Investment Professionals

The first investment professionals were men living in the 1600s who worked for merchant banks and helped finance long-term investments overseas. The New York Stock Exchange began operating in 1792, which changed the practice of investment and allowed the freedom for many people to begin investing. Bonds made their appearance during the Civil War in the 1860s, and it was during this era that some of the largest investment companies began to operate. They include Goldman Sachs and Bache & Company, which was later acquired by Prudential Financial.

After the financial crisis in 2008, some banks changed their trading activities and turned their attention to wealth management services. The economic downturn caused by the pandemic in 2020 and early 2021 further disrupted the investment banking industry. Business lockdowns, supply chain delays, and the increase of remote work triggered investment banking companies to retool their business models and operation systems. Technology developments, such as the growth of artificial intelligence, also continues to affect how investment professionals conduct their work. Post pandemic, the economy has been recovering and investment professionals continue to be needed to help businesses assess and manage their investments.