The Story

How It Begins

Once upon a time, in a suburb of Newgen City, there lived a young woman named Jane. She's a hardworking and ambitious person that's always careful with her finances. 

She's manages her finances with apps on her phone and moves money around as needed (eg- AppleCard for transactions and bills, CashApp for payments, Robinhood for investments, Fidelity for retirement funds).

After months of diligent budgeting, Jane found extra money in her account after paying all her expenses (subscriptions, rent, utilities, car payment, friends, daily costs, et al)

Determined to make her money work for her, Jane began to explore the world of investing. She knew that she needed to find the right balance between her social values and her financial goals. Jane wanted to invest in companies that aligned with her ethical beliefs, such as sustainability and social responsibility.

Jane started her journey on her own by investing in what she was getting from financial news about Bitcoin and the potential of cryptocurrencies. She wanted some just in case. She set up a recurring investment in her Robinhood account, buying a small amount of Bitcoin every Tuesday. As she became more comfortable with investing, Jane also started to explore Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) and common stocks, in companies that shared her values.

As her portfolio value grew, Jane decided to start a portfolio strategy with a single initial simple rule she could use to manage her investments. She would sell a portion of her investments when the value had a 15% profit, using the profits to cover the initial investment (Rule #1). This way, the remaining investment would have a cost of zero, essentially "free," and any future profits would be pure gains.

Jane's strategy proved to be successful, and over time, she amassed substantial savings- an individual capital pool. She was not alone in her success, as many of her friends had also started investing and were seeing similar results. 

The group of friends decided to pool their resources and hire a dedicated portfolio manager to help them navigate the complexities of the financial world. Jane searched on LinkedIn and found Jack, a successful activist investment portfolio manager with several clients that have a similar thought process to Jane's and that her friends were also connected to.

Together Jack and Jane's people formed an investment group with a defined vision; A strategy (Rule #2) to invest in companies that shared their social values while (Rule #3) still generating a predictable, profitable return. 

The group had to decide on their business classification as a private equity firm (eg- some choices are private equity, hedge fund, or asset manager). And, the portfolio manager creates short-term and long-term investment portfolios

The portfolio manager may also seek out new investment opportunities to present to the group and to fine-tune the percentage of portfolio holdings that focus on the group's specific interests (fiduciary responsibility). The portfolio manager would need to be able to engineer an investment strategy that could adapt to the group's changing interests and needs. The portfolio manager has to consider each participant's cash interests, which include occasional cash deposits and potentially unscheduled cash withdrawals. 

Jane and her friends were determined to find a software platform that could support their unique approach to investing. They knew that a system that did not have an exact operational or functional match for their group might be more expensive and less reliable in the long run. Instead, they sought a system that could accommodate most of their daily processes and help them achieve their near-term goals.

As the fund grew, the investors modified their near-term goals and used data mining functions to do predictive price analysis. The portfolio management system they used had a limited warehouse of market data, so they had to be creative in their approach to performance attribution and predictive trading models. Contracting with third-party data providers helps to round out the capabilities of most portfolio management systems as most have the software tools but lack the data the customer is accustomed to using.

Jane and her friends along with Jack's help continue to work their successful investment group that have both their social values and financial goals in focus. They continue to navigate the complex world of investing to become savvy, socially conscious investors. Their story serves as an inspiration to those who believe that it is possible to do well while also doing good.

A Day In The Life 

Of A Portfolio Manager

The Decision Maker

A portfolio manager's day is filled with a diverse set of tasks and responsibilities. From the early morning hours, they are busy catching up on overnight news and global market movements. They also review pre-market trading activity and analyst reports, looking for trends and potential trading opportunities.


Morning meetings with the investment team are a key part of the day, where they discuss overnight developments, review current portfolio positions, and debate potential trades. The portfolio manager actively tracks the market, monitors their holdings, and makes adjustments to the portfolio as needed.


A significant portion of the day is dedicated to research, as they read company reports, industry analyses, and economic data to deepen their understanding of potential investments. They also attend meetings with company executives, research analysts, or fund sales representatives to gain insights into companies of interest or learn about new investment opportunities.


Client communication is also a crucial aspect of the job, as they discuss portfolio strategy, answer questions, and address concerns. They also communicate portfolio changes to clients in a clear and transparent way.


Throughout the day, the portfolio manager analyzes overall portfolio performance, looking for areas of potential risk or optimization. They may develop action plans in response to market shifts.


The evening hours are spent preparing for the next day, as the portfolio manager reviews the day's trades and market close analysis. They monitor after-hours trading for any major price movements and create to-do lists and prioritize tasks for the coming day.


A day in the life of a portfolio manager is a blend of analysis, decision-making, client communication, and market monitoring. It requires a strong understanding of the financial markets, excellent communication skills, and a commitment to staying up-to-date with the latest developments in the industry.

A Day In The Life 

Of An Execution Trader

In the fast-paced world of finance, the role of a portfolio execution trader is vital to the success of any investment firm. Let's delve into the life of one such professional, Emily, as she navigates a typical day filled with challenges and opportunities.


Pre-Market Preparation: Before the sun rises, Emily is already up and running, analyzing market-moving news, overnight events, and pre-market trading activity. She pays close attention to economic data releases, company announcements, and global events that could impact the market sentiment.


Market Open: Executing the Trades- Once the market opens, Emily's focus shifts to executing trades. She maintains constant communication with brokers to negotiate prices, understand block order availability, and assess market conditions. She also updates portfolio managers on trade execution progress and any challenges.


Throughout the Day: Trade Management and Problem Solving- Throughout the day, Emily keeps a close eye on market conditions, adjusting her strategies as needed to protect the best interests of the portfolio. She also identifies potential short-term market dislocations or arbitrage opportunities that could be exploited within the firm's risk appetite.


Key Traits of a Successful Portfolio Execution Trader:


Emily's day is filled with challenges, but she thrives on the excitement and the opportunity to make a difference in the world of finance. Her success is a testament to the importance of staying informed, being decisive, and maintaining strong relationships with colleagues and clients.

About The Instructor

The Trading Floor Maverick

Years ago, I wasn't crafting lesson plans; I was on the front lines of high-stakes finance. As a stock trader on the West Coast, I managed an agency trading desk for a cutting-edge investment bank. The roar of the markets, the lightning-fast decisions – that was my world.

But finance is more than just gut instinct. I honed my skills in the intricate world of portfolio and trading technology, working across institutions to streamline the arteries of investment. My goal then wasn't just winning trades – it was understanding the whole machine, from the raw data to the strategies built atop it.

This unique path wasn't about leaving the financial battleground; it was about rearming with a different kind of power. Business lines flourished under my watch, not just because of my past experience, but because I now knew how to translate raw financial intelligence into practical solutions. That's when I took on training programmers, writing customer guides – becoming a force multiplier by sharing knowledge.

Those classes you're considering? This isn't theory. It's insight distilled from the trading floor and the backrooms where the real deals are made. My goal is simple: I want to transform you into the kind of producer who doesn't just survive, but thrives, in the world of finance. Tactical smarts, strategic vision – this class series is your full upgrade.

Crypto Use Cases

A Look Back

Mid 90's Trading Floor Action 

Newsletter

Schedule