Archive for category: Training & education
The call that changed it all
I can still picture the day in my mind:
The grocery-store parking lot in which I curbed my car on a brisk winter day so I could take the introductory call from my Vanguard recruiter. Curious and cautious, I wasn’t sure “the corporate life” was for me. But I’d heard Vanguard’s different—and has been since its inception by John Bogle as a Main Street soul in a Wall Street world.
As you can tell by my writing a #LifeatVanguard blog, the recruiter call that day in the parking lot went well (as did the subsequent phone calls and interviews). One of the main reasons that Vanguard was so attractive to me as a job candidate is that it seemed like a place where I could find the coveted combination of longevity and variety.
I liked that Vanguard seemed to be a company where—with some initiative—I could stay but not get stagnant. I liked that it seemed to be a place that provides the option to cultivate a career comprised of different roles, lasting working relationships, and a strong sense of community. I liked that it seemed to offer chances in the midst of changes.
Thankfully, when I needed all of those perceptions to be true in my debut role at Vanguard, and through some organizational changes, they all were.
The power to steer your career proved to be true
Naturally, organizational change can bring unknowns. Seeing some uncertainty on the horizon but still being certain I wanted a long, vibrant Vanguard career, I seized opportunities to diversify my skills in ways that 1) advanced the value I could add to my teams; and 2) aligned with Vanguard’s implementation of new ways of working in the future.
Thanks to leaders in my subdivision, one such opportunity for diversification was LUMA Institute® Facilitator training. It was increasingly clear in company communications that Vanguard was encouraging more (and better) collaboration and was equipping cohorts of employees to obtain LUMA’s facilitator certification.
With a simpler approach to Human-Centered Design, LUMA facilitator training provided me with powerful tools and proven techniques for fostering collaboration in ways that generate innovative solutions after helping to identify the right problem to solve for in the first place.
I continue to bring that enriched approach to problem-solving to my present role, in addition to ad hoc facilitation opportunities that Vanguard’s LUMA-certified crew can undertake in support of other teams, in or beyond our own divisions.
Considerations for charting your own life at Vanguard
Whether you’re reading this as a fellow crew member currently working at Vanguard, or you’re reading this as a potential hire who’s thinking about applying to Vanguard, I offer these considerations from my own revelations in my first year and a half:
To be candid, no organization is perfect. But in my overall 15-year career, Vanguard is exceptional in many respects, both past and present. This also makes me hopeful for its future—and mine, too— and shows that a little initiative will continue to go a long way.
-Rebecca H.
What was presented at the 2020 event?
The theme of this year’s Collaboration Summit was “Working Together in Times of Uncertainty.” Keynote presentations were provided by executive leaders from Microsoft and Deloitte and focused on Microsoft’s PowerPlatform (low/no code technology) and working remotely in the ‘new normal,’ respectively. Various sessions were held during the two-day event. Topics included:
Crew were provided with breaks throughout the day where they could participate in instructor-led chair yoga and/or browse our virtual 3D Expo Hall and speak to representatives via Microsoft Teams Meetings. If crew were not able to attend the event, all content and sessions were recorded and provided for them to view after the event was complete.
Crew feedback
Response to this year’s virtual event was overwhelmingly positive. Crew feedback was collected throughout the event for keynotes and sessions. Here are a few highlights:
“Great information, I LOVED the back and forth between the two presenters, as it showed connectedness and wisdom from both. I felt it was balanced in the time spent with the two people talking. The chat interaction was GREAT! I felt engaged and took a lot out of the presentation.”
“This was a great session to remind individuals they need to disconnect. The 100% remote working environment, coupled with the lessened number of activities makes it easy to forget to focus on work/life balance.”
“I thought this was a topic that isn’t covered very often (Accessibility as a Differentiator) and was thrilled to see it here. It was very informative, and I really enjoyed it.”
Camila: Hi everyone my name is Camila, I attend the University of Texas at El Paso. I am a College to Corporate Business Intern, and I am currently working with the Vanguard Retirement Plan Access Department this summer.
Alex: Hello everyone, my name is Alex I am a rising junior studying computer science engineering at the University of Michigan and I am a College to Corporate Application Development Intern, working with the Enterprise Advice division at Vanguard.
Natasha: Hi! My name is Natasha and I am C2C Investment Management intern this summer under the Transaction Cost Analysis team. I’m a rising junior at the University of Michigan, pursuing a dual degree in finance and computer science, with a minor in Music.
