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Singapore’s status as a global investment and wealth management hub offers those working in the finance sector a prestigious, fast-paced and highly rewarding career, with potentially exceptional future prospects.
If you are passionate about working in the finance sector, becoming an investment manager may be a path to consider. Besides succeeding in a field you are naturally interested in, a career in investment management can also be fulfilling in the long-term – as you make a tangible impact on the financial well-being of others around you.
Opportunities to excel are also not in short supply. Besides having an established network of family offices, institutional investors and high net-worth individuals (HNWI), Singapore is also home to a thriving financially-literate middle-income population.
Furthermore, Singapore’s robust financial landscape, regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), has credibility and recognition beyond our shores. Investment management professionals here may enjoy higher flexibility in transitioning into roles in other major investments hubs across the world, as well as growing into bigger regional roles.
How Much Can You Earn As An Investment Manager?
Generally, the finance sector can pay a higher salary. According to the Labour Force in Singapore 2024 report, those working in the Finance & Insurance Services industry earned the highest median gross monthly income out of all industries in Singapore.
On the MOM website, we can also learn about the median income of various occupations within the finance sector. In this regard, those working as Financial/Investment Advisers earned the second-highest median income of $11,129 – behind only Risk Management Managers.
Source: MOM
Data are from Occupational Wage Survey 2023, Manpower Research & Statistics Department, MOM. Monthly salary refers to the sum of monthly basic pay, overtime payments, commissions and allowances.
According to Tiger Brokers, a fintech brokerage platform hiring Investment Managers via a 6-month Tiger L.E.A.P programme, the remuneration structure of an Investment Manager is supported by a performance-driven component.
This incentivises you to nurture stronger relationships with your clients and growing their investments. At the same time, problem-solvers will be rewarded based on performance rather than tenure in the role.
To equip Tiger Investment Managers, or TIMs, with the confidence and ability to excel in the role, its 6-month training programme will prepare you for the CMFAS exams, and offer you department rotations and on-the-job training. Tiger Brokers will also provide you a basic salary during this training period before you transit into the role.
After undergoing the Tiger L.E.A.P programme, you may be converted into a performance-driven role, based on commissions, offering you higher earning potential. You will also enjoy a high degree of autonomy to charge a commission to customers for your service, as well as continue leveraging on Tiger Brokers’ competitive Platform Fees and Brokerage Commissions.
We also looked at online career and HR portals, to learn how much the average salary of an Investment Manager is. On career portal, Indeed, the average base salary was stated as $8,785. Meanwhile, Glassdoor provides a potentially more realistic outlook with a salary range of $2,000 to $13,000, highlighting the role can be entrepreneurial in nature and that remuneration can increase with the value you create for your clients.
What It Takes To Succeed As An Investment Manager?
Becoming a successful investment manager will take more than just looking at numbers – it requires both strong interpersonal skills and sharp analytical acumen to make an impact.
The role typically involves building meaningful client relationships, as well as managing dynamic portfolios across multiple asset classes, and day-to-day execution of investment strategies on behalf of your clients.
As you can expect to manage financial data and deliver personalised investment services, strong communications skills will be invaluable in conveying relevant information to support your clients’ decision-making process.
Part of doing this will mean that you need to stay up-to-date with the news cycle, financial products, market conditions, and regulatory standards. You also need to understand the intricacies of investments, such as risk management, diversification and asset allocation, in order to identify market trends.
Besides your interest and passion for the financial markets, thriving in this role comes from obtaining the right qualifications and building relevant skills.
This will include qualifications such as a degree in finance, economics or related fields. You also need to hold the MAS Capital Markets Services Representative Licence (CMSRL) and certifications for the relevant CMFAS exams (Modules 1A, 2A, 5, 6 and 6A).
If you are interested in pursuing a career as an Investment Manager, even if you do not have all of the qualifications, you can realise your ambitions with the support of Tiger Brokers’ 6-month Tiger L.E.A.P (Learn. Experience. Achieve. Perform.) programme.
The Tiger L.E.A.P programme welcomes fresh graduates from universities or Polytechnics in all academic disciplines as well as mid-career switchers looking for a pathway into the finance industry.
What Can You Expect To Learn By Enrolling Into The Tiger L.E.A.P
Those who join the Tiger L.E.A.P programme can expect 6-month programme to get you ready for a new role in investment management:
Learn:
You will be able to gain domain expertise and industry knowledge through two-week rotations across six departments. Along the way, you will be supported with weekly training programmes and mentorship from experienced professionals at Tiger Brokers to fuel your professional and personal growth.
Experience:
You can gain hands-on experience in trading, portfolio management, technical and financial analysis, while refining your soft skills in relationship management, leadership and communications.
Achieve:
You can leverage Tiger Brokers’ powerful investment platform and tools to design impactful financial solutions for your clients and help them to grow their wealth and achieve their financial goals.
Perform:
Stay ahead by leveraging on opportunities available at Tiger Brokers for professional development to explore fresh experiences, broaden your perspectives and reach new heights in your role.
The application process for Tiger Brokers’ pioneer batch of Tiger L.E.A.P trainees is currently open. Once an intake is full, successful applicants will be offered a spot in subsequent intakes, which are spaced at least three months apart.
Your training programme will happen over 6-month:
If you’re ready to take the leap into a career in investment management, apply to join Tiger Brokers’ Tiger L.E.A.P programme now.
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