How many jobs are available in investment managers? This is one of the many questions that we come across on the internet. Most of the people who ask this question want to join the finance industry and develop a career there. To answer the question, there are about a million investment manager jobs roles available in the United States.
Some of the major investment management roles include portfolio manager, financial manager, research assistant, etc. In this article, we will mainly discuss the number of jobs available in the investment manager job role and also the types of investment manager jobs that you must look for in the current job market. Furthermore, you will also come to know about the best-paying investment manager jobs. To get fully informed about the job role, consider reading through to the end of the article.
Investment Managers: A General Overview
According to Investopedia,
“Investment managers are individuals or organizations who handle activities related to financial planning, investing, and managing a portfolio for their clients. From the day-to-day buying and selling of securities and assets to transaction settlement and performance measurement, investment managers oversee investments and act on behalf of their clients.”
Generally, an investment manager is an individual working for an investment organization. The manager handles various activities related to the financial management of the company’s clients. The tasks include financial planning, portfolio management, investing, etc. The client can be an individual or an institutional investor.
Apart from that, investment managers also devise strategies and execute planning and investment in a financial portfolio. In addition to that, investment managers are also a type of investment adviser. Some of the major investment management companies in the world include BlackRock, Fidelity Investments, Vanguard Group, etc.
An investment manager can be an individual, a group of people, or even a large multi-disciplinary organization. Investment managers follow the activities of the market to make investment decisions on behalf of their clients. Their job is to ensure that the clients have balanced and updated portfolios.
Within their roles, investment managers meet individually with clients (individuals or businesses). The job is to manage the portfolio of their clients. Furthermore, these investment managers base their fees on the percentage of their clients’s assets under management. For example, if an investment manager charges 2% annually for an individual with a $4 million portfolio, then the fee of the investment manager is $80,000.
What Is The Job Of Investment Managers?
The job of investment managers is to create strategies as well as investment portfolios and manage them. Apart from that, they also invest on the client’s behalf. Financial managers, portfolio managers, research assistants, etc., come under the purview of investment managers.
According to the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics,
“Financial managers create financial reports, direct investment activities, and develop plans for the long-term financial goals of their organization.”
These people work in various industries, but mostly in the same sector. Some of these industries include banks, financial institutions, investment firms, insurance companies, etc.
All investment advisors are required to register with FINRA if they are planning on assisting clients with investment advice and portfolio management.
In most cases, the job of financial managers is full-time, and all the job roles are demanding as well as rewarding. Hence, if you are looking to get a job as a financial manager or an investment manager, consider getting a better idea of the market in particular. Apart from that, you must also possess good analytical skills as well as skills in dealing with people.
What Are The Skills And Qualifications Of Investment Managers?
To get the job of an investment manager, you will at least need to have a bachelor’s degree in a related field. Some of the related fields of investment management include accounting, finance, business, statistics, mathematics, etc. One of the most common degrees among investment managers is an MBA. Apart from that, investment managers also take the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) certification.
A graduate in a related field can get an entry into an investment analyst role. Furthermore, with experience, the individual can move to a role in management.
Is Real Estate Investment Trusts A Good Career Path?
Of course, the Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) is one of the best sectors to join as an investment manager. However, is investment managers a good career path for you? This depends on the type of skills and qualifications you have.
Many businesses, as well as individuals, are becoming more and more aware of their assets. Hence, there is a sudden rise in the demand for investment managers. And this is happening not just in the United States but also throughout the world. This is because the duty of investment managers involves managing the assets and the finances of the clients in the best possible ways.In the last five years, the sector has encountered a variety of changes, which led to an increase in the number of opportunities for new investment managers. There are new roles and new prospects when it comes to a career as an investment manager.
How Many Jobs Are Available In Investment Managers?
As we discussed before, there are almost a million job roles available for investment managers. There is always a higher demand for investment managers since people and businesses do not have a lot of options when it comes to financial planning and investment consultation.
According to US BLS,
“Employment of financial managers is projected to grow 17 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 71,300 openings for financial managers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.”
Number Of Investment Manager Jobs In The United States
The following are some of the best-paying jobs when it comes to investment manager roles:
| Investment Manager Jobs | Number of Jobs |
| Finance Manager | 385,000+ Jobs |
| Finance Advisor | 200,000+ Jobs |
| Finance Analyst | 380,000+ Jobs |
| Research Assistant | 190,000+ Jobs |
| Credit Analyst | 64,500+ Jobs |
| Wealth Manager | 90,000+ Jobs |
| Investment Banking Analyst | 21,000+ Jobs |
| Trader | 28,500+ Jobs |
| Portfolio Manager | 12,500+ Jobs |
| Equity Trader | 20,000+ Jobs |
How Much Do Financial Managers Make?
To learn how many jobs are available in investment managers, you will also need to learn how much investment managers make. Since the jobs are exceptionally demanding and require a high amount of money-dealings, the finance manager’s salary is also on the higher side. As per May 2021 data, the median annual wage of financial managers in the US is $131,710.
The Bureau of Labor and Statistics of the United States informs, “The median annual wage for financial managers was $131,710 in May 2021. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $77,040, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $208,000.”
Investment Managers – The Best Paying Jobs In Major Banks
All the investment manager jobs are best paying, and there are mainly two types of investment manager roles available in the job market:
1. Business Investment Manager
Here, you will be responsible for working for a financial organization and taking care of the financial plans, portfolios, and investments of the organization. You will also be given the opportunity to get money from the organization’s clients and invest on their behalf of them.
2. Personal Investment Manager
Here, you will help individuals to manage their investments. Apart from that, you will also be responsible for managing their wealth, assessing their investments, and suggesting beneficial options that will be helpful for them in the long run. Here, you will work on behalf of individual clients of yours.
Summing Up
By reading the article, you might have got a better idea of how many jobs are available in investment managers’ roles. Depending on the type of job role you are interested in, there will be a different number of vacancies in the finance industry. If you are trying to get into an investment manager job, consider getting the right qualifications and skills and getting a job in the associate role. And only then will you be able to go up the ladder and get a senior and high-earning role yourself. Which investment manager job role do you like the most? Share your answer with us in the comments section below.
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