Investment management in Utah is the professional management of assets such as equities, income securities, real estate and derivative products. Utah investment management firms are customers who represent the "buy side" of investments while investment bankers represent the "sell side."

Utah investment services fall into categories according to the type of asset they manage. A Utah investment firm may dedicate itself to a specific client base while others serve all client types, including businesses that have assets to invest.

It is critical that you understand the three basic types of investments when evaluating investment management firms in Utah:

1. Hedge funds receive contributions from members of a private partnership and investment management firms in Utah typically use them to invest in public securities or a financial derivative. They may use a wide variety of strategies for making a profit.

2. A Utah investment firm uses mutual funds for individual investors that typically do not have a high net worth. The firm combines the individual contributions to create a single investment.

3. Pensions, endowments and foundations for non-profit organizations form the basis for institutional funds. They use a more conservative investment strategy than mutual funds.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Select a company to perform investment management in Utah for long-term results

A highly diversified portfolio will minimize the risk of investing for the long-term. Investment management firms in Utah seeking long-term gains will pick stocks that have a high earnings potential and a value that is not reflected in their current prices.

I recommend: The Service Employees International Union is the fastest growing union in North America and promotes several investment firms in Utah that specialize in retirement planning. Complete the form at Alliance Bernstein and select retirement planning as the primary topic of interest to have the nearest agent contact you.

Use investment management companies in Utah for wealthy investors

Affluent clients tend to benefit the most from a unique investment plan based on diversified holdings through investment management firms. Investment managers will partner with clients and their financial advisers to increase each client's wealth over the long-term.

I recommend: Wealth management is one of the core businesses of Wachovia. You can locate its nearest financial center by entering your city and state or zip code at its website. Smith Barney accepts venture capital from wealthy investors and allows you to specify your state and the amount of money you have to invest on its website.

Select a local investment agency in Utah to help strengthen your community

Local investment firms are best able to design a portfolio that contains equities and bonds that support local businesses. That local knowledge will put your money to good use, not only increasing your own worth, but helping other local business owners expand and prosper as well.

I recommend: Paragon Wealth Management in Provo uses quantitative modeling to manage your assets in a constantly changing market. Oak Tree Management, another investment management firm in Provo, uses an independent, entrepreneurial spirit to provide a range of investment services.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Evaluate an investment management firm according to the performance of the funds that it manages. Evaluate performances of funds by comparing them against standard indices and peer groups over the same time period. Clients of Utah investment services should assess fund performance over at least 3 years in order to ignore the influence of short-term fluctuations in the business cycle.
• •  It is important to assess long-term investments by the assets that they represent. Utah investment management firms will usually advise that equities generate higher returns than bonds in most countries, and bonds are more profitable than cash. This is because equities have a higher risk than bonds, which are more volatile than cash.