To work as a trust fund manager, you’ll need a business degree and extensive experience in investment and asset management. A bachelor’s degree in business, economics, or finance, with a concentration in finance or financial planning, could lead to a master’s degree. After working in finance for a while and learning a lot about financial products, investment portfolios, and market fluctuations, you could start working as a fund manager in a variety of capacities, then progress to becoming a trust fund manager, either as part of a firm or finding your own clients.
Extensive financial education and a proven track record working with investments and portfolios are required of trust fund managers. Some business majors may enter a master’s program right away, while others may need to work for a few years first. In either case, becoming a fund manager often necessitates a second degree, years of financial work experience, and several career changes.
Accounting, investing, market research and analysis, portfolio balancing, and, in the case of trust funds, overseeing fund rules and executing disbursements are all skills that investment managers must possess. A trust fund is governed a set of rules and can be structured in a variety of ways. A trust fund manager must be familiar with those guidelines and structures, as well as all applicable laws and regulations.
You might work in banking, the stock market, or another related financial industry before becoming a trust fund manager. Trust fund manager careers can take many different paths, and many people end up in the industry after a number of different jobs. Earning a Master of Business Administration is one of the quickest paths (MBA). Master’s degrees have become more specialized as well, with accredited programs offering degrees like MF (Master of Finance), MSF (Master of Science in Finance), and MFP (Master of Financial Planning) (Master Financial Professional).
Earning the CFA designation is another professional degree path that will prepare you to work as a trust fund manager (Chartered Financial Analyst). This degree focuses on finance, similar to an MF or MBA, but it pays special attention to investment analysis and portfolio management. Although there is less emphasis on financial modeling and other important aspects of a master’s program, CFA programs are widely recognized as the gold standard for professionals seeking to become fund managers. They are typically self-study programs that last four years and are significantly less expensive than MBA programs.
Other credentials include CFMP (Certified Financial Markets Practitioner) and CIM (Certified Investment Manager) (Canadian Investment Manager). Higher degrees or credentials are becoming increasingly necessary to advance and be taken seriously in your field, regardless of where you plan to work. It’s beneficial to gain as much financial experience as possible before working on your own or finding your own clients. A trust fund manager’s personality, confidence, integrity, and excellent organization and communication skills are often required in addition to education and experience.