What is Investment Management?

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Definition:

Investment management is the process of handling a person’s financial portfolio (a collection of assets, like stocks and bonds), such as creating and executing a strategy for investing.

🤔 Understanding investment management

Investment management encompasses everything related to dealing with a person’s investment portfolio. Beyond buying and selling assets (like stocks and bonds), investment management can include coming up with a portfolio strategy, and handling things like bookkeeping and budgeting. Some people decide to do their own investment management. Others hire individuals or companies that offer investment management services for a fee, often in the form of a percentage of the customer’s invested assets each year. Beyond handling an individual’s portfolio, investment management can also include giving advice on investments and day-to-day financial decisions. It also includes other things related to finance, like estate planning (how to handle a person’s assets when they pass away).

Example

Suppose Jane decides to hire someone to help with her investment management. The professional meets with Jane and asks her questions about her financial situation and goals. Based on Jane’s answers, they devise a plan for how to construct a portfolio. Her investment manager then executes the plan, buying and selling the securities in Jane’s portfolio. They also give advice on how Jane can budget to meet her savings goals. They might also guide her on how she should structure other aspects of her finances, such as her will.

Takeaway

Investment management is like managing a restaurant…

The manager at a restaurant has to handle everything related to the restaurant, including buying ingredients, deciding what should go on the menu, and how to decorate the seating area. Similarly, investment management encompasses a variety of tasks related to a person’s investment portfolio and other finances. An investment manager helps build their client’s portfolio, handles buying and selling securities and creating an investment strategy.

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Tell me more…

What is investment management?

Investment management is the process of handling a financial portfolio, which typically includes an individual’s brokerage accounts. It can also include giving advice to someone on how they should manage their financial situation, such as savings goals or estate planning.

Some individuals handle their own investment management, while others hire an outside party to manage investments on their behalf. Many people turn to financial professionals for some aspects of investment management, such as advice on individual investment decisions or how to structure their portfolio.

Investment managers charge a fee for their services, typically a percentage of the assets under their management. For example, someone who has an investment manager handling their $1M portfolio may pay a fee of 1%, or $10,000 annually.

In recent years, robo-advisors (automated programs that can manage investments) have gained popularity. Robo-advisory companies use software and industry knowledge to offer a more automated approach to investment management.

What are the objectives of investment management?

The primary objective of investment management is to help the investor accomplish their financial goals. These goals vary depending on the investor. Investors can have many different goals for investing, each of which may demand a different approach and strategy.

For example, some investors are saving for retirement, building a portfolio that they hope will grow and can sustain their lifestyle when they stop working. Depending on the investor’s age, goals, risk tolerance, and other factors, this may call for a mix of securities (like stocks and bonds) that suit their financial plan and style. Some investors may reduce their portfolio’s risk level over time, to help mitigate significant losses as they approach retirement.

Other investors primarily want to produce income from their investments. Investment management in this scenario may focus on building a diversified portfolio of dividend-paying stocks, bonds, and other assets that produce cash flow. Some investment strategies are aimed at hedging against losses while making sure the asset’s don’t lose value to inflation.

What does an investment management company do?

Investment management companies help their clients achieve their financial goals. Typically, their services encompass a combination of advice and various tasks related to managing an investment portfolio.

For example, an investment manager may meet with a client to discuss their financial situation and goals. This discussion can include topics such as the client’s job, income, debt, and any investments they currently have. The investment manager may ask about the client’s reasons for investing. Understanding the client’s goals and risk tolerance is an important part of designing a portfolio that fits the client’s needs.

Some asset management companies also provide help with researching and selecting specific investments. For example, if a client is interested in buying shares of the fictional company Widgets Inc., the investment management company might prepare a report explaining some basic details of the company and providing guidance as to whether buying shares may be a good idea. Investment managers may advise their clients on specific mutual funds to invest in, annuities and insurance products to purchase, or other aspects of managing money.

Investment managers can also handle the day-to-day aspects of a portfolio, such as buying and selling securities, and making sure the portfolio’s asset allocation (mix of investments) stays near the target.

What is the investment management process?

Investment management is a multi-step process designed to help investors understand and achieve their goals. Each process may look a bit different depending on the investor. The steps below give a general sense of how it works.

Devising a strategy

The first step in the process often involves determining the investor’s goals and the best strategy to accomplish those goals. There are different methods that are well-suited for different aims. Investment managers also take into account factors such as the investor’s income, expenses, age, and risk tolerance. For example, a young professional saving for retirement may have a different goal from the parent who is saving for their child’s college education.

Investment managers typically work with their clients to help identify their goals and come up with a strategy, such as how much to save, how frequently to contribute to their portfolio, and what types of accounts and investments to use.

Build a portfolio

Once an investor knows their goals, the next step is to build their portfolio. At this point, investment managers may help their clients design the type of portfolio for their needs. Different securities offer different risk and reward profiles to help achieve the investor’s goals. For example, stocks tend to offer more risk and greater potential reward than bonds.

