Chief Investment Officer

• The chief investment officer job is a top level management position. His main job is to implement the goals of the company as articulated by the board. A chief investment officer articulates and implements a suitable investment process and goals for her firms. They oversee the work of portfolio managers and traders, and ensures that his firm's exposure levels to different risks are in line with the goals of the company. Chief investment officers also conduct investment research and analysis for their firms.
  
  

Investment Advisors

• Investment advisors offer investment advice to financial market participants. They may work with individuals or companies. An investment consultant helps her clients make choices between all the different types of investment options available. She has vast knowledge and experience regarding various investment markets, assets and trading strategies, to guide her clients in deciding what types of investments may suit their individual circumstances best.
  
  

Research Analyst

• Research analysts are involved in all areas of financial investment. They are quite knowledgeable of the financial markets and various options used in trading. Their work revolves around statistical, technical and fundamental analysis. Their goal is to provide traders and portfolio managers the best research in various assets such as stocks, bonds and options and futures derivatives. Research analysts have experience in systematic trading strategies, as well as in constructing databases for back-testing.
  
  

Portfolio Managers

• The job of a portfolio manager is to oversee trading and investment portfolios. They make day-to-day management and trading decisions for their portfolios. Examples of portfolio managers are mutual fund and hedge fund managers. Each manager is assigned a portfolio or portfolios of investments to manage. They understand various trading strategies available for trading. The success of a portfolio manager is often measured in terms of gains and losses in their portfolios. Portfolio managers also conduct analytical research, but many large investment houses may hire investment analysts to assist them.
  
  

Investment Brokers

• Investment brokers occupy a special position in the investment process. When an individual wants to buy a stock they have to do so through the stock exchange, registered and authorized by the Securities and Exchange Commission to transact such business. All stock purchase and sale orders must be channeled through stockbrokers. A stockbroker may be an individual or a company. Either way, stockbrokers submit stock orders to the appropriate stock exchange. They charge commission for such services. They also offer trading advice to their clients.