Dylan Fedy is senior director, marketing and customer insight, at CSI Global Education in Toronto.
A growing number of investing courses – both in the classroom and online – can help to take the mystery out of managing a portfolio, especially for investors increasingly interested in trying their hand or using the do-it-yourself approach.
Dylan Fedy joined us on Thursday for an online chat to discuss the Canadian Securities Course for Investors – a new program launched in April and aimed at the general public.
For years, CSI Global Education has offered the Canadian Securities Course to people working in the securities industry.
The new CSC for Investors has the same content as the regular CSC, but there are some key differences: CSC for Investors costs $495 compared with $950 for the regular CSC; it has no exams; and it doesn't lead to accreditation. It's meant solely for individuals who want to expand their investing knowledge.
"CSC for Investors is aimed at people who want to really understand what the investment landscape looks like," says Mr. Fedy, senior director of marketing and customer insight at CSI Global in Toronto.
"It makes them a more confident investor, whether that's someone who's doing it on their own, doing a portion on their own or working with a professional."
Mr. Fedy, who is responsible for leading and implementing various programs for CSI Global, explained the new program.
The CSC for Investors content (which can be accessed online or through a textbook, or both) includes:
· The Canadian securities industry and the regulatory environment
· Setting financial goals, the financial planning process and taxation
· Financial instruments: fixed income, equities, managed products, structured products, fee-based accounts and derivatives
· Market and economic events affecting investment performance
· Company, industry and market performance and analysis
· Understanding and analyzing corporate financial statements
· The portfolio management process and asset allocation
Mr. Fedy has been with CSI since 2006. With nearly 15 years of professional marketing experience, he was a marketing manager at CDI Education (Global Knowledge), where he oversaw, planned and managed the company's national marketing campaigns. He also led marketing teams in Britain for companies selling corporate software solutions and managed consumer brands at Wyeth Consumer Healthcare, where he focused on the company's largest brand, Advil.
Mr. Fedy has an honours bachelor of business administration degree from Wilfrid Laurier University.