Executing the strategy

After an investor determines their goals and how they will structure their portfolio, the next step is to execute that strategy. Investment managers may help advise clients on trades they should make, or make transactions on their client’s behalf. They may also rebalance their client’s portfolio as needed.

Revising the strategy

Every so often, an investment manager and their client may take the time to revise their strategy. Market conditions change regularly, and so can investors’ goals and risk tolerance. The client’s investing strategy may adjust to reflect those changing conditions and goals.

What are the types of investments?

There are many types of investments that people can add to their portfolios. Common options include:

Stocks

Stocks are a type of security that represent ownership in a company. Typically, the price of a stock is determined by a combination of the business’s current value and expectations for changes in the company’s value.

Bonds

Bonds are debt securities, representing a loan made to a government, business, or other entity. The holder of a bond receives regular interest payments from the group that issued the bond. They may receive the payments as cash, or the payments may compound in the value of the bond. Typically, bonds offer less risk, but lower returns, than stocks.

Real estate

Some investors purchase real estate, including land, homes, or office buildings as an investment. They can receive income from rent paid by tenants, or wait for the property to appreciate in value and sell it for a profit. Other investors buy shares of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), a type of company that invests in and manages real estate.

Other investments

There’s a wide variety of other investment options with varying levels of risk and reward potential. Investors buy and sell options, commodities, futures, precious metals, cryptocurrencies, and more.

Why is investment management important?

There are many different investment options out there. Each plays a unique role in an investor’s portfolio. Investment management focuses on helping the investor understand their goals, designing a portfolio that can help accomplish those goals, and maintaining or adjusting the target portfolio.

What are the industry trends and outlook for investment management?

A major trend in the investment management industry is the growth in popularity of passively managed mutual funds. These funds often aim to track the performance of a specific index of stocks, like the S&P 500 or the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Index funds tend to require less input from investment managers.

Many investment managers say that cybersecurity is one of the greatest risks to their clients. Technology and internet-based attacks could have major effects on markets and individual investors, so advancements in cybersecurity will likely be important for investment management firms.

Ready to start investing?
Sign up for Robinhood and get stock on us.Certain limitations apply

New customers need to sign up, get approved, and link their bank account. The cash value of the stock rewards may not be withdrawn for 30 days after the reward is claimed. Stock rewards not claimed within 60 days may expire. See full terms and conditions at rbnhd.co/freestock. Securities trading is offered through Robinhood Financial LLC.

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This information is educational, and is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security. This information is not a recommendation to buy, hold, or sell an investment or financial product, or take any action. This information is neither individualized nor a research report, and must not serve as the basis for any investment decision. All investments involve risk, including the possible loss of capital. Past performance does not guarantee future results or returns. Before making decisions with legal, tax, or accounting effects, you should consult appropriate professionals. Information is from sources deemed reliable on the date of publication, but Robinhood does not guarantee its accuracy.

Options trading entails significant risk and is not appropriate for all customers. Customers must read and understand the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options before engaging in any options trading strategies. Options transactions are often complex and may involve the potential of losing the entire investment in a relatively short period of time. Certain complex options strategies carry additional risk, including the potential for losses that may exceed the original investment amount.

Commission-free trading of stocks, ETFs and options refers to $0 commissions for Robinhood Financial self-directed individual cash or margin brokerage accounts that trade U.S. listed securities and certain OTC securities electronically. Keep in mind, other fees such as trading (non-commission) fees, Gold subscription fees, wire transfer fees, and paper statement fees may apply to your brokerage account. Check out Robinhood Financial’s Fee Schedule for details.

Brokerage services are offered through Robinhood Financial LLC, (RHF) a registered broker dealer (member SIPC) and clearing services through Robinhood Securities, LLC, (RHS) a registered broker dealer (member SIPC). Cryptocurrency services are offered through Robinhood Crypto, LLC (RHC) (NMLS ID: 1702840). Robinhood Crypto is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the New York State Department of Financial Services. The Robinhood spending account is offered through Robinhood Money, LLC (RHY) (NMLS ID: 1990968), a licensed money transmitter. A list of our licenses has more information. The Robinhood Cash Card is a prepaid card issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Mastercard®. Mastercard and the circles design are registered trademarks of Mastercard International Incorporated. RHF, RHY, RHC and RHS are affiliated entities and wholly owned subsidiaries of Robinhood Markets, Inc. RHF, RHY, RHC and RHS are not banks. Products offered by RHF are not FDIC insured and involve risk, including possible loss of principal. RHC is not a member of FINRA and accounts are not FDIC insured or protected by SIPC. RHY is not a member of FINRA, and products are not subject to SIPC protection, but funds held in the Robinhood spending account and Robinhood Cash Card account may be eligible for FDIC pass-through insurance (review the Robinhood Cash Card Agreement and the Robinhood Spending Account Agreement).

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