Camila: And I’m going to show you what a virtual intern does on a day-to-day basis. So since I am a virtual intern I am working remotely from my hometown and I basically made my kitchen into an office. This is my kitchen table.
Natasha: Welcome to my room converted into an office.
Alex: Due to the remote nature of our internship, we use Microsoft Team and Outlook mainly, to stay connected with each other.
Camila: I get to meet with leaders, I get to talk to my managers, really cool things that I didn’t know I was going to be able to do from home.
Natasha: I can still stay fully connected with rest of Vanguard. We have a lot of different events like game shows and community service.
Alex: Even though the internship is remote, the company has also done a great job to make sure we’re still able to network and connect with the other interns. Two weeks ago, we had a virtual team building session where we bonded with all the other interns remotely.
Camila: I have been able to participate in Vanguard events, and trainings, and so many things virtually.
Alex: Later today I have an intern project meeting around lunchtime, to update our technical leads on our progress. I am currently working on a project team with four other interns to develop an internal web application.
Natasha: For some of my project so far, I’ve been working mostly in the FX and Treasury Future space.
Camila: So for my project I am actually working in my department of Vanguard Retirement Plan Access. And I’m helping with the Sales Territory Map Analysis. As you can see I have a lot of meetings so I do my project work in between.
Alex: Vanguard also assigns each of us a buddy and a pod leader that acts as mentors, and we have regular meetings with them as well.
Natasha: As part of the internship, I get two buddies. One of them is on my team, and then the other one is in the rotational program. Having a buddy helps me to get acclimated to both the company as well as my team, and acts as a resource that I can just ask quick questions to.
Alex: Overall, the College to Corporate Internship gives us a view into how Vanguard uses technology to solve business problems, and to help people achieve their financial goals. Right now is also a very interesting time to work for Vanguard, because technology is a key strategic focus for the company. This provides ample opportunities for us to work on cool projects, which will be used by real customers and/or business functions.
Camila: My experience so far has been an amazing one. I have been able to connect with leadership, I’ve been able to connect with my interns that have really enhanced my experience here. I feel so fortunate to be a part of a company that really goes out of their way in making sure that their interns get an amazing virtual experience.
Natasha: As you can see, despite the virtual internship experience, everyone at Vanguard can still stay fully connected with each other. I hope you enjoy this little insight into a Vanguard intern’s life.
Alex: Thanks for watching.
Natasha: Don’t forget to follow @lifeatvanguard.
Camila: On Instagram and all other social media. Thank you.
Ashley C.
LinkedIn Learning has been very helpful! The program offers plenty of tutorials where you can either learn something new or expand your existing skillset and become an expert on a topic of your choosing. Further, I have found myself reading several professional development books now that I have fewer distractions to keep me occupied.
Tracy C.
I too am taking advantage of LinkedIn Learning. I just started a Programming Online Foundations course. As an Information Technology (IT) recruiter, I know this will help me in further enhancing my business acumen.
Kim D.
An internal tool Vanguard offers that I have been enjoying is the FYI (For Your Improvement) Skills Suite. This resource has allowed me to take a deeper look at the competencies aligned to my role and suggests trainings for the areas in which I’d like to focus my development.
Jo S.
I am really enjoying podcasts at the moment. Some favorites include: Lewis Howes—The School of Greatness and The Learning Leader. For wellness, I’ve been tuning into Dr. Rangan Chartterjee—Feel Better, Live More.
It’s easy to stay heads down in work all day, every day. We’re all guilty of it, especially in this new environment where we no longer find ourselves in collaborative spaces with colleagues, networking with folks over lunch or maybe even heading to a conference off-site. Just make sure you make time for you and your professional development. It can go a long way.
When thinking about where you want to launch or continue your career, you can be assured that at Vanguard, an emphasis is placed on professional development. Combined, we have been at Vanguard for nearly twenty years. During our tenure, we have both received support in various ways to help further advance our skill set. There is one development opportunity that we pursued, however, that stands out from all the rest. Through the Women’s Initiative for Leadership Success (WILS), one of our five Crew Resource Groups, we applied and were selected to participate in an advanced leadership development program for women. In addition to collaborating with female talent from across the enterprise and having a dedicated leadership coach consultant, the program presented us with several frameworks and tools that prepared us to handle a number of scenarios that we could potentially face throughout our careers. Examples include shaping the way we make decisions, preparing and executing courageous conversations with crew, reframing the dialogue of our inner critic, and recognizing unconscious biases.
