The Climb to Investment Excellence: A Practitioner’s Guide to Building Exceptional Portfolios and Teams

by Ana Marshall

A go-to resource for institutional investors and asset allocators seeking practical advice from a proven leader in the field

InThe Climb to Investment A Practitioner’s Guide to Building Exceptional Portfolios and Teams, celebrated institutional investor and asset allocator Ana Marshall draws on her 36 years’ experience in finance and investment to deliver a comprehensive and practical blueprint for a resilient and high-performing institutional portfolio, as well as a reliable roadmap for the management of its stakeholders.

You’ll discover ready-to-deploy strategies and advice that’s informed by evidence and tried and tested in the real world, helping you to build and manage your team, construct a portfolio, set your goals, select the right managers, and more.

You’ll also

Explorations of three themes that consistently define the careers of successful investors and asset strategy and planning, trust, and risk management The critical factors every investor and allocator should consider before making any sort of impactful decision Examinations of the importance of resilience in the face of bad fortune or mistakes A can’t-miss resource for institutional investors and asset allocators, The Climb to Investment Excellence will also benefit board members tasked with overseeing their organizations’ investment objectives and performance in a volatile and ever-changing market.

(There is no workbook that goes alongside this book.) 

Genres: Business, Finance

224 pages, Hardcover

Published November 7, 2023

Reviews

[Eric Bottern]

I think the biggest thing Ana harps on that I wasn't aware of is the how much communication needs to go on between the CIO and IC to be successful. Some of this seems to be hedging their expectations, but it is important to be on the same page about expected returns and where trouble may lie/how to deal with it etc. It seems like she is trying not to get into the weeds too much on capital markets assumptions and risk calculations. Understanding that the general idea is to be aware of risks and optimizing the amount being taken for the needed return. A portion of the book covers manager selection and I think a constant theme is that the investment philosophy of the organization will seep through on an organizational level. The optimism of the investor can lead to over exposure so it is necessary to be aware.

[Patrick]

Only two stars because I expected more. More unique insights, more inside baseball. Everything was just so prosaic. “Hiring the right people is very important.” “When investing in private assets one must adopt a longer time horizon.” That sort of stuff. It’s accurate but doesn’t tell the reader anything he doesn’t already know. At least not this reader.

[Isa Torres]

Great book for someone wanting to grasp a general understanding of portfolio management and the backroom organizational requirements (meeting liquidity needs, meeting w portfolio managers, etc). But for someone desiring a more “in the weeds” book on capital allocation, this book is not for you. This book is essentially a condensed, more modern rendition of David Swenson’s Pioneering Portfolio Management.