SINGAPORE (Sept 15): Leading wealth manager UBS saw off the first batch of Master in Wealth Management Program graduates on Wednesday.

This is the highest level of certification UBS is conducting in order to equip high-performing and client-facing wealth managers with skills ranging from the management of client wealth, relationships, books and risk.

The 16 graduates, having gone through this two-year programme, were conferred dual degrees: a Master of Science in Wealth Management from the Simon Business School at University of Rochester (US), and a Master of Advanced Studies in Finance from the University of Bern (Switzerland).

“Our people are our greatest asset and represent a point of differentiation for our clients,” says Juerg Zeltner, President UBS Wealth Management.

Zeltner notes that it is essential for the bank’s client advisors to have a deep understanding of the global context on top of practical skills in managing client relationships and portfolios.

“By investing in the growth of our people, we continue to ensure we offer the best wealth management service to our clients,” he adds.

Edmund Koh, Head of UBS Wealth Management Asia-Pacific observes that this region continues to be a growth area for the bank.

The bank already has more than 1,000 client advisors in this region, but the bank sees demand growing.

"We will increasingly need high-quality managers with an intimate understanding of the region,” says Koh.