CFA Certificate in ESG Investing: Readiness Program from Udemy

What's inside

Learning objectives

Understand the different approaches to esg investing
Understand the issues and material impacts within each of the environmental, social, and governance areas
Understand the purpose of investor engagement and stewardship

Understand how esg analysis is integrated into the investment process
Understand how esg factors may affect company's performance and security valuation
Understand how esg is integrated into the portfolio construction and management process

Understand the different approaches to esg investing
Understand the issues and material impacts within each of the environmental, social, and governance areas
Understand the purpose of investor engagement and stewardship
Understand how esg analysis is integrated into the investment process
Understand how esg factors may affect company's performance and security valuation
Understand how esg is integrated into the portfolio construction and management process

Syllabus

Introduction to ESG Investing

Introduction

ESG Investing

Responsible Investment

Shareholder Engagement, Triple Bottom Line, and CSR

Macro-Level Debate on ESG Integration

Financial Materiality of ESG Integration

Challenges in Integrating ESG Factors

ESG Factors' Influence on Financial Performance

Putting ESG Investing Into Practice

United Nations Initiatives

ESG-Related Initiatives

Climate-Related Initiatives

Other Initiatives

Quiz: Introduction to ESG Investing

The ESG Market

ESG Investing In Numbers

Market Drivers of ESG and Challenges in ESG Integration

Asset Owners

Asset Managers, Fund Promoters, and Financial Services

Policymakers, Regulators, Investees, Governments, Civil Society, and Academia

Environmental Factors

Key Environmental Issues - Climate Change

Pressures on Natural Resources

Systemic Relationships between Business Activities and Environmental Issues

Key Megatrends and Drivers

Assessment of Materiality of Environmental Issues

Approaches to Account for Material Environmental Analysis

Nature Assessment and TNFD Framework

Applying Material Environmental Factors

Opportunities Relating to Climate Change

Social Factors

Social Environmental Megatrends

Key Social Issues and Business Activities

Internal Social Factors

External Social Factors

Identifying Material Social Factors for Investors

Application of Social Factors in Investments

Governance Factors

Corporate Governance Accountability and Alignment

Formalized Corporate Governance Frameworks

Shareholder Engagement and Alignment

Board Structure and Executive Remuneration

Structural Corporate Governance Differences

Corporate Governance and the Independent Audit Function

Corporate Governance and the Investment Decision Making Process

Engagement and Stewardship

Code and Standards

Engagement Styles

Effective Engagement

Voting

Engagement Across Different Asset Classes

ESG Analysis, Valuation, and Integration

The Different Approaches to ESG Integration

ESG Integration In Listed Equities

ESG Integration In Listed Equities: Valuation Considerations

ESG Integration in Fixed Income

ESG Integration in Real Estate and Private Markets

ESG Integration Databases and Software

Mutual Fund and Fund Manager ESG Assessment

Integrated Portfolio Construction and Management

Strategic Asset Allocation (SAA) Models

Asset Manager Selection

Approaches to ESG Integration Portfolio-Level Framework

Role of Analysts, Portfolio Managers, and Research

Quantitative Research Developments in ESG Investing

Exclusionary Preferences

ESG Screening: Fixed Income, Corporate Debt, and ESG Bonds

ESG Screening: Green Securitization and Sovereign Debt Green Securitization

ESG Screening: Listed and Private Equity

ESG Screening: Real Estate and Infrastructure

Integrating ESG Screens in Portfolios

Quantitative Approaches that Embed ESG Factors

ESG Screening: Unlisted Companies and Collective Investment Funds

Full ESG Integration, Exclusionary Screening, and Positive Alignment

Thematic and Impact Investing

ESG Integration in Index-Based Portfolios and Established Datasets

Investment Mandates, Portfolio Analytics, and Client Reporting

Defining the ESG Investment Strategy

Fully Aligning Investment with Client ESG Beliefs

Developing Client-Relevant ESG-Aware Investment Mandates

Greenwashing and Its Consequence

Tailoring the ESG Investment Approach to Client Expectations

Monitoring Delivery

Measurement and Reporting

Practice Exam

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Offers comprehensive coverage of ESG concepts, which is essential for professionals seeking to integrate ESG factors into investment decisions and portfolio management

Includes a full-length practice exam, which simulates the actual test experience and helps candidates refine their exam-taking strategies

Covers shareholder engagement and stewardship, which are increasingly important aspects of responsible investment and corporate governance

Explores the integration of ESG factors into various asset classes, including listed equities, fixed income, real estate, and private markets

Requires familiarity with financial and investment concepts, which may necessitate additional preparation for candidates without a finance background

Focuses specifically on preparation for the CFA Certificate in ESG Investing exam, which may limit its broader applicability for those seeking a general introduction to ESG investing

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in CFA Certificate in ESG Investing: Readiness Program with these activities:

Review Key Financial Concepts

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Strengthen your understanding of core financial principles. This will provide a solid foundation for grasping how ESG factors influence financial performance and security valuation.