The experience couldn’t have come at a better time in our professions. Elisha had just started a new managerial position and Kelly, who had always been an individual contributor, aspired to obtain a formal leadership role. Although we support different business areas in unique fields, we are both women within male-dominated industries. We were both successful within our careers at this point and were excited to learn ways in which we could enhance our skills and achieve professional goals going forward. We also quickly realized during the program that what got us here would not get us there, with there being where we envisioned our careers going and how we saw ourselves reaching our full potential. This specific program changed our perspectives on what that means and gave us the resources to clearly define who we are and what we stand for.
Identifying the direction we wanted to steer our careers, in addition to using learnings centered on how to plan and execute courageous conversations, continue to stand out as key takeaways from the program. We had the chance to practice these exchanges, and the more we practiced, the more we realized how impactful it was when developing others. Moreover, taking on courageous conversations is so imperative to improving a challenging situation, and we are now better equipped to handle them. Lastly, we received helpful reminders that something as simple as making the invisible, visible, can be a powerful mind shift that will lead you to a more successful outcome.
The advanced leadership development program for women has provided us with more than either of us expected. We are more prepared and confident in navigating our careers for having taken part in this initiative. Again, this is just one example of the many development opportunities offered at Vanguard.
Kelly joined Vanguard directly out of college in 2007 and has been working in the Investment Management Group for the past three years. Kelly graduated from Northern Arizona University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
Elisha has been at Vanguard since 2012. She launched her career as a developer and shortly after moved into a technical lead role. Following these experiences, she transitioned to a project management position that gave her the opportunity to be a technical relationship manager for a large 401(k) client and now as a delivery manager, supporting cross-divisional capabilities and relationships for Vanguard Advice for Institutional. Prior to joining Vanguard, Elisha worked at various startups and financial companies also within the engineering and technology capacity for four years.
Congrats, you got the job! After weeks of interviewing, prepping, and anticipating, the long wait is finally over. You’ve given notice at your current job, you’ve accepted your new job offer, and set a start date. Now what?
Wrap up. Whether you disliked your old job or are just moving to a new opportunity, make sure to leave on good terms and help to wrap up loose ends. Make a plan with your leader on what you should tackle before you go and what needs to be deferred for your successor. A good task to complete before you go? Collect procedures, resources, projects, and tasks that can help new hires get a handle on their new position. A few examples: What meetings should they attend? What are all the projects and tasks they’re responsible for? How will they be measured?
Communicate. Let your direct manager take the lead on the plan, just make sure the right stakeholders are aware that you are exiting your role and when. Let everyone know your goals for your remaining time in job and indicate any contingency plans.
Manage expectations. On that note, accept that you simply cannot get to everything in two weeks. Some projects and tasks will not be completed and will have to wait for the next person to fill your role or a current peer to take them on. Do your best, but don’t overexert yourself. There’s a new challenge on the horizon!
Address the administrative stuff. Don’t forget the odds and ends like turning in keys, cleaning out your desk, returning your laptop, or filling out paperwork. Contact your HR department to see if they have a checklist for those vacating a position or leaving the company.
Say goodbye. This is a little different from the communication piece because this step is less about setting timelines and more about saying farewell to your beloved co-workers. Want to take it a step further? Send an email or handwritten note to those who have influenced your career or made a difference in your life. Add them on LinkedIn to stay in touch.
As a final caution, avoid taking your last two weeks as a vacation. Chances are, you’ll just be hurting a valued peer or damaging your own reputation. And you never know when you’ll encounter a former colleague or leader in the future.
Stay tuned for our blog on Kicking off your new role.
Whenever people asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, my response was always, “I want to help people live a better life.” I had grown up as a competitive dancer, and was very accident prone, which meant I spent a lot of time in physical therapy. I would watch the therapists make such strides in people’s ability to move and began to think that is what I want to be–and ultimately led to obtaining my degree in kinesiology. So how in the world did I end up in finance? My road to Vanguard began right after college graduation, when I was having an internal battle on what I wanted to do now that I was in the “real world.” I had told myself for some time that the only way I could help people live a better life was by becoming a professional in the medical field. But a friend proved that notion wrong when they introduced me to Vanguard. To say I was hesitant to join the finance industry is an understatement. Much of my college education was focused on classes like organic chemistry and biomechanics. But my friend assured me that my passion to help people live a better life directly aligned with Vanguard’s mission. With his support along with my family, I took a giant leap of faith, and I couldn’t be happier that I did.
