Have you always been interested in providing others with sound financial advice? Do you enjoy identifying sound investment decisions to help grow a portfolio over the longer term?
If so, your interest and personality may be a good fit for wealth management. With the share of wealth/retail client segments as a % of total asset under management (AuM) expected to grow from 58% to 64% in the next 5 years, demand for wealth managers are expected to increase to capitalize on this trend.
Whether you’re interested in working in wealth management, or simply want to know more about what’s involved, read on as we take a closer look at the wealth management career path and highlight what it entails, how you can expect to progress and the benefits on offer.
Contents
- Why become a wealth manager?
- What does a wealth manager do?
- Wealth manager hierarchy and progressing within the role
- Wealth manager salary
- How to start a career in wealth management
- Which qualifications are useful for wealth managers?
- Wealth management career outlook
- Wealth management exit options and opportunities
- Is wealth management a good career choice for you?
Why become a wealth manager?
Aside from the opportunity to earn a decent compensation as you progress through the ranks, here are some other benefits associated with joining this sector:
- You have the ability to make a positive impact in your clients’ financial future.
- Wealth management offers a favourable work/life balance.
- This field is often attractive to entrepreneurs.
- Wealth management can increasingly be performed remotely; reducing travel requirements.
Most individuals suited for such a position are highly motivated and they enjoy a significant level of independence. This is not always the case with other financial roles such as accountants and risk managers. Wealth managers also need to have the right personality to be able to build solid relationships with their clients and anticipate their needs and requirements.
What does a wealth manager do?
The term “wealth manager” is quite broad and it can encompass various roles and responsibilities. In essence, a wealth manager offers a holistic, big picture service to high net worth individuals (HNWI) on investment advice, some tax planning services and estate planning.
So, what does a typical day in the life of a wealth manager entail?
Similar to other professionals, wealth managers usually begin their day by examining any client emails or correspondences. This helps them to better plan their schedule. Other preparatory tasks can include analyzing the latest market trends, scheduling meetings with the clients themselves or preparing tax and insurance recommendations for your client presentation.
You may or may not be surprised to learn that wealth management can also involve a significant amount of paperwork. Professionals can often spend a lot of time at their desks, particularly at entry level, however hours aren’t generally as long as in some other sectors such as investment banking. Other daily tasks include attending in-house meetings and/or seminars, analyzing the latest investment opportunities and monitoring the performance of existing portfolios.
Wealth manager hierarchy and progressing within the role
If you’re considering a career in wealth management then you’re probably wondering how to get into the industry to begin with, and how you can expect to progress.
The majority of candidates will need to obtain an undergraduate degree to be considered by a wealth management firm or department at a bank. Ideally, this should be related to financial services. Examples include business management, accounting, economics, and financial planning.
Most firms will not hire an individual as a wealth manager with no prior experience, so it’s important to cut your teeth and gain experience either by interning or by taking an entry level position.
However, it may still be possible to enter into this field slightly high up the chain if your professional background centres around finance and relationship management, and you’re able to demonstrate an excellent level of transferable skills and knowledge.
Let’s take a look at a typical wealth manager’s career ladder:
Analyst / associate
Most professionals will begin their careers as an analyst. They perform fundamental duties such as sourcing new clients, examining potential investment opportunities and assisting customer relationship managers. Various administrative tasks such as organizing presentations and collating data may also be required. Most individuals would expect to remain an analyst for between 2-3 years before progressing.
Relationship manager / client advisor
This next position is arguably the most familiar, as it involves establishing relationships with the clients themselves. Some core aspects include:
- Evaluating current market conditions.
- Discovering new investment opportunities.
- Presenting these options to the customer.
- Proactively managing a block of portfolios.
- Providing professional advice and/or support when required.
Relationship managers will also oversee the actions of junior analysts and they can also be involved within the overall training process. An additional 2-3 years will be required before ascending to the next level.
Business development director
While not necessarily the next step in the chain from relationship manager, a director of business development at a wealth management firm plays an important role in developing new client relationships and helping to secure new business, as well as helping to maintain excellent relationships between wealth management teams and their clients. They will often be involved in ensuring strategies are implemented in accordance with client needs, and educating clients as to the range of services the firm can offer.
These professionals work closely with sales teams and they may also be involved in the marketing sector (in relation to the wealth management firm itself). A director of business development may remain at this position for between 5-10 years.