Browse courses on Financial Statement Analysis

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Review financial statements and key ratios.
Practice valuation exercises using different methods.
Familiarize yourself with financial modeling techniques.

Review 'Sustainable Investing: Revolutions in Theory and Practice'

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Gain a deeper understanding of the theoretical and practical aspects of sustainable investing. This book will provide valuable context for the course material.

View Modern China on Amazon

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Read the book's introduction and key chapters on ESG integration.
Take notes on the different approaches to sustainable investing.
Reflect on how the concepts relate to the course syllabus.

Compile a List of ESG Data Providers

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Familiarize yourself with the landscape of ESG data providers. This will help you understand the sources of information used in ESG analysis and integration.

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Research different ESG data providers (e.g., MSCI, Sustainalytics).
Compare their coverage, methodologies, and pricing.
Create a table summarizing the key features of each provider.

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Review 'Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Investing: A Balanced Analysis of Firm Value and Societal Impact'

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Gain a balanced perspective on the impact of ESG factors on firm value and society. This book will help you critically evaluate the claims made about ESG investing.

View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon

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Read the book's chapters on ESG and financial performance.
Analyze the case studies presented in the book.
Discuss the book's findings with peers or colleagues.

Analyze the ESG Performance of a Company

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Apply your knowledge of ESG analysis to a real-world company. This project will help you develop your skills in identifying, evaluating, and integrating ESG factors into investment decisions.

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Select a publicly traded company to analyze.
Gather ESG data from various sources (e.g., Bloomberg, Refinitiv).
Assess the company's performance on key ESG metrics.
Write a report summarizing your findings and recommendations.

Create a Presentation on ESG Integration

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Solidify your understanding of ESG integration by creating a presentation. This will help you communicate the key concepts and benefits of ESG investing to others.

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Research different approaches to ESG integration.
Develop a presentation outline and slides.
Practice your presentation and solicit feedback.

Volunteer at an Environmental Organization

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Gain firsthand experience with environmental issues. This will provide valuable context for understanding the environmental factors considered in ESG investing.

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Identify a local environmental organization.
Contact the organization and inquire about volunteer opportunities.
Participate in a volunteer activity and reflect on your experience.

Career center

Learners who complete CFA Certificate in ESG Investing: Readiness Program will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

ESG Analyst

An ESG Analyst evaluates companies' environmental, social, and governance practices to guide investment decisions. This role requires understanding how ESG factors impact financial performance and risk, which this course directly addresses. The program's detailed video tutorials on ESG concepts, along with its practice questions, provide a strong foundation for conducting thorough ESG analysis. The course emphasizes how ESG is integrated into the investment process, as well as how ESG factors may affect company’s performance and security valuation, which will help an ESG Analyst make informed recommendations. The comprehensive approach to ESG investing taught in this course will prepare analysts for the nuances of the role.

See salaries and explore the career path for ESG Analyst

Investment Analyst

Investment Analysts research and assess investment opportunities, and increasingly, this includes incorporating ESG factors. This course is especially relevant, as it is designed to help learners understand the various approaches to integrating ESG considerations into investment analysis and strategy. The course's coverage of ESG's financial materiality, its influence on financial performance, and its integration into portfolio construction will give an investment analyst a useful overview of sustainable investing. The practice exam solidifies understanding of these crucial concepts, making the analyst more prepared for the real-world application of ESG principles.

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Portfolio Manager

Portfolio Managers construct and manage investment portfolios, and increasingly require expertise in ESG factors to meet client demands and manage risk. The course material will help a portfolio manager understand how ESG analysis is integrated into the investment process, as well as how ESG considerations affect company performance and valuations. The course's focus on topics like approaches to ESG integration in portfolio-level frameworks, and in strategic asset allocation models, is valuable for any portfolio manager who wishes to incorporate ESG investment strategies into portfolios. The practice exam can help refine your understanding of ESG concepts that will prove useful in making portfolio-level decisions.

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Sustainability Consultant

A Sustainability Consultant helps organizations improve their environmental and social impact, often advising on ESG integration. This course provides a strong understanding of ESG principles, making it beneficial for anyone advising on sustainable practices. The course's focus on the practical implications of ESG factors, including their financial materiality, will be particularly useful as a foundation for formulating effective sustainability strategies. The course material on the challenges of integrating ESG factors provides valuable context to consultants who must understand the complexities of implementing change.

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Financial Advisor

Financial Advisors guide clients on investment decisions, and increasingly need to incorporate ESG preferences into portfolio planning. The course content will be relevant to a financial advisor, especially sections on how to define an ESG investment strategy and fully align investments with client ESG beliefs. The course helps a financial advisor understand how ESG factors may affect company's performance and security valuation, which is valuable for any client discussion. This course supports financial advisors in incorporating sustainable and responsible investment strategies into their financial plans. The program's focus on client reporting and aligning investment with beliefs is helpful when discussing these topics with investors.

