Investment Associate

Cerity Partners; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 75,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance (

Day 1 benefits

401(k) matching

Flexible PTO

Parental Leave

Education assistance for advanced cert

Commuter benefits

Job summary

Cerity Partners is seeking a single Investment Associate to support three to four Chicago wealth management partners. The role offers a 3–5 year developmental arc and aims to develop a dedicated investment resource for each partner while pursuing the CFA designation.

The analyst will provide approximately 9–12 hours of investment support per partner per week, learning clients, investment philosophies, and portfolio-management approaches to free up partners for client relationships and practice

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Accounting, or a related field with a strong academic record.
• Genuine interest in investments and a career in wealth management; willingness to pursue the CFA designation.
• Strong analytical and Excel skills; comfort working across multiple advisors' books and priorities.
• Familiarity with software such as Microsoft Office, RedBlack, Addepar, Claude.
• High attention to detail, especially around trading, rebalancing, and compliance monitoring.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to prepare client-ready materials independently.

Responsibilities

• Maintain advisor-preferred models in RedBlack, including allocation changes and implementation preferences.
• Monitor IPS compliance, including allocation ranges and portfolio drift.
• Prepare and process trades and portfolio rebalances.
• Raise cash for distributions and anticipated client needs.
• Invest incoming cash and implement approved portfolio changes.
• Review portfolios ahead of client meetings and recommend trades or actions for advisor approval.
• Prepare investment analysis and client meeting materials, including portfolio attribution.

Skills

Analytical skills

Client communication

Investment knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, or Accounting

Tools

RedBlack

Addepar

Claude

Excel

Job description

Position Summary

Cerity Partners is hiring a single Investment Associate to be shared across three to four Chicago wealth management partners. This is a career-track investment role for a high-quality recent graduate with a strong finance/investment background and a genuine interest in building a career in wealth management. Over a 3–5 year developmental arc, the analyst will become a dedicated investment resource for each participating partner — learning their clients, investment philosophy, preferred models, and portfolio-management approach — while pursuing the CFA designation. The role provides approximately 9–12 hours of dedicated investment support per partner per week, depending on whether the position is shared among three or four partners. It moves investment-knowledge work — but not necessarily partner-level experience — to the appropriate level, freeing partners and senior team members to focus on client relationships and advice, complex planning, prospect development, COI relationships, business development, and asset gathering and retention.

Primary Responsibilities

• Maintain advisor-preferred models in RedBlack, including allocation changes, manager changes, and implementation preferences, consistent with the Cerity Partners A4P List
• Monitor IPS compliance, including allocation ranges, portfolio drift, exceptions, and other issues requiring advisor attention
• Prepare and process trades and portfolio rebalances
• Raise cash for distributions and anticipated client needs
• Invest incoming cash and implement approved portfolio changes
• Proactively review portfolios ahead of client meetings and recommend trades or other actions for advisor consideration
• Prepare customized investment analysis and client meeting materials, including portfolio attribution and other portfolio-specific analysis
• Progress over time from primarily executing instructions to proactively identifying portfolio issues and recommending actions for advisor approval
• Stay appraised of and understand new investment opportunities brought forth by the firm’s investment committee and identify where and why the opportunity makes sense or does not for client portfolios.
• Work with custodians to ensure money moves properly between accounts, investment data is properly recorded and understand the limitations or restrictions imposed on accounts that may influence investment decision.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Accounting, or a related field, with a strong academic record
• Genuine interest in investments and a career in wealth management; willingness to pursue the CFA designation during the role
• Strong analytical and Excel skills; comfort working across multiple advisors' books and priorities
• Familiarity or willingness to learn and master how to use various software programs, including but not limited to Microsoft Office, Claude, RedBlack, and Addepar.
• High attention to detail, particularly around trading, rebalancing, and compliance monitoring
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to prepare client-ready materials independently

Skills & Competencies

• Ability to talk to clients independently
• Ability to train and mentor Client Service Associates
• Ability to develop wealth planning and investment recommendations and present to clients when applicable
• Working knowledge of e-Money, Salesforce a strong plus.
• Exceptional problem-solving skills, and ability to organize and prioritize work in order to meet deadlines in a proactive manner with little supervision required.
• Must accept and thrive in a fast‑paced, changing environment.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with potential and current clients.
• Tenacious about doing what is right for the client – always.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.

Compensation Range: $75,000 - $100,000

Why Cerity Partners

Our people drive our success by working together to deliver exceptional service to our clients.

• Health, dental, and vision insurance – day 1!
• 401(k) savings and investment plan options with 4% match
• Flexible PTO policy
• Parental Leave
• Financial assistance for advanced education and professional designations
• Opportunity to give back time to local communities
• Commuter benefits

Cerity Partners is committed to providing an environment where all individuals can be their authentic selves.We are an Equal Opportunity Employer who respects each individual and supports the diverse cultures, perspectives, and experiences of our colleagues.We are dedicated to building an inclusive and diverse workforce and will not discriminate based on race, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability status, or any other applicable characteristics protected by law.Cerity Partners is committed to working with and providing accommodations to applicants with disabilities or special needs. For those needing accommodations, please reach out to [e-mail] must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S.

Ultimately, outstanding service is about people and relationships. Our people are the nucleus of Cerity Partners. You bring unique expertise, commitment, and knowledge to the firm. By working together, we achieve our mission to positively impact the financial well‑being of our clients, colleagues, and communities.Our services span wealth management, tax, trust, and family office, as well as workplace solutions, retirement plan consulting, corporate venture capital, institutional consulting, and outsourced investment office (OCIO) solutions. That breadth means career paths across many disciplines. Our people drive our success by working together to deliver exceptional service to our clients.

Cerity Partners is one of the nation’s leading independent financial firms. We serve high-net-worth individuals and their families, businesses and their employees, and institutions and nonprofit organizations from our offices across the country. At Cerity Partners, we believe in the long view. We work with clients who appreciate our comprehensive and sustained approach. We don’t just look for short-term gains, we seek long‑term growth. We have the same approach to our people. We look for experienced and credentialed colleagues across every discipline who can keep pace with us. We manage over $190 billion in assets for our clients, and we are routinely recognized as a Top RIA Firm by Barron’s Advisor, Newsweek, USA Today, and more. The driving factor of our accelerated growth is our people. Located throughout the U.S., our teams consist of specialists who are helpful, knowledgeable, sincere, and have the perseverance and capability to go the extra mile for our clients. We consider our firm a community that works together to serve one common goal: finding diverse solutions to suit diverse financial needs.