Alumni Stories
Hear from our alumni on their insights, experiences and takeaways of the MWM programme.
I had decided to take up the MWM programme to assist in making a career change. I found the course content to be very helpful in this aspect, as it was focused on the practical application of financial concepts. I enjoyed learning from distinguished professors, experienced practitioners, and also my classmates, who were from very diverse backgrounds. Some of my biggest takeaways came from my internship at Bank of Singapore, where I was able to apply what I learnt in school while gaining industry experience. I would recommend this programme to someone looking to make a career change.
I selected the Master of Science in Wealth Management over an MBA from other prestigious colleges because it promised real world learning and I was not disappointed. During the course of the programme, I got to work with a local bank in their wealth management department as well as a venture capital firm, which broadened my horizons. My class consisted of people from different nationalities and with diverse work experiences, from central bankers to those in the pharmaceutical industries. Working with people from different backgrounds and nationalities allowed me to appreciate different viewpoints and helped shape my world view. The overseas leg of the course was a delight. We got to interact with the Chairman of Bank Julius Baer, visited the head office of Credit Suisse in Zurich and learnt the nuances of private banking from the country which started the industry. The Yale leg of the trip allowed us to experience Ivy League learning and we learnt about CDO's from people who were involved in cleaning up the mess which resulted from the 2008 financial crisis. I will highly recommend the programme to anyone who has an interest in the private banking and wealth management industries.
One of the big pluses of the programme is the exposure to a diversity of ideas as the result of course-mates of different nationalities, cultures and professional experiences. The programme requires us to work closely in teams under tight deadlines, which mimics closely the fast-paced wealth management industry. There are also numerous networking opportunities with industry professionals. Learning is dynamic and beyond theory as we hear of the latest developments and challenges in the wealth management industry, straight from the horse's mouth.
It has been a fulfilling journey for me throughout my one year in the MWM programme. The curriculum is structured such that students get both theoretical and practical knowledge in wealth management. We have a good mix of lecturers who are academic professors, as well as industry practitioners. In this way, we are able to apply the concepts taught to the real world. In addition, we are provided with an all-rounded education, from securing internships with private banks and asset management companies, to the overseas experiences in SFI and Yale University. The internship provided me with industry exposure which complemented my degree. Indeed, this one-year programme has been an exciting journey, as it has opened a window of opportunity for me.
This can be a rather intensive programme and definitely not for the faint-hearted! The tight course schedule demands effective time management and self-discipline so as to juggle well between the group project commitments, individual assignments and exam preparations. Personally, I like the unique structure of the programme as it allowed me to better focus on knowledge acquisition during each two-week full-time study block, yet at the same time not be away from the office for too long.
One of the key strengths of the programme lies in its eclectic mix of lecturers and guest speakers that combined both academics with industrial experience and existing industry practitioners. They offered practical perspectives on the application of the concepts being taught. Personal sharing of work experiences and the advice given by guest speakers were enlightening as well.The other key highlight of the programme would be the study stint in Switzerland and the US. It allowed me to obtain more direct insights on the Swiss private banking industry, and also the opportunity to have a taste of postgrad life in the reputable Yale university.
Overall, this is a well-organized programme, complemented by overseas exposure and supported by a dedicated team of administrators to ensure it stays relevant. Also, I am very fortunate to be surrounded by coursemates from various backgrounds and nationalities which added diversity to the views exchanged and further stimulated learning.The invaluable knowledge and friendships that I have gained during this period truly made my experience with SMU's MWM programme an enriching and worthwhile one!
The programme offers a great deal of training and habituation, and is certainly an intellectual boot camp for those new to the finance industry. It provides a good balance for students to acquire theoretical and practical knowledge through its connection with reputable adjunct lecturers and speakers, internships and on-site visits in Switzerland and Yale. The programme offered a rewarding bird's eye view of the private banking industry, one that has assisted me to pursue a career in it. Apart from the intellectual benefits, there are two valuable competencies this programme enhances, i.e. team and time management in this exclusive programme which heavily emphasizes cultural diversity. Most importantly, bonds of deep friendships were forged in the mere 10 work weeks and the memories will last for the rest of my life.
This programme has been life-changing for me. I entered the course with a view to further my career in relationship management of affluent clients but graduated with a genuine passion and desire to pursue a career in asset management. My career path has taken on an exciting course, and one of my personal life goals of managing wealth to benefit others has been clarified. My horizon and perspectives have expanded because the programme has exposed me to many aspects of the expanding field of global wealth management. Industry networking has allowed me to explore opportunities which would not have come my way. My one-year investment in education has harvested a lifetime of opportunities. I wish the same for you.
This MWM programme is both very intense and very rewarding at the same time. I certainly got more than what I had signed up for! In just a short span of one year, we were able to cover a very wide range of critical topics across the entire wealth management value chain. At the same time, vast amounts of material were covered and the lectures were very detailed. Both the SMU professors and external adjunct lecturers are top notch. There is also a strong emphasis on 'practical knowledge' and I have learnt so much from the very interactive lectures, case studies and project work. Needless to say, the overseas Alternative Investment Module at Yale was a unique once-in-a-lifetime experience. My very sincere thanks to Prof Francis Koh and all the professors, for opening up my mind and crafting such a comprehensive and unique course!
