FIN_30900 Course Syllabus

Department of Finance, Dong Hwa University

Course Title:
FIN_30900 –Mutual Funds Management
Term:
February, 2013~ June, 2013
Class Meet:
Wednesday 14:10~17:00
Professor:
Dr. Shin-Yun Wang (王詩韻)
Office: Room C335, Management Building; Phone: 886-3-8633136
E-mail: gracew@mail.ndhu.edu.tw; Http://faculty.ndhu.edu.tw/~sywang
Office Hours:
Wednesday 17:00 p.m. ~ 19:00 p.m.; Others by appointment
Place:
管C103
Textbook:
Textbook & Other References (Title, Author, Publisher, Agents, Remarks, etc.)
Mutual Funds: Portfolio Structures, Analysis, Management, and Stewardship (Robert W.
Kolb Series) [Hardcover] ; John A. Haslem; Hardcover: 358 pages
Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (November 2, 2009) ; Language: English
ISBN-10: 0470499095 ; ISBN-13: 978-0470499092
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #926,284 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Supplementary Materials:
Journal articles
Course Objectives and Description:
This course on provides an in-depth coverage of the mutual fund
industry and its operations in an interactive format. It is intended to
familiarize students with the basic concepts related to mutual funds.
Using a balance of theory and practical application, this course explores the
approaches that will further improve, and lessen the hidden pitfalls, of mutual fund
investing. Mutual Funds covers a broad range of topics, including understanding the
advantages and disadvantages of mutual funds, evaluating stock/bond allocations within
fund portfolios, assessing fund diversification risk, measuring fund returns and risk, and
making fund buy/sell decisions. The expert authors put the risks and rewards of mutual
fund investing in perspective, examining how to select and evaluate the best mutual
funds, mutual fund service advantages and disadvantages, and the long- and short-term
effectiveness of mutual funds.
Class Attendance and classroom etiquette:
Class participation is mandatory. A 5-point credit will be deducted from your “class
attendance credit” for each additional class missed after one allowable absence. Class
attendance is very important to your doing well in this class. Poor classroom etiquette
will also result in the loss of credit.
Tests and Final Exam:
There will be a midterm exam of the semester and final report at the end of the semester.
Honor code is strictly enforced in the exam. Any cheating or attempt to cheat will

1
automatically result in a failing grade in the course. You must turn in your exam
when the time is over. I will not accept any exam that is turned in seconds late.
Policy on Make-up Test & “Extra Credit”:
You are expected to take tests and exam at the scheduled time. Make-up exams are rarely
granted. Students who have to miss a test with legitimate reasons such as personal or
family emergency may request in advance, in writing, for a make-up. Such written
requests must be submitted before the scheduled test, and I will decide on the make-up
date. I will not grant any “extra credit” for extra work; you have plenty opportunities to
perform well in the class.
Grading and Evaluation:
Grading will be based on midterm exam and final report, class attendance credit. The
breakdown of the total points is: Midterm Exam: 30%; Final report: 40%; 70 points in
total. Class attendance and classroom etiquette: 30 points.
Class Schedule
Week Dates Subject Contents Chapter #
1 02/20 Course Description
2 02/27 The Nature of Mutual Funds Chap1
Mutual Fund Regulation and Issues Chap 2
3 03/06 The Economics of Mutual Funds Chap 3
Mutual Fund Fees and Expenses Chap 4
4 03/13 How Financial Markets Work Chap 5
Active versus Passive Investing Chap 6
5 03/20 Efficient Markets and Mutual Fund Investing:
Chap 7
The Advantages of Index Funds
6 03/27 Asset Allocation: Design and Care of Portfolios Chap 8
7 04/03 The Morningstar Approach to Mutual Fund
Analysis-Part1 Chap 9
The Morningstar Approach to Mutual Fund Chap 10
Analysis-PartII
8 04/10 Building a Portfolio of Mutual Funds: A
Chap 11
Morningstar Approach
9 04/17 Midterm Exam
10 04/24 Performance of Actively Managed versus Index
Chap 12
Funds: The Vanguard Case
11 05/01 Classic and Enhanced Index Funds: Performance
Chap 13
and Issues
12 05/08 Mutual Funds versus Exchange-Traded Funds Chap 14
13 05/15 The Challenge to Mutual Fund Stewardship Chap 15
14 05/22 Identifying Mutual Fund Stewardship
Chap 16
Normative Transparency of Mutual Fund
Chap 17
Disclosure
15 05/29 Group Report
16 06/05 Group Report
17 06/12 No class
18 06/19 Group Report