NAVIGATING HEDGE FUNDS
Fiduciary-focused. Objective. Applied.
Expand Your Expertise. Led by academic experts and experienced industry professionals, this module goes beyond theory. Through instruction, real-world case studies and interactive discussions, you’ll gain the analytical frameworks, practical insights and understanding to confidently evaluate and integrate hedge fund strategies into client portfolios.
Just minutes from downtown and Palm Beach Island, our new executive education office in West Palm Beach is strategically located and an ideal learning environment for participants in one of the nation’s fastest-growing wealth centers.
Session Dates
We are currently scheduling our spring dates. Please contact us if you would like to be notified when these dates are set.
Registration
Registration for our fall sessions is currently closed. Please provide your email, and we will notify you when spring sessions are scheduled.
Location
Palm Beach Post Building
2751 S. Dixie Highway
West Palm Beach, FL 33405
Please contact us if you have any questions about the program.
Jeff Horton (jnhorton@business.fsu.edu) or Caroline Poole (cpoole@business.fsu.edu).
What you will learn
- A clear framework to define, contextualize and evaluate hedge fund strategies
- Differentiation between core hedge fund styles (e.g., long/short equity, global macro, event-driven, relative value, and digital assets)
- Key features of hedge fund structures, terms and fee models
- Practical tools for conducting hedge fund manager due diligence
- Portfolio construction techniques incorporating hedge funds as diversifiers and return enhancers
- Client communication strategies to explain hedge funds, the role they play in diversified portfolios, and how to manage client expectations and address common misconceptions
Who should attend
Each session is intentionally capped at 40-50 participants to foster greater interaction among participants and instructors. Participant backgrounds may include:
- Financial advisors and wealth managers seeking to expand their expertise in alternative investments and enhance their practice
- Fiduciary professionals aiming to deepen their understanding of portfolio construction, due diligence, and communication strategies
- Individual investors interested in building informed, research-driven perspectives on private markets
- Family office professionals and staff managing complex portfolios with exposure to alternative strategies
- Professionals exploring the alternative investment space, including those considering career pivots or personal capital allocation strategies
Program Format
| Day One | |
| 5 – 7:30 PM | Fireside Chat & Networking Reception |
| Day Two | |
| 8 AM – 5:15 PM | Full day of instruction (includes breakfast and lunch) |
Continuing Education Credits
All sessions in our Alternative Investments Series are approved by NASAA* to meet the full 12-hour annual CE requirement for Investment Adviser Representatives (IARs).
✔ 6 hours in Ethics & Professional Responsibility
✔ 6 hours in Products & Practices
No guesswork. No extra hours. One session satisfies your regulatory obligations while delivering high-quality and engaging education in private markets.
These sessions are designed to offer up to 12 hours of continuing education credit, satisfying Florida OFR IAR requirements, and approved for CFP® and IWI CE purposes.
Learning Hours
12 hours (combination of in-person and optional online)
Instructors
Kelsey Syvrud, PhD
Assistant Chair, Department of Finance
Florida State University
Kelsey Syvrud is a finance academic and investment strategist with expertise in portfolio construction, manager due diligence, and alternative investments. Syvrud brings a unique blend of academic insight and applied experience, having worked in economic consulting and serving as Director of Investment Strategy for Fire Capital Management. She helps advisors, individuals, and institutions translate complex investment concepts into actionable strategies to construct panoramic and risk-tolerant portfolios.
Daniel Strachman, CDDA
Managing Partner
A&C Advisors LLC
Daniel Strachman is a veteran of Wall Street and a hedge-fund expert. He serves as managing partner at A&C Advisors, a strategic consulting firm based in Coral Springs, Florida, focused on investment management operations and corporate governance. His extensive experience includes all aspects of retail and institutional, creation, operation and distribution of alternative investment products and services. Strachman is the co-founder of the Investment Management Due Diligence Association (IMDDA), the largest independent educational organization singularly focused on investment management and operational due diligence. He also has authored nine books on investment strategies and written investment pieces for publications including The Financial Times, The New York Post and American Banker.
NOTE: This program has limited seats, so please register early. If the program session becomes full, you will be placed on the wait list.
*NASAA does not endorse any particular provider of CE courses. The content of the course and any views expressed are my/our own and do not necessarily reflect the views of NASAA or any of its member jurisdictions.
