The culminating experience to any Master’s of Finance degree is the capstone project. According to Forbes Magazine, a master’s degree in finance is a safe career path with steady growth potential (8% annually). Providing an extensive exploration of the industry through quantitative analysis, a graduate degree will prepare you for the rapidly changing economy. The capstone project builds on the already learned concepts of:
- corporate finances
- investments
- market instruments and institutions
- accounting
- economics
Designed to give you real world expertise with advanced stakes, these projects better prepare you to tackle the complex global financial world.
Related Resource: 20 Best Online Master of Finance Degree Programs
Portfolio Management
The basis of the portfolio management project is applying the knowledge learned through previous coursework to work with actual clients. Students will become wealth management advisers. You will recommend changes in portfolios based on a variety of challenges and issues faced by your clients. The keys to completing this project are:
- flexibility
- calmness under pressure
- an ability to wade through multiple financial sources to get the best for your client
You’ll be ready for your own clients by building upon your existing skills of understanding:
- market trends
- asset classes
- risk management
- investment strategies
Risk Management
The risk management project starts with basic financial theory. Identifying and analyzing the types of risks that financial institutions face will lay the groundwork for the remainder of the project. Students will understand the opportunities and challenges that face our financial institutions, including how a global system supports economic activity worldwide. By the end of the project, students will be able to effectively contribute to these financial institutions by knowing the specific value proposition of a firm. Using financial tools, learned through the project, students will be able to manage risks while generating value.
Real Estate Development
The project in real estate development is for the student who likes to dive into trends and statistics. Finding the next big deal could be the difference between a successful career and failure. Students will review trends in property management. They will analyze techniques of development from a business outlook. Determining whether a project is feasible and is market ready will be a daily objective in the project. Students will also learn more about real estate law and construction best practices to verify their developments are current. Finally, negotiation is a crucial role in real estate development. This project gives students critical tools to help navigate this tricky industry.
Security Valuation
A project in security valuation will prepare you to analyze and value a client’s equity securities in the financial markets. Using knowledge of previous coursework, students will develop their analytical cognition to determine strategies to increase value creation. An understanding of accounting is also necessary to complete this project. Students will need to be able to prepare and analyze financial statements for a firm. Students will learn to use various valuation methods for multiple types of companies. These could include:
- start-up’s with no earnings
- private companies looking to go public
- r companies in bankruptcy
Completing the project in security valuation will provide an understanding of financial markets and their effects on the value of a firm’s securities using quantitative analysis.
Mergers and Acquisitions
The mergers and acquisitions project focuses on the diverse and rapidly changing world of mergers and acquisitions. Preparing students for the global financial industries market, this project prepares students to discover and evaluate the sources of value creation. With a fail rate of 50% to 75%, understanding the risks and rewards that come from a firm’s mergers and acquisitions is critical to operational success. Obtaining highly qualified workers to look over these complex financial transactions is urgent. This project not only prepares you for the job market but will give you an advantage over your competitors.
The financial services industry plays a pivotal role in the world economy. The need for qualified and talented individuals to step up and shape this industry is now. A Master’s of Finance degree is the step forward to meet these needs. Choosing the direction for your capstone project prepares you for the ever-changing job market, whatever path you may choose.
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