The course is meaningful for me. Over the past one year, I have benefited from the knowledge and experiences gained during the MSc Wealth Management programme. The course opened a window to an exciting new world, and will help me further my career. The talented classmates, warm professors, and experienced external specialists, coming from more than 12 countries, have all given us valuable knowledge by sharing their experiences in different areas. Furthermore, I hope that our 'special poker card' will provide everyone a lasting memory of the wonderful time spent and precious friendships forged.
My year at SMU has been meaningful. This programme allowed me to enhance my knowledge and network with many friends from the region. Working with a diverse group of classmates, especially private bankers and asset managers, offered valuable perspectives of the wealth management industry. The internship opportunities with companies in Singapore also provided the right balance between theoretical knowledge and real life practice in a dynamic business environment.
This programme offers a well-balanced mix of academic learning and industry exposure through internships. The diversity of the class enhances our learning and appreciation of different cultural and professional backgrounds. The courses on hedge fund strategies, derivatives and structured products taught by practitioners were particularly beneficial to me as they offered practical insights into these areas. Overall, a useful programme for career transition and progression in the wealth management industry.
Besides varied training modules that provide students with basic and theoretical knowledge on wealth management, the programme offers students opportunities to learn from the practical experience of top wealth managers in the region and the world through seminars, talks and site visits, as well as through involvement in the day-to-day activities of leading investment corporations so as to acquire practical skills and market exposure through the internship periods. Its approach also helps students like me to understand more about the environment that we are now working in and the factors that are most likely to affect our business. The learning-by-doing approach enables us to promptly practise what we have acquired in the class. In particular, the inclusion of the two-week study and site visit in Switzerland, a country well known for its banking and financial services, offered me a close look at the European banking and finance industries.
The courses are comprehensive and ample. They not only include basic investment knowledge (such as economics and statistics), but also all kinds of practical knowledge on financial products (such as hedge funds, derivatives, and structured products). The school has also arranged some useful seminars about wealth management, and the lecturers are from well-known companies and are very seasoned. The teaching methods are very effective. The professors provide a lot of useful materials, and organise the discussion of practical cases. Theory and practice are combined perfectly in the programme. Key information systems (for example Bloomberg) are widely used in the class. The internship is perfect. Singapore is a financial centre in Asia, and there are a lot of international financial institutions located there. I was very happy to intern in these institutions and have learnt a lot.
The courses are tailor-made to cover the key curriculum of investment-related areas. Even without a finance or investment background, you will have a thorough understanding about the industry after you complete the programme. The professors are well-experienced professionals. Not only do they teach you the knowledge, they also share with you the realities of industry practice. The classmates come from different countries and many of them have a background in investment. Group discussions are always an interesting experience with these talented classmates.
This course has been amazing. In the past one year I benefited greatly and learnt so much. It has helped me in making a huge step in my career transition from an engineer to my dream job in asset management. It has also equipped me with a vast breadth as well as an exceptional depth of financial knowledge. The lecturers, who are veteran practising fund managers, private bankers and other financial professionals, bring to the classroom materials that go way beyond the textbooks. In fact, I can't imagine any textbook or anyone who could and would share such valuable experiences, lessons and knowledge gathered over 10-20 years in the industry. It's like a short-cut that provides a fast but comprehensive view of the industry and financial markets.
Apart from the knowledge infusion offered by this programme, the more valuable take-away is the journey itself. In this respect, SMU through this programme has provided an ideal platform for busy working professionals. I appreciated the structured and intensive two-week modules which enabled me to schedule my work and made the one-year commitment practical. One clear highlight of the programme was the opportunity to be in Switzerland to study under learned academic and practitioners of the Swiss Finance Institute. Switzerland also offered an experience to visit the banks and understand the history and direction of these global giants.
Being in a class with people from such diverse backgrounds, cultures, and disciplines has really been a rich cross-learning experience. The class had students from Japan, China, India, Thailand, Pakistan, and even as far away as Lebanon and Denmark. We had students working for Procter & Gamble, IBM, and even Singapore Pools. During our case studies and team projects, I had the chance to see how other people handled the same situation. This made the study group experience really effective because I gained different perspectives which expanded my horizons while fostering team spirit, trust and strong friendships.
My life in SMU is unforgettable. Beautiful environment, devoted faculty, intelligent lecturers, nourishing friends, all leading towards a hot topic — Wealth Management. Thanks to the thoughtful design of the courses, it is really a good blend of theory and practice, providing us with golden opportunities to have a close look at the daily practice of ‘big guys’ in the industry.
The advantages of the programme:
- Well-structured course where subjects are designed to impart both theory and practical knowledge;
- Lecturers are well-versed in both theory and practice;
- Exposure to investment competition to exercise a student’s investment knowledge and skill
