News and Social Media

On Tuesday 15th November, Laura Langton representing GAIN, an organisation providing opportunities for girls looking into investment careers, visited College to deliver an insightful talk about her life working at UK investment management firm, JM Finn. Laura read History at university, which she spoke about to highlight how, although helpful, you don’t need to study economics or finance at university in order to achieve a top job in the finance industry. She went on to explain her journey in securing a job at JM Finn and how she worked her way up in the company, from executive assistant, to desk assistant, to eventually become a registered assistant investment manager.

Laura then proceeded to give us an insight into her day-to-day business life, how portfolios are constructed based on clients’ wishes, and discussed the characteristics required for the job. Some of the attributes which were highlighted included time management skills, the ability to be daring and willingness to take risks, and finally empathy, just to name a few. The latter characteristic, empathy, was definitely the attribute which most surprised me. Laura explained the intricate personal dynamics which comes with her job and often the empathy required, suggesting that one manager may look after multiple generations of a family and their wealth, making the bond between client and investment manager a very personal one.

An advantage of a career in investment management is that it lends to both quantitative and qualitative skills, as a day-to-day schedule includes both reading up on company reports and analysing data, but also meeting clients and discussing plans with other managers. Furthermore, the job offers opportunities for learning, with Laura suggesting “every day is like a school day”, which is not supposed to dissuade you from this career path, but suggests there are boundless opportunities for learning about people, companies and changing world dynamics. 

Laura also busted some myths regarding investment management – she argued that rather than investment only “making the rich richer”, it instead gives financial stability to people and influences the way companies work. She referenced BP, one of the world’s major oil producers, which has diversified away from purely petroleum due to the demand of investors for sustainable energy, showing that money can be put to good causes and result in a better world. She also argued that this career path is not “just all spreadsheets”; it instead includes talking to people, researching, and reading. Finally, Laura made the point that the investment sector is a diverse and dynamic operation, which lends itself to a plethora of skill sets and personalities, making this a great career choice for any ambitious student who may not know what path to take.

Phoebe, SFC1 (Year 12)