After my first week, I began to feel a sense of calmness and knew that a life-long career with Vanguard was in my future—and then came the licensing program. I had done a bit of studying prior to starting but I had no idea how big of a milestone obtaining my Series 7 and 63 securities licenses was. The nerves quickly came back as I began rereading the 600+ page book, where many of the terms seemed like another language. While there were many moments where I questioned if I could do it, I was always met with support from my leader, coaches, trainers, and peers. I couldn’t believe that I had only been a part of Vanguard for a few weeks, and so many people were invested in my success.
Fast forward 5 years later, I am now responsible for onboarding new hires into the Retail division of Vanguard, which you could say has brought my experience full circle. As an onboarding leader I get the opportunity to be the face of Vanguard for so many new crew–helping them acclimate to our culture and supporting them through licensing and training. I am their first point of contact, starting from the day they accept their offer and also act as a resource as they prepare for their first day at Vanguard. One of my favorite aspects of my job is getting to meet my crew at the end of their first day on campus. The buildup of excitement over the months finally becomes reality and I am able to spend some time answering questions and sharing insight that can help calm their nerves— something I can certainly relate to. I then get to spend the next few months guiding them through the licensing program where I meet with my crew daily to check in on their progress, recommend study strategies, and celebrate their successes. I always tell my crew that we will be going on a journey together, and while everyone is different, they can rest easy knowing that I will do everything in my power to support them through it. I appreciate that I can use my own experiences to relate to what my crew are going through and can be their cheerleader during the ups and a shoulder to lean on for any downs.
One of the most memorable experiences I have as an onboarding leader is when my first class had their final celebration to launch into their role. This means that their time with me in licensing and training is over and they get to officially begin supporting our clients. I had spent weeks preparing what I wanted to express to them and when I got up in front of the class (tears and all) all I could do was thank them for the journey they had taken me on It’s always a bittersweet day for me as I get to witness crew moving on to their next chapter within their careers, but I am always so thankful to be a part of it.
To say I love my job is an understatement… I get to be by my crew’s side as they face these exciting challenges, learn and grow in the industry, and eventually embark on a new path as they launch into their job.
-Annsley R.
More careers blogs you may have missed
Preparing For a Vanguard Interview – Be a STAR
Do you have an interview coming up soon? Read this blog to prepare for the STAR format questions and nail your interview!
Three Experiences That Paved My Path to Vanguard
In this blog, Team Leader Rachel shares three experiences along her path to Vanguard and why she loves being a leader.
Why I Got Rid Of My Five Year Plan
Vanguard crew member Lauren reflects on why she tossed out her five year plan and instead focused on building a career within a company and industry she grew to love.
Exploring Careers in Client Services – Retail Services
Crew member David shares his perspective on career choices, teamwork, and how he contributes to Vanguard’s mission in Retail Services.
Inclusion – It’s More Than a Policy
Hear from crew about their thoughts on LGBTQ+ inclusion at Vanguard, and learn about the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) Corporate Equality Index—and how we stacked up.
Last summer, after working in various “business” roles across Vanguard, I, nervously, pursued an opportunity to work in Vanguard’s Fixed Income Group as a trader. I had always been interested in investments—that interest was what brought me to Vanguard and led me to pursue the CFA® designation earlier in my career. However, the only investments I had actually managed were what was in my retirement account (and admittedly I managed those somewhat sporadically). I was excited by the prospect of turning my academic interest into a career. While nervous about the learning curve, I had high expectations for the role. I expected my favorite aspect of the job to be the learning; to love the challenge; to enjoy being more in tune with the markets and what’s going on in the world. And after a year, I can confidently report that all of these expectations have been met; I have enjoyed these aspects of the job. But some of my favorite parts about my role as a trader are things I did not expect:
The collaborative process
Looking back it seems silly, but when I pictured a successful trader before I worked in investment management, I envisioned someone who could quickly comprehend what was going on in the market and then swiftly, and independently, act on it. I completely underestimated the collaboration that occurs on the trading floor. I frequently see expert traders and strategists, often with decades of experience, approaching a colleague to run an idea by them or ask their opinion. In fact, some of the most senior and successful traders are the ones who do this the most often.
Infectious passion
Spend a few hours in Vanguard’s Fixed Income Group and you will quickly realize you’re surrounded by people that LOVE their jobs. You can hear it in the way they talk, and, fortunately for me, the way they teach. The excitement and inherent interest when you bring a group of passionate people together begets further interest when questions are raised and opinions debated.
