Investment Theory Fundamentals
We started this program because too many people were making investment decisions based on tips from friends or random internet advice. That didn't sit right with us. So we built something different—a structured approach to understanding how markets actually work, how to evaluate risk, and how to build a portfolio that reflects your actual goals. Our next cohort begins September 2025, and we're keeping it small so everyone gets the attention they need.
Learn Alongside Others Who Get It
Here's something we've noticed over the years—finance theory makes way more sense when you can talk through it with other people. You'll work with a small group throughout the program, tackling case studies together and challenging each other's assumptions.
- Weekly group analysis sessions where you'll dissect real market scenarios with peers who are equally committed to understanding the fundamentals
- Collaborative portfolio reviews that help you see blind spots in your thinking and learn from how others approach risk assessment
- Peer mentorship pairings that connect you with someone at a similar learning stage for regular check-ins and discussion
- Group project work on portfolio construction that mirrors how institutional investors actually make decisions
The connections you make here tend to last. Several past participants still meet monthly to discuss their investment strategies and share research.
Where People Started and Where They Ended Up
These aren't success stories with perfect endings. They're honest accounts from people who put in the work and saw their understanding shift in meaningful ways.
Callum Westbrook
Small business owner from Halifax
The Challenge
Callum had been investing for eight years but couldn't explain why he owned what he owned. Every market dip sent him scrambling to forums, trying to figure out if he should sell. He'd built a decent portfolio by following popular advice, but he felt like he was flying blind.
The Shift
About halfway through the program, something clicked during a group exercise on correlation and diversification. He realized his portfolio was way more concentrated than he thought—different funds, same underlying exposures. Started from scratch with a clearer framework.
"I'm not making crazy returns or anything. But I sleep better because I actually understand what I own and why. When the market dropped last spring, I knew exactly what to expect from my portfolio. That alone was worth the tuition."
Stellan Bjornsson
Engineer transitioning careers
The Challenge
Stellan had a background in data analysis but zero formal finance training. He wanted to shift into investment research but kept getting rejected because he couldn't speak the language. Knew the math but not the context behind it.
The Breakthrough
The module on behavioral finance changed how he thought about markets. He'd been approaching everything like an optimization problem, assuming rational actors. Understanding the psychological factors helped him finally connect theory to what actually happens in markets.
"I'm now working as a junior analyst at a wealth management firm in Toronto. The program gave me the vocabulary and framework I needed to talk credibly about investment strategy. Still learning every day, but I'm in the field now."
Program Investment
Eight months of structured learning with ongoing support and resources
- 32 weeks of core curriculum content
- Weekly live group sessions
- Access to all course materials and case studies
- Peer group matching and collaboration tools
- Monthly portfolio review sessions
- Lifetime access to alumni community
- Six months of post-program mentorship
Next cohort begins September 15, 2025
Limited to 20 participants
Market Fundamentals and Asset Classes
Start with the basics—what different securities actually represent and how they behave. We'll cover equities, fixed income, alternatives, and how to think about what belongs in a portfolio.
- Security types and characteristics
- Risk and return relationships
- Market structure and mechanics
Portfolio Theory and Construction
Modern portfolio theory isn't perfect, but understanding it is essential. Learn how diversification actually works, what correlation means in practice, and how to build a portfolio that reflects specific risk tolerances.
- Efficient frontier concepts
- Correlation and diversification
- Asset allocation frameworks
Valuation Methods and Analysis
How do you decide if something's worth buying? We'll work through discounted cash flow analysis, relative valuation, and the assumptions that drive every model. You'll build your own models from scratch.
- DCF modeling approaches
- Comparable company analysis
- Sensitivity testing and scenarios
Behavioral Finance and Market Psychology
Markets are made of people, and people make predictable mistakes. Understand cognitive biases, herd behavior, and why bubbles happen. This module tends to be the one that changes how people see everything else.
- Common cognitive biases in investing
- Market sentiment and cycles
- Decision-making under uncertainty
Risk Management and Performance Measurement
Learn to quantify risk beyond simple volatility. We cover Value at Risk, Sharpe ratios, drawdown analysis, and how to evaluate whether a strategy is actually working. You'll analyze real portfolio performance data.
- Risk metrics and interpretation
- Performance attribution methods
- Benchmark selection and comparison
Alternative Investments and Advanced Strategies
Explore hedge fund strategies, private equity, real assets, and derivatives. Not because you'll necessarily use them, but because understanding how sophisticated investors think helps you make better decisions with traditional investments.
- Alternative asset characteristics
- Hedge fund strategy types
- Options and futures fundamentals