Senior portfolio/investment manager
This tends to be the top position within a wealth management company although some firms may provide the opportunity to become partners. Investment managers and senior portfolio advisors spend a great deal of time overseeing both private and commercial accounts.
Once again, senior portfolio managers are generally focused upon the higher net worth clients in order to ensure a good return-on-investment (ROI). Additional certifications may be required to attain this position.
Partner / private wealth manager
Although this may not appear to represent a “title” in the traditional sense, it is still sensible to highlight that some wealth managers may eventually choose to start their own firm. This normally takes place once they have ascended through the ranks and developed a highly detailed knowledge of the marketplace and strong relationships with many potential clients.
Wealth manager salary
How much can you expect to earn as a wealth manager? The answer to this question involves the position itself and how you progress over the years.
In order to attract talent, wealth management firms and wealth management divisions at larger institutions actually pay quite good entry level salaries in order to compete against other options within the financial sector. This means it’s not unheard of for analysts or associates to earn somewhere around $100k at the top firms.
In a lot of cases, once you reach a relationship manager position your salary will be dependent on the level of assets under management (AUM) that you’re involved in managing. The firm will charge a management fee (typically of around 0.5%-1% depending on portfolio size) to each client. The manager will then take home a cut of this fee, once overheads and profits for the firm have been covered.
This pay structure means that as a manager develops their client base, and (hopefully) increases the value of the client’s assets, they can expect to see their commission increase. A relationship manager at a good size wealth management firm could expect to receive around 40%-50% of the management fee as compensation.
As more senior managers will typically be looking after higher net worth clients, as well as clients whose assets they’ve helped to grow over the years, their AuM figures will mean they will take home higher levels of compensation.
For example, AuM of $100 million at a firm charging a 1% management fee and paying 40% commission would equate to compensation of $400k. With AUM of $1 billion, a management fee of 0.5% and commission at 50%, the compensation for the manager would be $2.5 million.
Average pay for those in the wealth management sector is as follows:
Wealth management salary US
| Position | Average Time In Role | Annual Compensation |
| Analyst | 1-2 Years | $80k – $100k |
| Associate | 1-2 Years | $90k – $120k |
| Relationship Manager | 2-3 Years | $150k – $500k |
| Senior Manager | 3-5 Years | $250k – $1 million |
| Partner | n/a | $500k – $5 million |
Wealth management salary UK
| Position | Average Time In Role | Annual Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst | 1-2 Years | £40k – £60k |
| Associate | 1-2 Years | £50k – £80k |
| Relationship Manager | 2-3 Years | £80k – £120k |
| Senior Manager | 3-5 Years | £100k – £200k |
| Partner | n/a | £150k – £1 million |
These figures are based on earnings at larger firms or within divisions of top banks, in financial centres such as New York or London. As you might expect, compensation at smaller firms or in other locations may be lower.
How to start a career in wealth management
Most candidates will need to first possess an undergraduate degree from an accredited university. After this has been obtained, one of the most popular routes involves securing an internship with a reputable firm. This will provide the hands-on experience required to obtain the title of analyst. It may also be prudent to secure a handful of industry-recognized certifications.
Changing careers from a previous finance-related role (such as financial planner) could also be a possibility. As these individuals will already possess much of the basic knowledge associated with wealth management, it could be easier to change job titles. Some common examples include:
- Financial planner
- Investment banker
- Private equity specialist
- Venture capitalist
- Positions associated with corporate finance
Of course, those with more experience in the world of finance will naturally be more likely to be hired by a wealth management firm.
Which qualifications are useful for wealth managers?
One of the most exciting aspects of wealth management is that the learning curve never truly ends. This is why even senior-level professionals are always looking to increase their skill sets. A handful of certifications will provide opportunities for career advancement while simultaneously augmenting your talents.
Let’s take a look at 5 well-known programmes.
CFP and other wealth management qualifications
Obtaining a Certified Financial Planner qualification is highly valued in the wealth management sector. Potential clients also view it as an indicator of competence and it is recognized globally. If CFP is not your cup of tea, there are a few other online Masters degrees in financial planning or analysis from Kaplan that are good considerations too.
