assetmanagers

Asset managers are individuals or firms that manage investment portfolios on behalf of clients, aiming to grow wealth, provide income, or preserve capital. They typically construct and oversee portfolios across asset classes, including equities, fixed income, real estate, and alternatives, and handle asset allocation, security selection, and risk management.

They can offer discretionary management, where the manager buys and sells without client approval, or non-discretionary, where client authorization is required. Fee structures usually include management fees, sometimes performance-based fees, and may be asset-based. Services often include financial planning, retirement planning, estate planning, and liquidity management as part of wealth management in addition to investment management.

Clients include high-net-worth individuals, institutional investors (pension funds, endowments, insurance companies), and retail investors through mutual funds or ETFs. Asset managers operate under regulatory regimes that govern fiduciary duties, disclosure, risk management, and compliance; in many jurisdictions advisers must act in clients' best interests and provide suitable recommendations.

Key activities include research, risk analytics, compliance, and reporting. Performance is evaluated against benchmarks, with metrics such as alpha, beta, and tracking error. Trends include the growth of passive investing, ongoing consolidation, use of quantitative and ESG strategies, and the integration of technology and robo-advisors.