Asset management is the ongoing process of developing and maintaining a portfolio of investments on behalf of a company or an individual. Financial institutions possess unique expertise in financial markets, portfolio construction, and risk analysis, which they put to work for clients seeking to optimize the performance of their assets over time while minimizing potential downside risks.

With an expanding universe of financial products to choose from, as well as increased uncertainty in markets due to the COVID-19 pandemic, savvy asset management is more important than ever. And, while the field of asset management isn’t new, it has evolved just as quickly as the opportunities and risks of the market.

The age of big data and powerful computing has opened the door to financial engineering approaches to asset management, with sophisticated quantitative analysis techniques used to mathematically optimize portfolios to an unprecedented degree. At the other end of the spectrum, insights from behavioral finance are helping asset managers anticipate the way built-in cognitive biases can influence investment strategies for individuals and across markets.

A background in asset management is essential for financial managers, including controllers, finance officers, treasurers, and similar roles. These expert asset managers are responsible for directing and monitoring the ongoing performance of investments by corporations as well as banks, investment firms, and other financial institutions.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, financial managers earned a median annual wage of $129,890 in 2019, and many employers seek applicants with a master’s degree in finance, accounting, economics, or business administration. These jobs are projected to grow much faster than the overall job market due to the challenges (and opportunities) of navigating an increasingly complex investment landscape.

Personal financial advisors provide similar services as financial managers, but they work for individuals instead of businesses or banks. These advisors provide guidance on financial planning and investments to match their client’s long-term goals, and, while some may work for banks and other financial institutions, others are self-employed. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, they earn significantly less than financial managers with a median annual salary of $87,850, but this career is also more accessible since bachelor’s degrees (instead of master’s degrees) and on-the-job training are more common.

Certainly, Coursera offers courses and Specializations in asset management and related finance topics geared towards every level of learner. Whether you’re a beginner who wants to start with an overview of financial markets or a mid-career professional looking for a deep dive into quantitative modeling, Coursera offers an opportunity to learn from top-ranked institutions like Yale University, Rice University, the University of Geneva, and the University of Pennsylvania. The ability to learn on a flexible schedule also allows busy professionals to learn asset management while managing their own time wisely.