Compensation for portfolio managers and "highly quantitative" investment professionals is likely to increase because demand for "fundamentalists and stock pickers" has decreased, said Stephen Niss, managing director for Fiderion Group, an executive search firm. In general, quantitative managers can now command roughly 20% more in total compensation than traditional fundamentalist managers, estimated Mr. Niss. He could not provide a salary range, adding that compensation may vary based on a manager's specific investment strategy.
Risk management officials are also in strong demand and are commanding salaries between $500,000 and $2 million, according to Fiderion. Commodities, infrastructure and energy portfolio managers and analysts will also be in strong demand, and hedge funds will continue to search for talent, despite lower year-to-date returns.
