Kate

The bulk of my day is spent on the phone with our internal sales force and clients of the division, helping them to understand the risk and reward profile of these alternative investments. Daily activities on our team can range from preparing a customized cash flow analysis to presenting to an investor board on the merits of portfolio diversification.

Currently, a colleague and I are responsible for launching a new series of hedge fund products. My favourite aspect of this project is the portfolio construction angle. Balancing the desire for outsized returns with the potential volatility of a portfolio means finding a middle ground that often feels more like art than science.

Definitely the most challenging part of this job is delivering bad news. Clients trust us to invest their capital to meet their long-term goals. We do everything possible to prevent a negative client experience, but the volatile nature of the capital markets almost ensures that we will have to deliver disappointing news on occasion. On the flip side of the coin, the best part of my job is delivering good news to clients. The bond between client and financial advisor is predicated on mutual respect and trust – when you are able to exceed your client’s expectations, that bond is strengthened.