Alastair Matchett

The expected return on an investment is the anticipated profit or loss over a specific period. It is expressed as a percentage of the initial investment and considers the appreciation (or depreciation) of assets and capital as well as any income received during the period, such as dividends or interest. Expected returns are usually calculated using historical performance data, which may not provide reliable forecast, and therefore should only be considered as guidance for probable future outcomes rather than as guaranteed returns. In addition, actual returns can also be influenced by market volatility, economic changes, sector or industry trends, and/or company-specific issues (also called idiosyncratic risk).

The core responsibility of an investment research analyst is to provide investment recommendations to portfolio managers (this type of role is referred as “buy-side”) or third-party clients such as individual investors (“sell-side”). This includes both generating new ideas and monitoring the existing holdings in the portfolio. Analysts evaluate financial, market, and economic data along with various qualitative aspects such as the quality of management and the competitive edge of the product/service that the company offers

In the world of finance, professional certifications are powerful tools that allow professionals to enhance their profiles and increase both employability and earning potential.