6 Figure Career Management

“More asset managers are hiring than are firing staff, according to new research, despite the downturn in markets and investor confidence that has led many in the fund management industry to start cutting costs.”

I think the headline and the first paragraph of this article are a somewhat misleading. The survey in question says more asset managament firms which took part in the survey were hiring (25%) than those that were letting staff go (20%). But there is no data for the absolute numbers hired and fired in the last 3-6 months – data which would I’m sure paint a very different headline.

I sense that a large proportion of the firms in the 25% that are hiring a niche boutique houses as opposed to larger fund managers. From what I’m seeing in the market place (certainly in London), the larger asset management firms are now laying people off to cut costs which means that on absolute numbers there is  probably more firing going on across the asset management sector than hiring.

Nonetheless, the survey does confirm the relative stability within the institutional asset management area inspite of the poor performance of most funds at the moment - something you would expect given the longer term view tyoically held by the trustee boards of pension funds. The number of firms in the survey confirming that they are hiring is also an strong indicator for those leaving jobs from investment banks that asset management (and to a greater extent, Private Banking/Wealth Management) are better hunting grounds in the current market. 

To read the article, click here

Do you sometimes dream about making a career change into a role which combines your passions and interests with your talents and skills?
 
Well, if you have a strong analytical and report writing background and love football, there’s a great job I have just seen advertised on the Sky website - a Football Statistician!

Looking at the title, you would think that Sky Sports are looking for a ‘statistician’ and so individuals in quantitative teams within banks or insurance firms would be the best fit.
 
But if you take a close look at the advert and what they are looking for, that’s not the case:

Click here to read the rest…

Over the next month, I am due to attend 3 sets of ‘leaving drinks’ and parties for friends in London’s financial district. 

Nothing uncommon there you think.

But they are not just celebrating a job change – but celebrating a move abroad.

All 3 individuals (and families where appropriate) are in fact leaving London to take up roles in the Middle East or Asia. One is relocating to Hong Kong, one to Singapore and the other to Dubai.

 (View of Hong Kong Skyline)

10 years back some of these centres were often seen as outposts where you went to see out the latter stages of your career.  

But not any more.

Click here to read the rest…