Diverse backgrounds of my coworkers
You may be noticing a trend of faulty expectations on my part… but I thought the typical career path was study finance à work in an investment support function à move into front office trading. I love that, again, I was wrong and that there is no typical career path. I work with former consultants, aerospace engineers, accountants, computer science PhDs, English majors, and self-taught coders. It seems obvious now but diverse backgrounds yield diverse thought which is what makes a great investment team.
Tangible impact on clients
Perhaps I should have expected this but my favorite aspect about my job is the tangibility of the impact we have on clients. It’s a great honor and great responsibility to manage our clients’ money. I’ve been fortunate to have experienced that impact in all of my roles at Vanguard but never has the impact been as tangible as it is as a trader. It’s incredibly rewarding to measure the impact you have in helping clients progress towards their goals.
A year ago, I thought the trading floor was an intimidating place. Now I think it’s an incredible place to learn and have an impact while working with some of the most passionate people I’ve encountered.
-Molly C.
More careers blogs you may have missed
4 Hacks for Your Best Social Brand Ever
In this step by step series on creating your brand, you’ll learn how to get started, glean tips from branding experts, and discover what really hooks an audience.
My Story: Vanguard’s Chief Investment Officer Greg Davis
Chief Investment Officer Greg Davis looks back at his upbringing, his early job history, and why he ultimately came to–and stayed at–Vanguard.
Solving Problems and Innovating through Data Science
Driven by Vanguard’s mission, crew member Amir shares his career journey through technology and data science in this careers blog.
Four Tips for a More Inclusive Environment
Vanguard’s Chief Human Resources Officer John James shares four tips to promote a more inclusive environment in this blog.
Why I Love Being a Working Mom
In this blog, Schuyler discusses working at Vanguard and what happened when her baby came earlier than expected.
About 10 years ago, before ‘distance-until-empty’ technology was standard in vehicles, I had a couple of friends who often played the ‘gas light’ game. The rules of the game are simple: Reset your vehicle’s tripmeter once your gas light goes on, and see how many miles you can go without running out of gas. Because MPG can vary for each vehicle, my friends never played against each other, but rather the game was always them vs. their car. Interestingly, there’s no way to win the ‘gas light’ game. Either you eventually go to the gas station to refuel, or you run out of gas and lose the game. Consequences of losing the game included calling a loved one, explaining why you ran out of gas, and then humbly asking for their help. Studying for the CFP® exam is a lot like playing the gas light game. Each study module is its own challenge where you must push yourself to the limit and increase your knowledge, but you must know when to give yourself a break and refuel. You must understand that it is a lot like planning for a wedding, not a toddler’s birthday party, and the inability to pace yourself appropriately can cause one to get burnt out and ‘lose the game’. Another key similarity between studying for the CFP® exam and the gas light game: There is no way to win the game. “What?! Don’t I get credit for passing the exam?!” Well, yes, but that’s not the end. If you’re like me, it is more of an enabler towards the ultimate goal: Helping people who need help. What matters most is what you do with the knowledge and how you use it to positively impact people’s lives, and there is no end to that, but rather it can be a life-long calling.
So, I bet you can guess what my motivation was for wanting to pass the CFP® exam. What is your motivation? What is the very specific, extremely tangible reason why you yearn to be a CFP® Professional? I strongly believe that you must have a confident, consistent answer to that question, because you’ll need that ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ amidst your long study sessions. What else might you need? Here are a few things for you to consider:
Leverage a professional education provider and trust their process. At Vanguard, we have a program where we partner with a professional education provider, and they have a myriad of resources that improve one’s ability to be successful. If your company does not have a formal partnership established, do some research and ask for corporate sponsorship through a provider of your choice.
Know your learning style and study habits. I cannot stress enough that this is, in my opinion, the most critical piece of one’s study strategy. You must know your learning style and what works for you. This allows you to be efficient and spend your time learning how you learn best. For me, self-study is key, and a classroom environment isn’t as effective. For you, it is likely something different. Adjust your learning style as appropriate.
Set a study schedule and get buy-in from your support system. I have five young kids. NOTHING is getting accomplished at home. For me, study time started in the office at 6:00am each weekday before my work day began. Whatever it is for you, make sure those supporting you during this journey, both at home and at work, know your study schedule and agree to help hold you accountable to it.
