investment decisions in evolving markets. Disclaimer: This course is an independent educational resource developed by Board Infinity and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or officially associated with CFA Institute or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates. This course is not an official preparation material of CFA Institute. All trademarks, service marks, and company names mentioned are the property of their respective owners and are used for identification purposes only.

Module details

This module introduces the broad landscape of alternative investments and their growing importance in portfolio management. Learners explore asset categories including private capital, real assets, hedge funds, and digital assets while understanding structural and performance characteristics. The module also covers investment structures, fee models, valuation frameworks, and lifecycle dynamics such as the J-curve.

What's included

15 videos5 assignments1 plugin

15 videosTotal 152 minutes

Introduction to Alternative Investments7 minutes
Defining Alternative Investments and Their Role in Portfolios6 minutes
Alternative Investments Features and categories11 minutes
Private capital and hedge funds13 minutes
Real assets- Real Estate and Infrastructure12 minutes
Real assets- Natural Resources and Commodities9 minutes
Digital assets12 minutes
Alternative Investments Methods10 minutes
Alternative Investments Structures12 minutes
Other Structural Features in Alternative Investments9 minutes
Fees and Compensation Structures Basics9 minutes
Fees and Compensation Structures Concepts15 minutes
Alternative Investment life cycle and J curve9 minutes
MOIC and borrowed funds8 minutes
Valuation hierarchy11 minutes

5 assignmentsTotal 120 minutes

Overview of Alternative Investments15 minutes
Alternative Investments Features15 minutes
Alternative Investments Structures15 minutes
Alternative Investments Structures15 minutes
Alternative Investments: The Expanding Investment Universe60 minutes

1 pluginTotal 5 minutes

Quick Course Check-In5 minutes

This module focuses on real estate and infrastructure investments as key real asset classes. Learners explore investment features, structures, and characteristics of real estate assets, along with the categories and development stages of infrastructure projects. The module also evaluates diversification benefits and investment risks associated with these long-term assets.

What's included

7 videos3 assignments

7 videosTotal 70 minutes

Private Capital- Equity and Debt13 minutes
Private Equity Investment Characteristics9 minutes
Private Equity Investment categories14 minutes
Private Equity Exit strategies10 minutes
Private Debt Categories10 minutes
Risk–Return of Private Debt8 minutes
Private Capital Diversification benefits6 minutes

3 assignmentsTotal 90 minutes

Private Equity15 minutes
Private Debt15 minutes
Private Capital: Equity and Debt60 minutes

What's included

11 videos3 assignments

11 videosTotal 92 minutes

Introduction to Real Estate and Infrastructure8 minutes
Real Estate Investment Features13 minutes
Real Estate Investment structures7 minutes
Real Estate Investment characteristics9 minutes
Real Estate Diversification Benefits10 minutes
Infrastructure Investment features10 minutes
Categories of Infrastructure Investments8 minutes
Stages of Infrastructure Development5 minutes
Forms of Infrastructure Development7 minutes
Infrastructure Investment Characteristics9 minutes
Infrastructure Investment Diversification Benefits6 minutes

3 assignmentsTotal 90 minutes

Real Estate15 minutes
Infrastructures15 minutes
Infrastructures60 minutes

This module examines investments in natural resources and commodities. Learners explore investment features, pricing mechanisms, and the economic drivers influencing commodity markets. The module also analyzes risk, return, and diversification benefits associated with natural resource investments.

What's included

5 videos2 assignments

This module introduces hedge funds and their role within the alternative investment landscape. Learners explore various hedge fund strategies including equity, event-driven, relative value, and opportunistic approaches. The module also examines investment structures, distinguishing characteristics, and the risk–return profiles associated with hedge fund strategies.

What's included

9 videos2 assignments

9 videosTotal 75 minutes

Introduction to Hedge Funds10 minutes
Hedge Fund Strategies8 minutes
Equity Hedge Fund Strategies10 minutes
Event Driven Strategies7 minutes
Relative Value Strategies9 minutes
Opportunistic Strategies7 minutes
Distinguishing Characteristics of Hedge Funds8 minutes
HF Investment Forms8 minutes
Hedge Funds Investment Risk, Return, and Diversification8 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 75 minutes

Hedge Funds 15 minutes
Hedge Funds60 minutes

This module explores digital assets and blockchain-based investment opportunities. Learners examine distributed ledger technology, consensus mechanisms such as proof-of-work and proof-of-stake, and different categories of digital assets. The module also analyzes investment structures, characteristics, and portfolio implications of digital asset investments.