COURSE NO: MBA 236B.1

COURSE TITLE: Investment Strategies and Styles

INSTRUCTOR: Robert G. O'Donnell

UNITS OF CREDIT: 2

EMAIL: rgo1@comcast.net

CLASS WEB PAGE LOCATION: https://bspace.berkeley.edu/portal

MEETING DAY(S)/TIME: Mondays, 4:00-6:00 PM

PREREQUISITE(S): MBA 203, Second-years only.

REQUIRED READINGS: Course Reader

Thaler, Richard, "The Winner's Curse," Princeton University Press, 1992.

In addition, it is assumed that students are regular readers of the Wall Street Journal and a quality general circulation newspaper such as the NY Times.

BASIS FOR FINAL GRADE: final paper, case, and class discussion.

ABSTRACT OF COURSE'S CONTENT AND OBJECTIVES:

Overview

In this course, we will study several investment strategies and asset classes. Significant use will be made of guest speakers from different areas of the investment management business. Lectures and cases will address the challenges of professionally managing large pools of assets.

Since the first rule of enhancing wealth is not to lose it, risk mitigation will be addressed. This will include an attempt to understand what is meant by "risk" in the first place. Some time will also be spent discussing manias, financial disasters, endowment management, and ethics. I suspect that those who expect the class to provide "answers" in the form of a few quick takeaways will be disappointed. On the other hand, I suspect that those who have a high tolerance for ambiguity and want to understand how very different approaches to investing can be successful will find the class of interest.

BIOGRAPHY:

Bob O'Donnell recently retired after 39 years as a portfolio with Capital Research & Management, a large mutual fund management company. He had responsibility for approximately $20 billion of assets, primarily in the "growth and income" category.

Bob is a CFA and CPA with a B.S. and MBA from UC-Berkeley.