The path to a career in portfolio management isn’t as straightforward as it used to be. With the industry evolving and the bar raising, what’s the best way to break into the hedge fund sector today?

Doug Garber, host of the investment podcast, Pitch The PM and experienced investor, has worked at some of the biggest names in the hedge fund industry, including Millennium and Citadel.

In this episode of the Searching Smarter podcast, he shares what it really takes to succeed as a PM, the importance of process in investing, and how aspiring traders and financial services professionals can stand out in today’s market.

Covered in this episode:

• 2:00 – Doug’s journey into financial services and how he secured roles at Millennium and Citadel.
• 12:19 – Why process is everything in investing.
• 13:47 – Understanding the ins and outs of a portfolio manager role.
• 23:30 – Owning your investment process - what it means and how big firms do it.
• 28:03 – The role of research in a hedge fund’s success.
• 30:53 – Is sell-side experience essential to break into the buy-side?
• 35:14 – How the talent bar is changing in investment roles.
• 38:40 – How aspiring traders and financial services professionals can stand out in today’s market.
• 41:09 – Is investing in AI underhyped or overhyped?
• 43:59 – Behind the scenes of The Pitch the PM podcast.

If you're currently navigating a hedge fund or investment management career, this conversation is packed with insider insights to help you take the next step.

LEARN MORE

Pitch The PM - https://www.linkedin.com/company/pitch-the-pm/ 

Selby Jennings - https://www.selbyjennings.com/

Phaidon International - https://www.phaidoninternational.com/

CONNECT

Jesse Skaff on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesse-skaff-0783645b/ 

Doug Garber on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-garber-42aa508/ 

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/3BAUCsXbXiNqnfXR9jDG4k?si=4a75d55cf5a74d6e

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/searching-smarter/id1770342621

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkk9RrybV10doAzoXuK5jYw