Investment fund managers advise private and corporate clients to help them get the best return on their investments.
What does an investment fund manager do? Graduate salaries | Typical employers | Qualifications and Training | Key skills
Investment fund managers (also known as investment managers) work with their clients to help them maximise their investments. They work closely with investment analysts: fund managers make decisions about investments, while analysts provide them with financial information and recommendations that enable such decisions to be made.
Typical tasks include:
- liaising with clients and their representatives to explore their investment preferences and appetite for risk
- meeting with investment analysts and company managers to discuss clients’ needs
- carrying out rigorous research
- reading financial briefings (often written by investment analysts)
- keeping knowledge up-to-date about the UK economy, current financial news and financial markets
- assessing and interpreting complicated financial information
- communicating financial information accurately and simply to those without a background in this area
- keeping detailed records and reports.
Graduates tend to enter the industry in investment analyst roles and move over to fund manager roles with experience. Some firms hire trainee or junior investment managers and provide training to help you progress These roles normally involve supporting an investment management team.
Investment work provides high levels of responsibility, good promotional opportunities and impressive financial rewards for the most successful employees. The working hours may be less demanding than other investment roles but they are still long compared with other careers: you may find yourself working 12-hour days and needing to travel to meet clients.
Starting salaries for graduate investment fund managers range from around £28,000 to £32,000, according to jobs comparison site Glassdoor. Alongside this, there are likely to be other benefits available, including gym memberships and private health insurance.
Earnings will increase with experience, particularly if you achieve a wealth management qualification.
- Investment banks
- Investment and asset management companies
- Stockbrokers
- Insurance and life assurance companies
- Boutique investment firms.
Vacancies are advertised on targetjobs and by careers services. You’ll also find them advertised by specialist recruitment agencies, although these positions are often for more experienced professionals.
This career is open to both graduates and school leavers. Graduates will usually need a 2.1 degree in any subject, though business studies, management, statistics, finance, mathematics, accounting or economics can be helpful, as can an MBA or similar professional qualification.
Competition is tough for roles in investment so work experience will help your applications stand out. Look for vacation placements and insight days as well as traditional work experience such as work shadowing. Early applications for vacancies are advisable because of the competitive nature of recruitment into this field.
School leavers can enter the profession via apprenticeships and gain qualifications with a professional body to aid employability, starting with foundation-level qualifications.
Once you’re employed, you may be supported to study for an investment-related qualification such as a diploma in wealth management.
Employers of investment fund managers will be looking for:
- excellent written and spoken communication skills
- confidence
- research skills
- strong time management skills
- the ability to work effectively under pressure
- excellent numerical and IT skills
- analytical and problem-solving skills
- teamworking skills
- a keen interest in and understanding of financial markets.
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FAQs
What they do: Plan, direct, or coordinate investment strategy or operations for a large pool of liquid assets supplied by institutional investors or individual investors. On the job, you would: Manage investment funds to maximize return on client investments.
What does an investment fund manager do? ›
Investment fund managers are responsible for planning, directing, or coordinating investment strategies to benefit their clients, companies, or others they serve.
What are 4 responsibilities tasks of an investment fund manager? ›
A fund manager is responsible for implementing a fund's investment strategy and managing its trading activities. They oversee mutual funds or pensions, manage analysts, conduct research, and make important investment decisions.
What are the duties of an investment manager? ›
Investment managers work with investors' money to help them reach their financial goals. They come up with ways to allocate stocks and bonds that align with the client's goals, buy and sell investments when necessary, oversee the performance of the portfolio and report results back to their clients.
What skills do you need to be an investment fund manager? ›
Key skills for a successful fund manager include strong verbal and written communication , comprehensive research abilities, analytical thinking, and strategic planning to provide expert insight.
What is the highest salary of a fund manager? ›
Fund Manager salary in India ranges between ₹ 3.0 Lakhs to ₹ 93.5 Lakhs with an average annual salary of ₹ 24.2 Lakhs. Salary estimates are based on 294 latest salaries received from Fund Managers.
What is the difference between a fund manager and an investment manager? ›
What Is the Difference Between an Investment Manager and a Fund Manager? Investment managers focus primarily on individual securities and bond investments while fund managers work with mutual funds comprised of multiple securities and assets, often tailored to a particular market sector.
What is the core function of a fund manager? ›
A fund manager is a financial professional responsible for managing a fund's investments on behalf of various investors. They play a crucial role in researching and selecting the most suitable stocks, bonds, or other securities that align with the fund's strategy as detailed in its prospectus.
What qualifications do I need to be a fund manager? ›
To become a fund manager, you typically need a bachelor's degree in finance, economics, accounting, or a related field. Some employers may prefer candidates with a master's degree, such as a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or a Master of Finance (MFin).
How do fund managers get paid? ›
As a fund manager, you generally receive a salary plus a bonus based off of the success of your fund. As a hedge fund manager, your firm may make as much as 20% of the returns of the investment, and depending on your seniority and your employer, you receive a portion of that on top of your annual salary.
As an Investment Manager, it is my job to understand each client, their current situation and their aspirations. After that, I work with the client to create a portfolio of investments to meet their needs. By working with the end investor, one gets a real sense of what it means when investments go up and down in value.
What is the difference between a portfolio manager and an investment manager? ›
Investment advisors encompass professionals that can help you with investment management, retirement planning, estate management, tax management, budgeting, debt management, etc. Portfolio managers are typically more focused on helping you invest and managing your investment portfolio.
What is the difference between an investment advisor and a fund manager? ›
The difference between an investment manager versus an investment advisor is an investment manager may build and manage your accounts and investment portfolio. An investment advisor may also manage your investments, or provide recommendations on what investment moves to make. Some do both.
What is the personality of an investment fund manager? ›
Investment fund managers score highly on extraversion, meaning that they rely on external stimuli to be happy, such as people or exciting surroundings. They also tend to be high on the measure of conscientiousness, which means that they are methodical, reliable, and generally plan out things in advance.
What major is investment fund manager? ›
Most employers require that investment fund managers have a bachelor's degree in accounting, business administration, finance, or statistics.
Do investment managers make money? ›
How do investment management firms make money? The more profit they make for their clients, the more money investment management firms make. They charge their clients a management fee and take a percentage of the profits from the investments.
What is the main function of a fund manager? ›
Fund managers are responsible for making sure that accurate accounting records are kept for investment funds. You could also be involved with implementing investment strategies and managing trading activities. This high profile financial services role is most commonly available in private equity companies.
What is the job description of a fund manager? ›
The Fund Manager manages a portfolio of equity funds and leads the launch of new funds. He/She tracks investment returns and reports quarterly performance. He/She also supports fund marketing activities and events. He/She monitors the implementation of new and existing funds.
How does a fund manager get paid? ›
As a fund manager, you generally receive a salary plus a bonus based off of the success of your fund. As a hedge fund manager, your firm may make as much as 20% of the returns of the investment, and depending on your seniority and your employer, you receive a portion of that on top of your annual salary.
