Next Steps for Investment Professionals and Firms

Based on the insights in this report, we have developed next steps for investment
professionals to take to help prepare them for the future of the investment industry:
1. Keep learning and adapting (see the career flywheel below)
2. Invest in new-era skills
3. Be tech-savvy by navigating and harnessing new technology
Additionally, we have developed steps that investment firms and organizations can
take to evolve with their employees:
4. Enhance the employee experience by cultivating a stronger culture
5. Invest in empowering leadership
6. Be change-savvy by transforming your worldview
As the pace of change in the investment industry accelerates, the investment
professional of the future will need to take a more proactive approach to career
management. The career flywheel below can help explain the constant give and get
between the individual and the organization over time.
Changing Roles in the Investment Industry

The roles of investment professionals are expected to change over the next 5-10 years.
This report examines what industry changes will be the primary forces impacting the
roles of investment professionals. More specifically, we discuss the impact of
technological innovation, changing organizational structures, the influx of millennials
in the investment workforce, globalization, and the growth in Asia Pacific on the core
investment professional’s role in the industry.
Changing Skills and Careers in the Investment Industry

Individuals speak of skills in the industry, but employers will often reference
“competency models” in which competency is associated with “knowledge, skills, and
abilities” to describe the exact needs of the job and its function. In this report, we
examine the importance of various skills and abilities based on responses from
industry leaders in investment management. Additionally, we explore how individuals
can differentiate themselves with their abilities to
work with technology in the evolving investment management landscape. We also
provide strategies for gaining new and desirable skills and our perspective on how
career management must adapt to this new environment, based on our findings.
Changing Workplace Cultures and Organizational Context for Investment Professionals

As the investment professional evolves, so does the work environment and culture;
investment firms must evolve to cater to the individuals who work there. Based on our
study, we determine that these environmental changes should take into consideration
workplace intelligence, the effectiveness of teams, the impact of technological
advancements on the work environment, employee motivations—such as work-life
balance, compensation, and training—and workplace design.