tell us about your job

[NajdorfDefense]

What do you do? Chief Investment Officer, mostly private money with some corporate funds/cash also.

Do you like it? Love it. If I had to get a real job, I'd go back to bartending on South Beach.

What makes you in particular well-suited or poorly-suited for your work? I have pretty strong analytical skills, love to read, and learn new things, ability to spot a trend as well as avoid one that's ending, good gambling/gaming instincts, and am long-term greedy.

What kind of people do best in your work? Strong analytical thinkers who are able to evaluate people and situations quickly and without bias. Have to be able to spot the BS artists which comes with experience. Ability to manage clients is the biggest thing. Keep fear and greed firmly in balance.

What qualifications are necessary for people considering work in the same field as you? EV calculations, able to open Excel, explain why one investment is 'better' than another, based on some set of criteria. As long as you have the smarts of a clever 11-yr old, you're all set.

What is a typical day like? This would take a longer answer, but I'll sum up, I get to my office around 9:15 and check over yesterday's stuff and look the markets and check emails to make sure nothing blew up. At 9:45 I head down to grab food. Read a lot of deals and pitches and stupid/brilliant emails. Spend day on phone with marketers, managers, lawyers, acc'ts, client[s], coworkers. Minimal Excel and similar work. Head out btw 5-9pm depending on my work load.

What kind of problems do you encounter? Too much capital, not enough good ideas/managers. Clients are not always rational.

What are the biggest (most common) sources of frustration and elation? See above. Doing well. Outthinking the market.

How much can one expect to make in your position?
Managing OPM you can expect to make anywhere from very low six figures to Eddie Lampert money.