This Private Equity Overview course, taught by CFA Steve Balaban, provides a thorough introduction to private equity, covering the essential concepts, investment structures, and market strategies. Learners begin with an understanding of alternative investments and the role of private equity within a diversified portfolio. The course explains what private equity is, who invests in it, and how limited partnership agreements function to align interests between general and limited partners.

Students explore how private equity firms generate revenue, the mechanics of fund investing, direct investing, co-investing, and secondary investing, including LP-led and GP-led secondaries. The course also covers specialized topics such as family office investing decisions, private capital structures (including private debt), and the impact of market events like the Denominator Effect or China’s regulatory policies on private equity returns.

Through real-world examples and case studies, learners understand practical investment strategies and risk management. By the end of the course, participants will have a complete framework for analyzing private equity opportunities, structuring investments, and evaluating returns from both LP and GP perspectives. This course is ideal for finance professionals, investors, and anyone seeking to gain a comprehensive understanding of private equity fundamentals and practices.