Portfolio Manager

Investment portfolio management is the process in which an investment portfolio is acquired and maintained. Items for a portfolio manager and client to consider when investing include the term of the investment, stock market trends, and underlying forces within market trends. There are three types of terms of investment including short-term, medium term, and long term goals. Short term investing will provide quick returns, with medium term investing providing steady returns, and of course long term investing which aims to provide long range returns. The portfolio manager must ensure that their client receives a good return on investment which is achieved through the building of a strong portfolio.

What exactly does a Portfolio Manager do?

One of the main tasks they complete regularly is to meet with their analysts to discuss market developments and the trends pertaining to current events. They constantly check the status of the financial markets and again must stay on stop of current events. They also make the ultimate decision on what securities to buy or sell and some of them even conduct interviews with the financial media.  It is also their responsibility to ensure their clients build and maintain portfolio diversification, to keep them from “keeping all of their eggs in one basket.”

What is the typical background for a Portfolio Manager?

Some backgrounds may include engineering, computer science, physics, or biology, and many also possess an MBA degree.  They must be strong in accounting, finance, and economics and many are previously research analysts beforehand. One thing is for sure, and that is that they must be very strong in money management and they must be very hard-working analytical individuals.

What are the different types of Portfolio Manager Positions?

There are three things that determine this. They include the investing style, the size of the fund, and the type of investment vehicle.  The investing style could include small or large cap specialties (i.e. small cap stocks), domestic or international fund investing, hedge fund techniques, or growth or value style of management.  The size of the fund also determines the type of portfolio manager because he or she could determine the asset allocation for a small independent fund or a large asset management institution. The type of investment vehicle can vary greatly from mutual fund investing, hedge fund investing, commodity investing, trust and pension funds, and high net-worth investment pools.

In addition to or instead of a live portfolio manager, an investor may also decide to manage his or her portfolio using portfolio management software. Some of the features offered by a tool of this fashion include real time prices, accounting methods, management of investment records, and the ability to track multiple portfolios. This type of software has many additional features and may be an investing strategy that works for you. Its purpose is to simplify the life of the successful trader and investor. The point in the end is for the investor to be able to see the records of what he has invested and how much money he made.

The job of a portfolio manager is not one that is easy, but is one that is very rewarding for those individuals who like a challenge in their every day job.  It also pays off very nice financially.

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