Transition from PWM to AM?

Hi all, How feasible is a transition from the investment research/analyst side of PWM at a BB to the institutional Asset Management division of the same bank? Additionally, are there any banks in particular where this transition would be easiest? In general, how marketable are PWM (investing side) to larger asset management firms? Thanks

19 Comments
 

Not as sure about that, but I think it is possible as well assuming you are more on the investment side of PWM and you are a top performer

 

define investment side. there's a big difference between calling yourself a research analyst just because you're on a team with a financial advisor who runs money and being an analyst for someone you might see on the barron's top 100 (some of those guys are institutional quality asset managers). what I'm alluding to is yes, it's possible, but unlikely.

disclaimer, if you're talking about a PB like JP Morgan or Goldman, disregard what I'm saying, I'm less familiar with that world. but if you're thinking of moving from Morgan Stanley PWM to Morgan Stanley Investment Management, that's extremely unlikely

what does your role entail today?

 

I work for a group of advisors that run money at a top BB (about $500 million AUM), my role entails research (although not nearly as much as I'd like), performance reporting, building models that drive my PMs asset allocation/ stock-picking process (for example a dashboard that, if you type in a ticker, it displays S&P outperformance, yield, and various technical attributes), client driven stuff like account reconciliation or preparing a ppt presentation for this foundation we run money for, and some other ad hoc responsibilities. Previous analyst went to a top BB in real estate investment mgmt. (he had just taken CFA II). What do you say my chances are for moving towards institutional AM in an investing role (not sales or some shit)? I am taking CFA I in December and (if I pass.... I better pass) CFA II in June. I expect to be at this job for 1 more yr.

p.s. I might say fk the markets and go back to real estate (development or PE), in which case I have 9 months internship experience

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Best Response

my team is about the same size. you have upsides and downsides:

positives:

  • your firm likely has a good name brand
  • it works well on a resume
  • PWM lifestyle is unbeatable

negatives:

  • PWM is frowned upon in AM. you can pretty much forget about a hedge fund or mutual fund unless you get recruited some crazy way like sending them write ups on stocks you cover
  • you will probably have to attend b-school to make this kind of career change
  • buyside recruiting (based upon friends' experiences and what I've seen around this forum) tends to happen from IB jobs, not from PWM unfortunately. it's not fair, but that's the way the world works
  • next to no well paying jobs in PWM unless you go into sales side

your options as I see it:

  • continue on your current path. will likely be a cushy job with room for growth, but not glamorous and your options for growth are pretty much sales side or small raises as your team improves
  • go to b school, try to recruit for buyside straight out. if not that, maybe IB as an associate with the hope to do buyside after that

side note: don't underestimate the fun of the sales side.

 

I'm actually a sophomore exploring career options. Since you're familiar with Morgan Stanley, could you tell me a little bit about how their PWM division is divided? From the MS website, I understand that PWM is broken into a "Capital Markets" group and an "Investment Strategies/Product Management" group, though the descriptions aren't very in-depth. Thanks a lot

 

thebrofessor - I figure I ask you since we're all on the same topic. Currently at JPM and want to eventually internally move into the PB space. Came across this opening in PB, which in my understanding seems to be a role supporting the FAs. Could you confirm/shed a bit more detail about what you think this role will entail?

Job description below..

Responsibilities This person will be involved in all aspects of the day-to-day running of the Portfolio Advisor (“PA”) Program, which includes monitoring of program guidelines, interacting with financial advisors and their field leadership to ensure smooth running of the business, along with necessary reporting and data analysis. In addition responsibilities will include interaction with technology and assisting with the development and implementation of the business plan. This includes, but is not limited to:

Primary Functions: •Standard BAU Activities: •Liaise with Financial Advisors, field management and internal home office teams in the support and education of the PA program •Review and develop policies and procedures; enhance where appropriate •Develop and maintain reporting on key business metrics and provide periodic updates to management •Partner with Product Management for ongoing maintenance of program and new business initiatives

Qualifications

•2-4 years of related industry experience; Experience within Asset Management preferred •Strong technical skills required including: 1) Microsoft Office proficient; 2) Advanced Excel skills required; Must be fluent in macros, pivot tables, formulas, etc. •Strong quantitative and analytical skills; Fundamental understanding of financial and investment principles •Excellent communication skills; Able to draw out information through good listening and questioning skills •Strong interpersonal skills; excellent team player, ability to deal with business partners at all levels
•Ability to work independently, set priorities and deliver quality results
Series 7 & 66 Licenses preferred; Willingness to obtain within reasonable time of hire will be considered

 

Never accept your fate! If you're doing due diligence on fund managers, use it to build your network, get CFA/MBA/etc, and move in to AM. Find out what else you need to get in. Take every ounce that you can possibly leverage from your current position/firm. It's doable, you're just starting out - there are many paths you can use to get to AM, as long as you are realistic about your expectations. What do you want to do in AM?

 

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