As India is expected to grow rapidly only to become the country with third-largest economy until the end of next decade, may contribute at least 10 per cent to its GDP by then.

The expanding Indian wealth management industry is opening up many career opportunities for the young. The wealth management firms offer financial services to affluent individuals or the ones who are about to touch the boundary of the high-net-worth club.

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Basically, the wealth managers assist the individuals, which generally are big entrepreneurs, executives, public figures, or lawyers, etc., in risk-free money management or investments. This includes tax planning, retirement planning or simply the estate planning on the basis of client’s financial requirements.

Responsibilities of a wealth manager:

The job of delivering personalised financial services involves responsibilities of both the relationship manager and an investment professional. Like a client relationship manager, wealth management executive must know the client and the nature of his business to clearly understand his/her financial needs.

On the other hand, he should also examine the type of investment; probable risks and returns that client is inclined towards. Thus, he has to manage the relationship apart from educating them on various investment projects. They are also required to guide their clients on the way to business expansion and success.

With the steady expansion of wealth management firms, there is also an increasing demand for the private bankers at the firms. Until now, investment banking has always been the mainstream career choice for the millennials. Heavy salary packages and additional benefits are alluring them to make a career in it.

Job type in wealth management:

The job profile involves immense responsibility, honesty, and agility. Even the slightest of mistake is not accepted in the profession as it can cause a great loss to the hard-earned wealth of a person. There lies loads of pressure on the shoulders of wealth managers as they have to constantly stay in touch with the volatile finance industry trends and suggest the clients’ most profitable option without even landing them in trouble.

Loads of paperwork or net surfing, in-depth study of company and finance laws along with meeting a variety of brokers, investors, loan seekers, etc., is a part of a wealth manager’s daily work. Both the work struggle and the salary package increases with the experience level of the professional.

Presently, the industry is at its nascent stage, but with the uncertain economic conditions prevailing worldwide, it is sure to zoom on the path of growth. The competition is stiff at the entry levels but once inside the industry the credibility and dedicated approach of the professional are enough to open up the growth avenues instantly.

Qualifications required:

The educational qualification for jobs in wealth management sector remain the same for that of investment banking. With a postgraduate degree in accounting, economics or an MBA degree, one can easily enter into banking sector or wealth management industry.

Apart from this, it is crucial for the candidate to be familiarised with business practices in investment and accounting. He/she must possess required set of both verbal and written communication skills. These can be grasped by the candidates while doing an internship with banks and firms offering financial services.

The one who has qualified series seven exam also stands a fit for a wealth management job. In case one is opting for independent work in this sector then the formal education criteria can be skipped, but in that case, one needs to possess remarkable acumen in finance to outshine others in the sector.

Salary prospects:

Salaries at the entry levels are quite low, but with time the avenues for increments in salary open up. While on the one hand, the professionals working under the wealth management firms are offered some prominent non-monetary benefits like insurance, paid vacation, easy credit access, etc.

On the other hand, the independent working people get direct incomes; commissions and bonuses from their clients. While the entry-level salary figures for postgraduates generally fall in the range of Rs 4 lakh per annum to Rs 6 lakh per annum depending on the professional’s credibility.

People with the highest disposable income require the services of wealth managers; as a result, the developed world holds the highest number of opportunities for the aspirants of wealth management. In India too, the metropolitan cities housing the broader middle and upper economic class have great demand for skilled wealth managers.

The writer is founder and CEO, Finway Capital