The CFA Society New York (CFANY) hosted the “2016 Midyear Investment Professional Employment Outlook” the evening of August 11th, 2016. This event was held as part of the professional development initiative that aims to address various career-related challenges confronting members of the society and investment professionals.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that jobs in business and financial occupations are expected to grow eight percent by 2024. In spite of this growth, the finance industry is currently under pressure from regulatory requirements stemming from the Dodd-Frank Act, Basel III and other regulations.

Adam Zoia, CEO and Founder of Glocap, LLC, kicked off the event with his keynote address. Mr. Zoia gave an overview of the current investment job market environment and a detailed analysis of major hiring trends within traditional asset management, hedge fund and private equity industries. Hiring decisions are impacted by the growth of AUM, market volatility and fund managers’ perception of performance. He also spoke about how technology will bring disruption to the traditional recruiting processes.

The keynote was followed by a panel discussion featuring Michael Castine, Partner, Ridgeway Partners;
David Cochran, Executive Search Group, TIAA Global Asset Management (TGAM); Thomas Hudson, Executive Search Consultant, Head of Risk and Quantitative Services, Locke Careers, Inc.; and Tracy Poulter Hart, ‎SVP, Director of HR, York Capital Management. The panel was moderated by Alexis Dufresne, Managing Director, Marketing & Investor Relations Search, Solomon Page Group. The panelists tackled various issues including job hunting strategies, common pitfalls in interviewing and how to avoid them, as well as effective interaction with internal HR personnel and agency recruiters. The panelists further elaborated on compensation negotiation in a tactful manner and offered insightful tips on how to navigate mid-career changes.

The event was attended by over 150 individuals. The success of the event was an excellent example of collaboration between CFANY’s Global Investing Thought Leadership Group and Career Development Thought Leadership Group, which are led by Thomas Brigandi; Deepika Sharma, CFA; Paulina Rogawski; and Evelyn Yeow, CFA; along with other volunteering leaders Chris Cutler, CFA; Peter Sang, CFA; Amelie Derosne, CFA; and Jonathan Prin, CFA.

With a membership of nearly 10,000, the CFA Society New York, Inc. (CFANY) is the largest CFA® society in North America and a founding member of CFA Institute. Founded in 1937 by value investing pioneer Benjamin Graham, CFANY is a leading forum for the financial services industry and a provider of professional education and career development. In addition to delivering more than 200 events annually for its members, investment professionals and the general public, CFANY prepares hundreds of candidates to obtain the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA) designation. CFANY is committed to promoting best practices and the highest ethical standards in finance.