LOCATION: SAN FRANCISCO, CA OR SEATTLE, WA

The Investment Associate is responsible for performing the day-to-day department activities that support the firm’s investment research process. The Investment Associate position supports the Investment Analysts, Risk Analysts, Directors and Senior Directors, Chief Impact Officer, Chief Investment Officer, Portfolio Management & Investment Committee, as well as our clients and internal client facing professionals. 

The Investment Associate is a key respondent to internal requests for relevant investment information from the Client Service and Investment Teams. The Investment Associate will serve as a generalist across asset classes including impact investing initiatives. The position will combine investment research, portfolio and data analytics, ESG/impact data and reporting, extensive support of investment communications as well as ad hoc projects and assignments.

Your Role and Responsibilities

Representative list of duties the position may be asked to perform and is not intended to be all-inclusive.

Investment Strategic Planning

• Participate in preparation of investment research materials and presentations and maintenance of investment policies and procedures.
• Contribute to the idea generation process for designing innovative investment solutions for clients.
• Participate on internal committees involved in the investment process as is appropriate.  

Investment Philosophy & Approach

• Develop a working knowledge of investment products and processes and an understanding of the firm’s investment philosophy and approach.
• Assist in providing research and analysis including creating tools to support the department processes and firm wide investment philosophy and approach.
• Support and participate in the continued development of the Impact Investing platform of investment solutions, analytics, and measurement.

Investment Analysis

• Generate performance and risk analytics for portfolios, asset classes and investment strategies.
• Build and maintain models and tools necessary for investment decision decision-making and implementation of our asset allocation framework.
• Assist in preparing for manager search and due diligence activity.
• Support impact analyses, impact data collection and the production of custom impact reporting.

Client Servicing (internal and external)

• Respond to internal requests for information in a thorough and timely manner.
• Assist with development of the firm’s quarterly investment review.
• Assist in addressing investment related questions generated by internal and external clients. 

Economic/Market Analysis

• Provide ongoing support on market analysis for the investment team.
• Survey marketplace to identify industry trends/events and support the development of information resources, talking points, and “official” opinions to address these trends/events.

More About You

• 2+ years of experience working in financial services industry (including internships). Direct experience with investments or manager research is a plus.
• Demonstrate interest in capital markets and investments and pursuing a career in investment management.
• Demonstrate interest and/or experience with Impact Investing.
• Experience with financial software (i.e., Bloomberg, Morningstar Direct, eVestment, or Addepar) is a plus.
• Interest in obtaining a CFA professional designation preferred.
• Experience with programming languages, databases, and knowledge of Python is a plus.

Skills and Attributes

• Must have experience with multiple software applications, including the Microsoft Office Suite.
• Experience with performance analytical tools, mutual fund/stock search and analytical tools, portfolio and/or trust accounting systems or asset allocation tools is a plus. Examples of tools are Morningstar Direct, Evestment, YCharts, Tamarac, Addepar and Bloomberg.
• Strong analytical and research skills with attention to details. Ability to absorb and synthesize a large amount of information.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting to management.
• Creative, problem-solving skills and entrepreneurial mindset as well as a can-do attitude—no task is too small. 
• Support the cultivation of an inclusive environment and culture by internalizing, integrating, and applying DEI principles across work and activities.
• Great teammate able to work well in a collaborative, team environment that welcomes diverse sets of opinions and perspectives and strives for alignment wherever possible in pursuing success of the team rather than the individual.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills as evidenced by ability to interact with clients and colleagues professionally, personally, and effectively and contribute to a respectful work environment.
• Portrays a professional company image both internally and externally.
• High ethical standards and the ability to place the clients’ needs before one’s own.
• Experience in handling sensitive and confidential subject matter.
• Ability to stay current in industry knowledge.
• Demonstrates ability and willingness to take on new responsibilities as organizational needs require.
• Demonstrates an exceptional work ethic, results-orientation, and a high degree of self-accountability.
• Intellectually curious.
• Adaptable, comfortable with ambiguity and thrives in a fast-paced environment.

Compensation and Benefits
We provide a competitive salary commensurate with your experience and skills and offer an annual bonus based on company and individual performance. The hiring base salary range for this position is $78,000 to $93,000 plus eligible for a year-end bonus, depending on location, experience, and on achieving performance objectives.

We offer excellent benefits including medical, dental, and vision coverage; generous time off (including a sabbatical program after 10 years); flexible spending plans for health care, transportation, and dependent care; 401(k) plan, educational reimbursements, and more. Detailed information can be found on our site and here. 

Our Team
You will be joining a team that is dedicated to helping our clients achieve their goals by providing exceptional investment management and wealth planning services. Putting our clients first guides our decision-making and culture, and allows us to build long-term, caring and trusted relationships.

We love working in a professional yet relaxed working environment. We encourage openness, active listening, mutual respect, candor and integrity. We cultivate a diverse and inclusive work environment where we encourage a work/life balance through a generous PTO policy and flexible work hours. We enjoy each other's company at team and semi-annual firm wide outings. We take a hybrid in-office/remote working approach.

About Us
Laird Norton Wetherby (LNW) serves exceptional families and individuals seeking to activate the full potential of their wealth. To help turn lifelong ambitions and multigenerational aspirations into reality, LNW brings to each client relationship a high level of care combined with deep expertise in wealth and legacy planning, investments, and trust and estate services.

Offering both RIA (Registered Investment Advisor) and trust services, LNW is committed to providing clients with unbiased, independent guidance and solutions. LNW has offices in Seattle, San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles and Philadelphia, as well as an affiliated trust company in South Dakota, empowering clients across the U.S. and around the world.

LNW is owned by employees and majority owned by Laird Norton Company, one of the longest-sustained family enterprises in the United States. To learn more, please visit LNWAdvisors.com.

Additional Information
Our firm aims to cultivate an inclusive environment and culture that fosters growth, collaboration and acceptance; where we celebrate the diverse voices and perspectives of our employees; and where employees feel empowered to bring their full, authentic selves. Our diversity drives us forward and helps us build deeper relationships with our clients and our community.

We are an equal opportunity employer that prohibits discrimination against employees, applicants for employment, individuals providing services in the workplace pursuant to a contract, unpaid interns and volunteers based on their actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ancestry, marital status, registered domestic partner status, military and veteran status, civil air patrol status, national origin, immigration status, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions, and including medical conditions related to lactation) or medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics). 

*As of 3/4/2024
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