Your investment account through the PIM® program is structured to let your Portfolio Manager make investment decisions on your behalf based on your risk tolerance and financial objectives. When selecting the securities for your portfolio, your Portfolio Manager conducts a detailed analysis of companies, industries, and overall economic conditions. In managing the account, your Portfolio Manager constructs a suitable asset allocation strategy based on his or her personal investment style. The construction process attempts to maximize returns while minimizing risk to the overall portfolio.
The criteria for entry into the PIM® certification program are more stringent than most other programs Wells Fargo Advisors offers. The full process to obtain the PIM® designation can take 60 days to complete and includes a three-step process. The first step is meeting basic eligibility requirements, which include a minimum of two years of experience as a portfolio manager, five years of industry experience, successful completion of various securities exams, and approval of branch and regional managers. Only then can a Financial Advisor complete an application, which includes questions covering investment style, strategy, philosophy, and research methods. Once approved, the Financial Advisor must complete advanced training, including an ethics exam, proxy exam, and an advanced 40-hour portfolio management training course.
Less than 10 percent of the firm’s Financial Advisors have met the criteria to act as PIM® Portfolio Managers.
Your Portfolio Manager can utilize the resources of an array of research analysts who have the skills and tools to help you meet your financial goals. When constructing your portfolio, your Portfolio Manager can draw upon Wells Fargo Advisors’ internal research capabilities as well as those of correspondent research firms to whom Wells Fargo Advisors subscribes.
With a PIM® account, there is an ability to hold a wide range of asset types within one portfolio, eliminating the need for multiple accounts. The PIM® program offers customized investment portfolios that can include cash alternatives, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, closed-end funds, option strategies, and exchange-traded funds in a single account for an all-inclusive quarterly fee1.