Portfolio Manager

A financial portfolio is a combination of investment options, some with higher intrinsic risks than others. A Portfolio Manager puts together and manages a financial portfolio for his or her client that will garner the highest return on their investment. If they do this well, Portfolio Managers can make a lot of money for their clients, and themselves.

Your day as a Portfolio Manager is spent evaluating the risks and rewards of individual investments. This is done by reviewing the terms and fees of products as well as being aware of trends in the market. Has the price of gold slid downward for four months in a row? Is the international market struggling? Your job is not only to understand the potential of each stock or bond, but also to have a worldly view of the investing industry.

One way you do this is through consulting with your Portfolio Analyst, who spends his or her day monitoring changes in the securities markets. This information helps you because even the smallest change in the business world can create a monumental impact on individual investments. If you are preparing to invest in Hershey’s chocolate, for example, news that three competitors are launching new products is important.

Along with an understanding of the markets, you need an understanding of the client’s needs. You may be able to pick investments that provide a solid income over a 30-year period, but if the client is eighty-four years old and entering a retirement home, that portfolio is an ill fit for his needs.