CFA
A CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) is by far the most well-known certification to possess. In fact, an estimated 5% of CFA charterholders are wealth management specialists. The reason for this trend involves the fact that many CFA core competencies (such as portfolio oversight and financial planning) are the primary responsibilities of a wealth manager.
FRM
A Financial Risk Management (FRM) qualification is another relevant option to consider. Of course, one of the main intentions of any wealth manager is to mitigate the risks associated with a specific investment strategy.
A certified FRM will provide an even more detailed overview of such an approach. As a result, the professional will be adequately prepared to provide sound advice at the appropriate times.
CAIA
A Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) is yet another possibility. Alternative forms of investment have become extremely popular in recent times due to their ability to provide a portfolio with a greater degree of stability. Therefore, those who attain a CAIA certification are highly sought after across the entire financial sector.
ESG qualifications
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) certifications are a final option to highlight.
ESG certifications are focused around issues such as compliance, transparency, moral advice, and corporate responsibility. It has even been shown that ESG-related investments tend to outperform traditional strategies.
So when it comes to managing client’s assets over the longer term, it’s clear to see how expertise in ESG investing is a valuable asset, particularly as ESG issues are expected to become increasingly important over the coming years.
Wealth management career outlook
The asset management sector is expected to see some quite significant growth over the next few years, with total AuM expected to grow to $145.4 trillion by 2025, up from $84.9 trillion in 2016.
This means that demand for talented wealth management professionals is likely to expand over the coming years, so there will likely be plenty of opportunities for the right individuals,
In terms of working in the sector, perhaps the most obvious observation we can make is the role of digital technology and the transition into hybrid work environments (particularly as a result of social distancing measures due to COVID restrictions). This also includes an increasing reliance upon financial software platforms, requiring professionals to become more familiar with such systems.
Notwithstanding a migration into the digital community, another issue involves a greater focus placed upon sustainable investment strategies in relation to wealth management. Not only may these provide a higher return on investment, but they have become attractive to an audience that is increasingly concerned about their impact upon the environment. Here are some other trends to highlight:
- The rise of big data analytics in relation to portfolio management.
- Tailored solutions based around the needs of the individual.
- A growing interest in the use of cryptocurrencies as an alternative form of investment.
- Portfolios geared towards emerging markets (such as clean energy and healthcare).
It will be interesting to see whether these observations come to pass and if they do, the effects that they will have upon the entire wealth management industry.
Wealth management exit options and opportunities
Although the perks of wealth management cannot be denied, there are still times when you might wish to take a different career path. What types of exit opportunities are available?
Similar to asset management, there are several options to contemplate for those looking to make a financial career switch. These include:
- Investment banking
- Private equity management
- Corporate development
- Venture capital specialist
As touched upon earlier in this article, many wealth management specialists eventually decide to become freelancers, starting their own firms once they have accumulated the expertise and a solid client base. This will primarily depend upon your personal desires as well as what you are trying to achieve.
Is wealth management a good career choice for you?
The sheer breadth of the wealth management sector is undoubtedly one of its most attractive qualities. Not only will you be provided with plenty of room for career progression, but a number of exit opportunities exist, too.
Some other reasons why this could represent an excellent career choice include:
- More flexible working hours when compared to some other financial positions.
- The ability to develop long-standing relationships with clients.
- Becoming immersed within a highly dynamic environment.
- These very same skills can be used to manage your own finances.
- You can leverage personal traits such as communication and creativity.
Similar to any professional career, there are also some possible drawbacks to wealth management. These can include:
- Dealing with high levels of stress.
- Strict regulatory compliance requirements.
- Most specialists will need to be constantly prospecting for new customers.
Weighing the benefits and possible drawbacks of wealth management is crucial if you hope to make an objective decision. Still, this career can provide a wealth of rewards if you are willing to make such a commitment.
We hope the guide above shed some light on a wealth management career. Do you thinkthis career path suits you? Let us know in the comments below!
Meanwhile, here are related articles which you may find interesting:
- CFA Careers: What Are Typical Job Opportunities for CFA Charterholders?
- Why is ESG Important and Which Careers Can Benefit From It?
- Finance Career Change: Plan Your Finance Career Switch With Our Free Tool
- Epic Career Path Guides:Accounting|Investment Banking|Corporate Finance|Portfolio Management|Financial Planning|Private Equity|Investment Research | Risk Management | Hedge Funds
