The course offers a framework for understanding returns and risks of investing in stocks, real estate properties, gold, bonds, and USD currency.  We discuss principles and strategies for making your money grow efficiently and wisely.  Emphasis is placed on systematic approach to making decisions when investing in Vietnamese enterprises, securities, and in other valuable assets.

Strategic Investment

Strategies for investing in real estate,

gold, stocks, bonds, USD and Bank Deposits

Professor John Behzad

California State University, USA

Time: 6 – 9 PM

Date: October 25 – 27, 2011

Lecturer:

Dr. John Behzad is emeritus professor of finance and management at California State University USA and has over 25 years experience in teaching business courses in MBA and undergraduate programs in USA.  He holds a B.A. in insurance, an M.A. in economics, an MBA in finance, and a Ph.D. in finance and international business.  He has done consulting in financial services, technology management, and executive education.  He has published articles and books and has presented numerous papers at the national and international meetings of American academic and professional associations.  He has served as director of several industry and government projects, research institutes, and foundations. 

Course Description

The course offers a framework for understanding returns and risks of investing in stocks, real estate properties, gold, bonds, and USD currency.  We discuss principles and strategies for making your money grow efficiently and wisely.  Emphasis is placed on systematic approach to making decisions when investing in Vietnamese enterprises, securities, and in other valuable assets.  Topics include:

• Engines of creation and destruction of wealth
• Prices, returns, risks, yields, and valuation of securities traded in financial markets
• Investing in stocks, corporate bonds, government securities, and bank certificates.
• Investing in residential and commercial property
• Investing in gold & silver
• Investing in foreign currencies (dollar, yen, euro)
• Impact of inflation, deflation, recession, and financial crisis on value of assets
• Impact of monetary variables, government policies, and financial market movements on creation and growth of value, assets, and wealth.

Who should attend?

·         

• Corporate managers serving in positions of deputy general director, marketing manager, operations manager, human resource manager, chief accountant, and financial manager.

• Business owners and directors who wish to balance their intuitive approach to investing with modern financial thinking as practiced in international markets

• Professional support staff, especially employees working in planning, accounting, finance, and customer relations departments of service companies,  industrial firms, and small and medium enterprises

• Any person who is interested in investing (real estate, stock, gold,) or who wants to refresh their knowledge of financial economy and financial assets.

Course format

The course has been designed to take into account the economic reality of investing in Vietnam.  The professor makes use of lecture, discussion, and examples.  Lectures are designed to communicate principles of investing in order to understand the dynamics of financial markets.  Discussions are used to apply concepts to current economic conditions in Vietnam.  Examples are used to balance your intuitive thinking with modern financial reasoning.  Participants are encouraged to express any questions, views, or comments at any time --before, during, or after class. 

Course Outline

The course is offered in 3 evening sessions (6-9 PM on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 25-27, 2011).  Presentations and discussions will cover a range of areas, such as:

Building Wealth through Investing in Financial Assets

·         The engine of wealth creation and growth.  How to create and increase wealth?

·         Financial asset: features, returns, and prices

·         Nature of investment decisions: balancing risk, returns, and timing

·         Good financial thinking and how to apply it to investments

·         Economic environment of investment in Vietnam

·         Monetary policy: instruments, targets, and applications

·         Financial strategies for businesses in tough times

Investing In Hard Assets (Real Estate, Gold, Durable Goods)

·         Investing in real estate: when to buy and how to avoid common mistakes

·         Real estate as a means for wealth building

·         Commercial real estate investing

·         Investing in Depreciable Assets (cars, appliances)

·         Investing in gold: when, why and why not

·         Common mistakes in financial planning and how to avoid them

Investing In Financial Assets (Stock, Bonds, Bank Deposits)

·              How to assess the worth of a financial asset?

·         Investing in stocks: factors affecting stock prices and returns

·         Stock market: returns, risks, dividends, and stock buybacks

·         Investing in corporate and government bonds and notes

·         Investing in foreign currencies