04-29-2025
Wealth and asset managers work in fast-paced, dynamic environments within financial institutions. Here are four things you need to know if you want to pursue a Wealth and Asset Management specialization at the Daniels School of Business.
Wealth managers focus on maximizing returns on investments through portfolio management and delve into financial, tax and estate planning, in addition to providing services that help clients achieve their long-term financial goals. The CFA Institute explains that wealth managers advise private, high-net-worth individuals and institutions on how to invest their portfolios and plan their finances to meet their goals. While most wealth managers work for investment banks, a reasonable number also work independently as private contractors or work for a variety of financial institutions. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics explains that while personal finance advisors typically work in offices, they also travel to attend conferences, teach finance seminars and attend networking events to draw in more clients.
Wealth management is one of the four specializations in the Daniels School of Business’ Master of Science in Finance (MSF) program. Each one of these specializations shares a foundational core that leverages financial principles to drive business productivity, build capital and protect financial security. By enrolling in the MSF program, all students automatically take courses like:
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Most individuals with a specialization in wealth management start with an undergraduate business-related degree in finance, business administration or economics. Holding degrees in a business-related field fosters an understanding of financial products early on in one’s growth, providing an initial exposure in investments, insurance, tax strategies and retirement plans.
Though not required, gaining practical experience through internships or entry-level roles in financial institutions, private banking or investment advisory can be extremely helpful. Even student-run funds or personal projects that provide exposure in portfolio analysis or investment research can be game-changing in fueling the growth of rising wealth managers. Indeed explains that earning certifications like the Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), or Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) can be instrumental in helping individuals transition into wealth management.
Proficiency with specific technical skills in CRM and tools like Salesforce or Redtail can help aspiring wealth managers accelerate their growth. According to Financial Edge, having strong financial modelling and writing skills, the ability to assess an investment’s potential for return and critical thinking from both a micro and a macroeconomic perspective can help set rising wealth managers apart and prepare them for promotions to work in top financial institutions and with profitable clients. In addition to these technical skills, having strong soft skills like the following can contribute to a professional’s long-term success in the field:
The Daniels School of Business emphasizes a global viewpoint, preparing students for an interconnected financial world. The opportunity to study financial trends, markets and instruments from a global perspective was an integral part of my decision.
— Sunny Tanna, MS Finance ‘24
Tech-based success makes the Daniels School stand out. The MSF program fosters a tech-first curriculum, integrating the foundational principles of business-related technology rather than simply adding tech courses to a traditional master’s program. For example, classes like “Financial Analytics with Python” and “Financial Risk Management” enable Daniels students to build their technical skills.
Graduates learn the tools to utilize advanced formulas and financial functions in Excel and spreadsheet modeling. They learn to pair those with ERP systems such as SAP and Oracle, as well as business intelligence tools such as Power BI, SQL and Tableau.
With a wealth management specialization, the prospects to succeed and pivot are truly abundant. The curriculum challenges students to synthesize the wide skill sets of high-performing wealth managers — comprehensive financial planning, investment portfolio management, client relationship skills, risk and portfolio management, strategic asset allocation, fixed income securities, and financial tax and estate planning — everything rising wealth managers need to hit the ground running.
With technology at the center of your curriculum, networking as a key component and real-world opportunities, a master’s in financial management at the Daniels School gives you the skills and proficiencies you need to advance in the field.
If you would like to receive more information about pursuing a business master’s at the Mitch Daniels School of Business, please fill out the form and a program specialist will be in touch!
