Portfolio managers can play a critical role in helping clients achieve their financial goals. If you’re interested in becoming a portfolio manager, here are some steps you can take to get started.

Obtain professional certifications

The Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation is the most well-known certification for portfolio managers and is widely respected in the industry. Other certifications, such as the Financial Risk Manager (FRM) or the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA), can also be beneficial. You can also sign up for extra courses in finance or economics at well-regarded online or extension programs like Harvard Extension School or Stanford Continuing Studies Program. 

Build a strong network 

Networking is key in most industries, and financial services is no exception. It’s important to make connections with professionals in the field. Attend industry events, join professional organizations including your school’s student or alumni finance groups, and make connections through LinkedIn or other social media platforms. Set aside your fears of rejection. Many people further along in their careers are happy to talk to younger people about how to achieve success. 

Stay up-to-date on market trends and investment strategies

A strong portfolio manager must have a deep understanding of the financial markets and the ability to analyze complex data. It’s important to continually educate yourself and stay informed of current trends and strategies. Reading financial publications, like the Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, Bloomberg, and the Financial Times, will help you better understand how current events like geopolitical conflicts impact the markets.

Practice building portfolios

One of the most important aspects of being a money manager is the ability to develop different types of investment portfolios. This means investing in a range of asset classes, such as stocks, bonds, and real estate, as well as toward different goals such as minimizing risk or maximizing returns over different time horizons. Paper trading platforms can help you experiment and understand various strategies for portfolio construction and asset allocation. 

Demonstrate a passion and aptitude for investing

In addition to studying for certifications and joining organizations to show your commitment to the field, investment competitions can help you publicly demonstrate your investing skills and talent to get a professional job. You can share your mG ranking on LinkedIn or your resume. 

Additionally, strong performing competitors on marketGOATS can be selected to manage real investor money. We are about results and merit. Show us – and the world – your investment talents. Experiment with over 10,000 stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies on the marketGOATS platform and work your way to becoming an established portfolio manager: marketgoats.com.