ICWIM case studies
ICWIM · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The International Certificate in Wealth and Investment Management (ICWIM) is an entry-level professional qualification for people who work with, or advise, private clients on money - private bankers, relationship managers, paraplanners, investment support staff and graduates moving into wealth management. It is designed to sit at the foundation level: it assumes some familiarity with financial products but does not demand prior professional experience, and it is often taken as a first step before more advanced advisory or portfolio qualifications. The ICWIM case studies are 5 cases and about 3,770 words.
1The six-year protected growth plan and a client who defers entirely
Mr and Mrs K are 71 and 69. Their £380,000 portfolio is held as £150,000 in a short-dated gilt fund, £120,000 in a global equity fund and £110,000 in a cash ISA.
809 words, about 4 min2IPO allocation, dealing commission and a personal offer
Priya manages the £240m Meridian UK Smaller Companies fund and oversees dealing for 14 client portfolios. A broker at Hollis Bank offers her 500,000 shares in an oversubscribed IPO for the fund, on the clear understanding that Meridian routes next quarter's £180,000 of dealing commission through Hollis.
728 words, about 4 min3Adding to a BBB property bond on a rate-cut view
Mr D holds £500,000 nominal of a 4.5% eight-year bullet bond issued by a BBB-rated property company, bought at par three months ago. It now yields 4.5% on a price of 97.44, has a modified duration of 6.4 and trades at a 140bp spread over gilts.
802 words, about 4 min4De-risking the five-year bridge to state pension
Mrs O is 56, plans to stop work at 62, and has a £720,000 SIPP and £80,000 in an ISA. She has no defined-benefit pension; state pension of £11,500 a year begins at 67.
745 words, about 4 min5Crystallising a £42,000 gain: spouse, pension or phased sales
Mr S is 58, a higher-rate taxpayer, and holds £60,000 of shares in his former employer with a cost base of £18,000. He wants to sell the whole holding to fund a house renovation starting in about six months.
686 words, about 3 min