Full-Time

Investment Research VP

Posted on 11/19/2024

CAIS

CAIS

201-500 employees

Platform for accessing alternative investments

Fintech
Financial Services

Compensation Overview

$125k - $175kAnnually

+ Performance Bonus

Senior

New York, NY, USA

Flexible hybrid in-office model; no minimum number of days in office required.

Category
Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A)
Investment Banking
Finance & Banking
Requirements
  • 5+ years of experience in financial markets with experience in alternative investments, including hedge fund and/or private markets strategies
  • Broad investment management and financial market knowledge across asset classes
  • An understanding of alternatives marketplace and regulatory environment
  • Self-starter with ability to work independently and collaboratively to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment
  • Strong analytical and quantitative skills; detail oriented
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills to articulate the benefits of complex investment products
  • Bachelor’s degree in finance, Economics, Business, or Accounting preferred
  • Demonstrated progress in CFA, CPA, CAIA, CFP, and/or CIMA strongly preferred
  • Series 7 & Series 63 (or Series 66) or ability to obtain within 6 months of hire
Responsibilities
  • Contributing member of the CAIS Alternative Investment Manager Research team, with responsibilities throughout the screening, due-diligence, and oversight process
  • Evaluate, analyze, and conduct thorough due diligence on private markets opportunities across co-investments, secondary, and primary investments.
  • Develop, review, and refine financial models to deliver accurate valuation analyses and provide strategic investment recommendations.
  • Actively participate in the entire investment research and modeling process, collaborating closely with CAIS portfolio managers, the investment committee, and the valuation committee from initiation through completion.
  • Represent CAIS at general partner annual meetings, building an external presence and gaining insights into market trends and emerging investment opportunities.
  • Lead and collaborate with asset class coverage associates to support research, due diligence, and underwriting efforts, ensuring alignment with strategic goals.
  • Partner closely with Product Origination to cultivate relationships with sponsors, enhancing the firm’s ability to identify and secure co-investment and other opportunities.
  • Act as key team member in sourcing managers, performing initial screening, and drafting of investment committee memos making recommendations for further consideration by senior leadership
  • Coordinate and support manager and fund due diligence, through detailed calls and meetings with the portfolio management team, review of all fund documentation, and qualitative and quantitative analysis
  • Work closely with the firm’s third-party research partners and resources
  • Conduct ongoing oversight of available alternative investment products on the CAIS platform and draft product performance updates
  • Help maintain the team’s research database

CAIS provides a platform that simplifies access to alternative investments for financial advisors and wealth managers. This platform allows users to invest in asset classes such as private equity, hedge funds, real estate, and distressed debt, which are not typically included in traditional investment categories like stocks and bonds. CAIS's platform features a variety of investment options and a streamlined process for subscribing and reporting. Additionally, it includes CAIS IQ, an educational tool that helps advisors understand the complexities of alternative investments. Unlike its competitors, CAIS emphasizes a thorough due diligence process to ensure that all funds on its platform meet high standards, which helps build trust with advisors and their clients. The goal of CAIS is to transform how independent wealth managers and financial advisors access and manage alternative investments, ultimately helping them diversify their clients' portfolios and improve investment outcomes.

Company Stage

Growth Equity (Venture Capital)

Total Funding

$384.2M

Headquarters

New York City, New York

Founded

2009

Growth & Insights
Headcount

6 month growth

7%

1 year growth

14%

2 year growth

24%
Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Partnerships with industry giants like Blackstone and CAPTRUST enhance CAIS's credibility and expand its market reach.
  • The launch of CAIS Live demonstrates a commitment to advisor education and engagement, potentially increasing platform adoption and user loyalty.
  • CAIS's technology-driven solutions, such as CAIS Solutions, streamline the alternative investment process, making it more efficient and scalable for advisors.

What critics are saying

  • The niche focus on alternative investments may limit CAIS's market size compared to broader financial platforms.
  • Dependence on third-party due diligence firms like Mercer could pose risks if these partnerships face disruptions or quality issues.

What makes CAIS unique

  • CAIS uniquely focuses on simplifying access to alternative investments for independent financial advisors, unlike many platforms that cater to a broader financial audience.
  • The integration of CAIS IQ, a personalized learning system, provides a competitive edge by educating advisors on the complexities of alternative investments, a feature not commonly found in competing platforms.
  • CAIS's robust due diligence process, including third-party evaluations by firms like Mercer, ensures high standards for all funds on its platform, offering a level of trust and reliability that sets it apart.

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