Which class to take concurrently with studying for Lvl 3?

AlexR

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Hey all,
Long time reader on here but haven’t really posted much. I’m currently a full-time professional who is also working towards my MBA part-time. I am taking level 3 next June and am planning on my spring study schedule. I am trying to choose between one, or possibly a combo of two, of the following grad classes to take (descriptions included) concurrently with studying for Lvl 3. Leaning towards PM since that’s the majority of Lvl 3 but I think FI would be the most interesting. Anyone have any thoughts?
Portfolio Management - Develops portfolio construction, revision, and performance measurement. Highlights portfolio construction in an efficient capital market. Topics include risk-return analysis, the effects of diversification on risk reduction, and the costs of inflation, taxes, and transaction costs on fixed income and equity security portfolios. Examines financial models of capital asset pricing as the basis for the analysis of portfolios from the institutional investor’s viewpoint.
Fixed Income - Exposes students to theory, applications, and evidence concerning highly sensitive interest rate products. Discusses recent developments in pension fund management, asset/liability management, duration matching, “gap” management, concurrent interest rate and exchange rate management, and other important issues now confronting domestic and international financial and corporate management. Studies how to customize a risk management program.
Risk Management - Provides an overview of all of the hedging markets and hedging instruments. Explores specific hedging use of options, forwards, futures, swaps, and options on futures. Focuses on advanced financial risk management of interest rates, currency rates, equity returns, and fixed income returns. Students use readings and case problems to study when and how to use hedging instruments to alter a portfolio’s risk exposure.
 
Just some thoughts for consideration. Each of the class descriptions above is relevant to the Level III curriculum. If I were in your shoes, I would do one class opposed to two and focus on putting the CFA exams to bed. That said, of the topics, since they’re all covered in the curriculum, I’d either pick the one that interested me the most. OR, you might consider the opposite approach. Pick the one you like the least since you’ll have the class structure to ensure coverage (hedging the possibility of glossing over the CFA’s material when self-studying since you’re not that into the topic).
 
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