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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Discuss current trends in investment portfolio management 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
242606  Discuss current trends in investment portfolio management 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Insurance and Investment 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies Finance, Economics and Accounting 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 6  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6  4 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2026-06-30   2029-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard replaces: 
US ID Unit Standard Title Pre-2009 NQF Level NQF Level Credits Replacement Status
14532  Discuss and apply knowledge and understanding of current trends in portfolio management in response to the changing nature of the financial services environment and the needs of investors  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  4   

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This Unit Standard is intended for learners who are involved in product development and giving information to Intermediaries and who advise clients on existing collective investment scheme portfolios. It is relevant to Intermediaries, Liaison Fund Managers, Portfolio Managers, Financial Consultants, Financial Planners and Actuaries and learners who require Category I licensing under the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act (FAIS)

The qualifying learner is capable of:
  • Applying knowledge of theories in investment portfolio management.
  • Demonstrating insight into the products marketed by providers.
  • Demonstrating insight into portfolio management trends.
  • Explaining the changing focus in marketing strategy in relation to the products and markets. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    It is assumed that learners are competent in Communication and Mathematical Literacy at NQF Level 4. 

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    The typical scope of this Unit Standard is:
  • Innovative products include but are not limited to fixed dividend return products, multi-managed funds, hedge funds, living annuities, structured products and guaranteed products.
  • Current views of asset managers include, but are not limited to, house and strategic views. 
    		•

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Apply knowledge of theories in investment portfolio management. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) is explained with reference to the underlying assumptions of the theory. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Arbitrage Pricing Theory (APT) is explained with reference to pricing anomalies. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The main theories of portfolio management are compared in the light of current trends in portfolio management and an indication is given of their relevance in the current situation. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Demonstrate insight into the products marketed by providers. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Innovative product types are identified and analysed with reference to the changing financial environment, consumerism and increasing investor sophistication. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Changes in life insurance products, collective investment schemes and pre and post retirement funds are analysed and an indication is given of how and why new products have evolved. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Demonstrate insight into portfolio management trends. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The advantages and disadvantages of single management versus multi-management are discussed with reference to building a portfolio. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Current views of different asset managers are interpreted with reference to influence of investment strategy on the chosen investment style. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Explain the changing focus in marketing strategy in relation to the products and markets. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The historic product strategy is explained with reference to the market of the time. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The changed focus in market strategy is explained with reference to changing needs of investors. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The impact of the South African Constitution and changes in legislation on market strategy is explained with examples. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The effect of international trends on local markets is explained with examples. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Anyone assessing a candidate against this Unit Standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA or ETQA where a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) exists with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this Unit Standard must be accredited as a provider through the relevant ETQA or ETQA where a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) exists with the relevant ETQA.
  • Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines and the agreed ETQA procedures. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    The learner is able to collect, organise and critically evaluate information in analysing house views of different investment managers and changes in investment products. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    The learner is able to communicate effectively in explaining the concepts contained in the Unit Standard. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    The learner is able to demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems relating changing market conditions and investor sophistication to trends in portfolio management. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    This unit standard replaces unit standard 14532, "Discuss and apply knowledge and understanding of current trends in portfolio management in response to the changing nature of the financial services environment and the needs of investors", Level 5, 4 credits.

    Search words: Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM), portfolio management, product strategy, fixed dividend return products, multi-managed funds, hedge funds, living annuities, structured products and guaranteed products. 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  66611   National Certificate: Wealth Management  Level 5  NQF Level 05  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  As per Learning Programmes recorded against this Qual 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.