Investment/Portfolio Manager
Investment decision-maker who handles investing strategies for individuals and organisations.
Overview
Portfolio Managers are investment decision-makers. They handle investing strategies for individuals and organisations. Portfolio Managers decide where, how, and when to invest assets.
Where they work
- Investment Banks
- Mutual Fund Companies
- Insurance Companies
- Investment Firms
- Asset Management Companies
Work environment
It is a desk job. Unless you choose to freelance, you will have to work for 5 to 6 days a week and 10 to 12 hours every day. This may vary from organisation to organisation. Entrepreneurship: you can choose to freelance and have your own clients.
Opportunities for work exist for differently abled in this field.
Skills and interests
This career might suit you if…
- You are a careful and organised person
- You can keep accurate records of expenses and income
- You like to work with numbers
- You are detail oriented
Eligibility and education roadmap
Please check the duration of the course during enrolment.
Route 1
- 1Complete 10+2 in the Commerce stream
- 2Pursue Bachelor's in Finance or any related field followed by an MBA with specialization in Finance/Financial Management or in any Finance related subjects
Alternative route 2
- 1Complete Bachelor's degree followed by a Master's degree in the same or allied field
Forms, exams and applications
Exam names above are as printed in the source card. Application windows, eligibility and syllabi change — always check the official notification for current dates.
Where to apply
The course is offered by the Department of Finance/Banking/Business Analysis.
Government institutes
- Institute of Cost Accountants of India, New Delhi
- Indian Institute of Management, Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Indian Institute of Management, Kolkata, West Bengal
- Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode, Kerala
- Indian Institute of Management, Indore, Madhya Pradesh
- Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
- Faculty of Management Studies, University of Delhi, New Delhi
- Department of Management Studies, Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Private institutes
Please check if the institute is affiliated and accredited before applying.
- Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand
- Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurgaon, Haryana
- SP Jain Institute of Management & Research, Mumbai, Maharashtra
- T A Pai Management Institute, Manipal, Karnataka
- Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
- IBS Business School, Hyderabad, Telangana
- Goa Institute of Management, Sattari, Maharashtra
- Institute of Management Technology, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh
Distance learning
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)
These institute lists are indicative examples from the source card, not a ranked or complete directory. Always verify accreditation on the institute's official website.
Career outcomes
Growth path
- 1Trainee Analyst → Junior Analyst → Senior Analyst → Lead Analyst → Fund Manager
- 2Management Trainee → Manager → Senior Manager → Assistant Vice President → Associate Vice President → Vice President → President
- 3Associate Consultant → Senior Consultant → Lead Consultant → Associate Vice President → Vice President
Expected income
₹40,000 – ₹3,35,000 per month or more
The figures are indicative and subject to change.
SourceRelated careers to explore
Investment Banker
Helps individuals, businesses and corporations with capital raising, mergers and acquisitions.
Equity Research Analyst
Researches and analyses stocks to recommend what clients should buy or sell.
Student action plan
What you can do this month
- Read this whole roadmap and note any subjects, exams or institutes you don't recognise yet.
- Talk to a teacher or school counsellor about how your current subjects connect to Commerce.
- Look for a school club, competition or online course related to analysing.
- Shortlist 2–3 institutes from the list above and check their official website for current admission details.
- Save this career and compare it with 1–2 others you're considering.
Example from the field
Harini Dedhia — A Portfolio Manager at Tamohara Investment Managers in Mumbai. She has a Bachelor's in Economics, Political Science and Advanced Mathematics from the University of New York. She has been in the capital markets since 2013, starting with 2 years of experience at a hedge fund in US followed by exposure to the Indian capital markets.
SourceThis profile is shared for training/educational purposes only, as printed in the source card.
Sources and update notice
- Career card source: Exploring Career Paths with Career Cards, Volume 1, printed page 233 (NCERT / UNICEF India / PSSCIVE Bhopal, First Edition, April 2025).
- Income source: https://www.payscale.com/research/IN/Job=Portfolio_Manager/Salary
- Last reviewed on this site: 2026-08-21
Eligibility, fees, exam patterns and admissions change often. Always verify current details on official institute, exam-body or government websites before making decisions.