Five ways AI can help investment firms train and support new entrants
Learning and development teams are looking to AI to enhance the way early-stage investment professionals learn, adapt and grow.
The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the way institutions design and deliver training content for the next generation of investment professionals.
In an industry striving to keep pace with evolving technology, regulations and client expectations, AI-driven learning solutions are helping institutions cultivate agile, future-ready workers who can adapt to evolving roles and develop a competitive edge.
Here are five ways learning and development (L&D) teams in the investment industry can use AI to enhance the development of early-stage professionals:
1. Producing and curating training content
Creating high-quality training content is time-intensive. Generative AI (GenAI) tools can speed things up considerably, drafting text- or video-based training materials, tutorials, quizzes, case studies and even simulation scenarios in hours. This enables firms to quickly update their training content in response to regulatory or market developments.
The translation and voiceover capabilities of GenAI can also allow multinational firms to deploy training programs quickly and cost-effectively across their various global offices.
2. Personalizing learning paths
The investment industry encompasses a wide spectrum of roles, each requiring a unique blend of technical, regulatory and interpersonal skills. AI-powered learning platforms can analyze individual profiles, assess skill gaps and deliver customized training programs tailored to specific job functions.
L&D teams could use a combination of data analysis and GenAI to tailor training content based on an employee’s aptitude and preferred learning style. This personalization promises to not only fast-track mastery of complex topics like financial modeling and derivatives pricing, but also create a more engaging and enjoyable learning experience for employees.
3. Providing real-time references
The investment industry has embraced the use of AI co-pilots, or assistants, to streamline workflows. These tools can also support on-the-job learning, providing contextually relevant resources to employees as they perform complex tasks. Once co-pilots are trained on enterprise data, they can answer questions and provide feedback, as well as flag errors and recommend corrective actions.
By allowing employees to complete their day-to-day tasks more quickly, co-pilots can also free up more time for individuals to spend on their own development and accelerate their career progression. This could be particularly powerful for junior employees who are traditionally handed the bulk of routine administrative tasks.
4. Heading off skills gaps
Concerns that junior professionals may become overly dependent on AI tools are leading investment firms to emphasize human skills, which are seen as critical differentiators as AI adoption spreads across the industry.
For L&D managers, AI allows a more proactive approach to developing these skills. Advanced analytics, often embedded in AI-powered learning management systems, can identify emerging skill gaps at both an industry level and an individual level, which can then be addressed in early-career training.
5. Fostering a culture of continuous learning
AI could help overcome the challenge of rolling out voluntary training programs to time-poor employees who often lack the motivation to complete self-learning modules.
For one thing, GenAI-based training can make learning less intimidating and more fun, with its ability to simulate human-like interactions. Studies have found higher levels of engagement compared to classroom learning. While it is still early days in the mass adoption of AI-powered courses, L&D executives are watching closely for tools that can establish a habit of continuous learning across their organizations.
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The dramatic change associated with the spread of AI across the investment industry is itself a driver of increased engagement with career development resources. As more institutions and individuals look to develop the capabilities they will need in the future, professional education providers are responding with new content. The CFA® Program, for example, is updated regularly to incorporate modules aimed at developing relevant, real-world skills like data science and Python.
L&D managers in the investment industry are only too aware of the AI skills gap, which can hold back their organizations from exploiting the technology to its full potential. As they strive to address this, AI-powered tools are set to become ever more important.
As artificial intelligence transforms how investment professionals analyze markets, build portfolios, and manage risk, CFA Institute is delivering cutting-edge research to support the profession.
Explore AI in Asset Management: Tools, Applications, and Frontiers from CFA Institute Research Foundation and CFA Institute Policy Center.
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