Wealth management jobs include financial managers, personal financial advisers and asset managers. Jobs within each of these industries require a high level of financial management skill, training and experience, as well as excellent sales and interpersonal skills. Most wealth management jobs involve working with individuals or organizations of substantial wealth. Personal financial advisers and financial managers working within this industry are usually either self-employed or work with major financial institutions.
Most wealth management jobs require at least a four-year degree and many require a graduate-level degree, as well as additional licensing or certification. The type of job acquired depends largely on a person’s level of training and experience. Individuals working in wealth management for institutional investors usually work in a corporate setting as members of a team of other analysts, strategists and advisers. Wealth management jobs often require frequent travel and long working hours, and many require non-traditional hours, particularly when working with foreign markets.
Financial management positions are among the most sought after wealth management jobs in the industry. Most people working in this capacity perform management services for institutional investors, such as banks or insurance agencies, but several are also employed by large government agencies. Financial managers are charged with overseeing all of an organization’s investments, financial reports and expenditures, as well as creating and implementing future strategies for an organization’s strong economic growth.
Wealth management jobs such as personal financial advisers are also highly sought after jobs. Also known as a wealth management consultant or personal wealth manager, individuals working in this capacity individually assist wealthy people or families with investment decisions, estate planning and planning for the educational future of any existing or future heirs. These particular wealth management jobs also require advisers to regularly interact with a client’s attorneys, accountants and other wealth management professionals to ensure that each professional is properly apprised of a client’s financial goals. A financial adviser’s foremost concern is helping to minimize financial risks, while identifying areas where a person can create more wealth and leading the way in making this happen.
Asset managers typically make money when their clients do. Wealth management jobs such as these are, therefore, highly competitive and require a sharp sense of how investments, markets and economies work. Individual asset managers are expected to also possess an experienced track record that clients can depend on. Asset managers help protect a client’s wealth, oversee the performance of existing investments and, in general, help individual clients build stronger investment portfolios. Many asset managers work as self-employed owners of boutique firms or with private firms that work exclusively with wealthy clientele.