Final encouragement: If I can do it, anyone can do it. I hadn’t studied for a formal exam in over 10 years, and my fifth child was born a month and a half before exam day. That means my study skills were rusty, and I wasn’t getting enough sleep when I needed it the most. You’ll likely have your own challenges, but if you hold on to that motivational reason and persevere, you’ll be well on your way to positively impacting people lives. Just don’t run out of gas.
-Matthew B.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.
More careers blogs you may have missed
The Brain of an Engineer, the Heart of an Advisor
Financial Advisor Gary reveals why he changed his college major from architecture to finance and how he never looked back.
Redefining Success at Vanguard
Financial Advisor Daniel writes about how he found a career in advice at Vanguard, and how he’s able to balance his love for travel and his career.
A Lifetime of Opportunities to Lead, Grow, and Impact Others
Follow Célestine’s journey from finding her core purpose to returning to her roots as a leader at Vanguard.
Exploring Careers in Client Services – Personal Advisor Services
Crew members Tiana and Darrell share their perspectives on career choices, teamwork, and how they contribute to Vanguard’s mission in Personal Advisor Services.
I Moved 2,000 Miles to Be a Vanguard Advisor
Jon, a Senior Financial Advisor, moved from Michigan to Arizona to start his career at Vanguard. He wanted to do something different with his life and make a bigger difference—he answers “Why Vanguard?” in this blog post.
My father was a payroll clerk by trade, but his true passion was investing. When I was growing up in the 1980s, every weeknight at 6 o’clock my dad watched The Nightly Business Report on PBS on our only TV. Needless to say, this was before the internet and CNBC (I know, I’m dating myself), so it was really the only way you could find out what happened in the markets before you read it in the newspapers the next day. I vividly recall how my dad used to hoot and holler whenever good news boosted one of the stocks he owned, even though he regularly invested through up and down markets, reinvested the dividends, and held his stocks for decades. His passion sparked my interest in pursuing an investment career, which began at another investment firm performing research and oversight of institutional money managers. While I was aware of Vanguard and even owned some Vanguard mutual funds, at the time I had the impression that Vanguard was “just” an index shop, and not a “real” investment firm. Boy, was I wrong. My introduction to Vanguard About nine years ago, I began to pursue an opening in Vanguard’s Oversight and Manager Search team. The more research I did on Vanguard, the more I realized that it was truly a world-class investment firm – active and passive, equity and fixed income. The crew I met with were smart yet humble, and the investment research was insightful and balanced. I joined Vanguard in 2009 as a Senior Investment Analyst in the Portfolio Review Department, on the team that provides oversight of Vanguard’s investment managers and funds. I was able to learn about a lot of different investment approaches from not only Vanguard internal managers, but from the roughly 30 other world-class investment firms Vanguard partners with like Wellington, PRIMECAP, and Ballie Gifford.
Vanguard around the globe
One day in 2013, I was on my way to the Galley (the on-campus cafeteria) when my department head pulled me into his office and said, “We’re thinking of sending you to Hong Kong.” My reply was, “I was thinking of getting a sandwich.”
Ten months after that conversation, my wife, three kids, and I moved to Hong Kong where I was tasked with building Vanguard’s investment product function for Asia—designing and launching Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and mutual funds, and educating clients about them. It’s where I learned about the ETF ecosystem and retirement systems for Asian countries.
After three years in Asia, I returned to our headquarters in 2017 to lead Vanguard’s Defined Contribution Advisory Services (DCAS) team. Ever wonder how a company decides which funds to offer its employees in their 401(k) plan? And how they oversee those funds? Well, our team of investment professionals delivers investment perspectives, evaluations, and custom portfolios to help those companies and their consultants do just that.
A common thread
My three roles at Vanguard are very different and none of them are in the Investment Management division, but the one common thread was each requires a strong degree of investment acumen for success. Fortunately, Vanguard provides a ton of resources and support for crew to develop and deepen their investment acumen, from paid support for the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) and Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) programs, free mobile access to the Wall Street Journal and other industry news sources, numerous internal investment training sessions, and more. As long as you bring a “growth mindset” and an intellectual curiosity, there’s no limit to your development.
I’ve seen Vanguard’s investment research, analysis, and portfolio management become more sophisticated and global over the years. But our investment philosophy has remained steadfast since our founding more than 40 years ago: set an investment goal, diversify your portfolio, keep your costs low, and stick to a plan —strikingly similar to my dad’s approach.
-James M.
If you’re seeking an environment where you can make a difference and develop professionally, check out our career our opportunities at www.vanguardjobs.com.