Investing for Life (GSP178)

GSP178 Investing for Life introduces students to the principles and practices of personal investing within the context of modern financial markets. The course develops foundational understanding of risk, return, diversification, and asset allocation, while guiding students through practical investment decision-making across different life stages. Students will explore major asset classes including equities, fixed income, collective investment schemes, real assets, and selected alternative investments such as digital assets. The course examines fintech investment platforms, robo-advisors, fee structures, and product economics to enhance transparency in investment evaluation. Emphasis is placed on behavioural biases, lifecycle investing, CPF asset allocation considerations, responsible use of AI tools for research. Quantitative concepts are taught using intuitive explanations and template-driven Excel applications. By the end of the course, students will be equipped with structured frameworks to make informed, disciplined, and ethical investment decisions aligned with long-term financial goals.

• Investing Decision Framework and Lifecycle Planning
• Risk, Return, Inflation and Time Value of Money
• Behavioural Biases in Investing
• Equities: Characteristics, Valuation Drivers and Market Risk
• Fixed Income: Capital Preservation and Interest Rate Risk
• Collective Investments: ETFs, Unit Trusts and REITs
• Real Assets and Alternative Investments
• Digital Assets as an Alternative Asset Class
• Portfolio Construction and Diversification Strategies
• CPF Asset Allocation and Opportunity Cost
• Fintech Platforms, Robo-Advisors and Product Economics
• Fees, Transparency, AI Tools and Anti-Scam Literacy

• Define the principles of risk, return, diversification, inflation, and time value of money in the context of personal investing.
• Describe the characteristics, risk exposures, and return drivers of major asset classes, including equities, fixed income, collective investments, and selected alternatives.
• Discuss common behavioural biases and evaluate their impact on individual investment decision-making.
• Develop a lifecycle-based portfolio allocation plan aligned with specified financial goals and risk profiles.
• Demonstrate how investment products and fintech platforms can assist in CPF asset allocation options.
• Apply AI-assisted tools appropriately to support investment research and mitigate investment scams.