Career path: Investment Management
Shape the financial futures of individuals and institutions.
Imagine being able to influence the growth of companies, build long-lasting relationships, and help individuals and institutions achieve their financial goals. As a career path, Investment Management gives you the chance to engage deeply with the dynamic world of markets, economies, and businesses, making impactful decisions that shape financial futures.
Useful skillsets
- Analytical
- Attention to detail
- Empathy
- Communication
What is Investment Management?
At its core, Investment Management is about managing assets to maximize returns while balancing risk. Whether focusing on stocks, bonds, or alternative investments, professionals in this field combine an analytical mindset, strategic thinking, and market insight to craft portfolios that meet clients’ needs.
Start here: Investment Analyst
Think Investment Management might be the right fit for you? Explore what your first step as an early career Investment Analyst could look like.
Career trajectory
Investment Consultant
Advises their clients, which can include Asset Owners, Fund Managers, and Trustees on which funds, asset classes, and markets to invest in as a part of the investment and asset allocation strategy and portfolio construction process.
Investment Strategist
A broad term encompassing a range of roles. These can include executive-level responsibilities for shaping overall investment strategies or providing tactical market analysis.
Portfolio Manager
Investment decision-makers. Portfolio Managers devise and implement investment strategies and processes to meet client goals and constraints, construct and manage portfolios, and make decisions on what and when to buy and sell investments.
Chief Investment Officer (CIO)
Develops and communicates investment strategy and policies, supervises and oversees the investment process, establishes processes to ensure investment policies are followed, and makes decisions on asset allocation and risk management across portfolios. CIOs may also be responsible for research, trading, sustainability policies, and business strategy.
Begin your career journey with a strong foundation
The CFA Institute Investment Foundations® Certificate gives you essential building blocks of knowledge, helping you confidently begin a career in finance. Available to full-time students for just USD 79.
Find out where you fit in finance
Take the ICAN Finance Career Quiz and in a few minutes, you’ll discover personalized career paths to explore further, based on your skills, strengths, passions, and values.