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Risk Manager

Risk Managers assess potential risks to financial institutions, and increasingly, this includes evaluating ESG-related risks. This course's content is useful for understanding how ESG factors can impact financial performance and risk. The course covers the challenges in integrating ESG factors, which is crucial for any risk manager assessing the risks and opportunities associated with ESG. Through an understanding of how ESG is integrated into the investment process, the risk manager can gain new perspectives for this role. The program’s focus on the market drivers of ESG and challenges in ESG integration provides useful background for any risk assessment.

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Impact Investing Analyst

An Impact Investing Analyst focuses on investments that generate social or environmental impact alongside financial returns, making the course directly relevant. The course’s introduction to ESG investing and the syllabus's section on thematic and impact investing are particularly useful for analysts who need to understand the landscape of impact investing. The course provides a basis for evaluating the social and environmental performance of companies, in addition to the financial aspects, which would be useful for the role. This course may help an Impact Investing Analyst understand different approaches to ESG integration and the purpose of investor engagement and stewardship.

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Corporate Social Responsibility Manager

A Corporate Social Responsibility Manager develops and implements corporate sustainability strategies, and may find the course useful for gaining a deeper understanding of ESG considerations. The course’s focus on the practical applications of ESG factors, such as how they can affect a company’s performance, will help a CSR manager construct improved sustainability initiatives that are material to the company. The course also covers topics such as shareholder engagement and stewardship, which would be useful for a CSR manager that needs to interact with the investment community. This course may help a CSR manager become well-versed in ESG considerations across the organization.

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Fund Manager

Fund managers are responsible for managing investment funds and must increasingly take ESG factors into account. This course directly addresses ESG integration into investment processes and its potential impact on portfolio performance, which is a central concern for any fund manager. The course material will help fund managers understand how ESG is integrated into the portfolio construction and management process. The course’s content regarding approaches to ESG integration in portfolio construction provides vital knowledge for a fund manager. This course may be helpful for any fund manager seeking to refine their approach to sustainable investing.

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Investment Consultant

An Investment Consultant advises clients on investment strategies, and may need to incorporate ESG considerations into their recommendations. The course content, covering topics such as ESG integration in listed equities, fixed income, and real estate, is relevant to the role. Consultants benefit from the course's exploration of ESG factors' financial materiality and its influence on investment decisions. The course may help an investment consultant by providing a deep understanding of the many facets of sustainable investing, which is increasingly relevant to client needs.

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Financial Planner

Financial Planners help clients manage their finances and plan for their future, and may need an understanding of ESG investments as clients become more interested in sustainable investing. This course will provide a basis for discussing the integration of ESG considerations into portfolio planning. The course may help a financial planner understand how ESG factors may affect company's performance and security valuation, which is valuable for any client discussion. The course covers various topics in ESG investing that would help a financial planner better understand the field.

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Compliance Officer

A Compliance Officer ensures that a company adheres to regulatory standards, and increasingly, this includes ESG-related regulations. This course may be useful for its introduction to the various frameworks and initiatives related to ESG. The course's focus on defining an ESG investment strategy will provide background for compliance officers that need to understand the foundations of ESG. The program’s focus on greenwashing and its consequences is useful for any compliance officer working on ESG matters. This course may help an officer understand the principles behind the regulations they're enforcing.

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Real Estate Analyst

A Real Estate Analyst evaluates property investments, and may need to incorporate ESG considerations with respect to energy efficiency and environmental impact. This course may be useful for understanding how ESG principles extend to real estate. The course’s examination of ESG integration in real estate and private markets may be relevant for an analyst performing this role. The course may help a real estate analyst learn about the different approaches to incorporating ESG factors into their work, especially given its focus on ESG analysis, valuation, and integration.

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Corporate Finance Analyst

A Corporate Finance Analyst conducts financial analysis for a company and may find it useful to gain a foundational understanding of how ESG factors affect corporate performance. The course’s introduction to ESG investing may be helpful for analysts who need to understand the basics of sustainable finance. The program's focus on how ESG factors may affect financial performance may be relevant for those wishing to examine how ESG integration can be relevant to a company's finances. Ultimately, this course may be useful for learning about the broad scope of ESG.

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Data Analyst

Data analysts interpret complex data sets, and may find some use in understanding how ESG metrics can be analyzed. This course may be useful for understanding the types of data used in ESG analysis, which could be relevant to a data analyst specializing in financial data. The course's focus on ESG integration databases and software may provide context for data analysts that work with this information. The program's material on quantitative research developments in ESG may be helpful for data analysts interested in the area. This course may be useful for a data analyst looking to enter the field of sustainable finance.

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CFA Certificate in ESG Investing

Readiness Program

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