The greatest strength of a portfolio manager can be the power to correctly predict future.

Raza possesses about 20 years of experience in equity research and sales. He has served in senior positions, including Chief Executive Officer of EFG Hermes Pakistan, Head of Equities at Intermarket Securities, and Head of Research at AKD Securities. He has also served two terms on the Board of the CFA Society Pakistan. Raza carries a deep understanding of majors sectors at the PSX with a specialization in covering Commercial Banks. He was awarded “Best Analyst of 2015/16″ by CFA Society Pakistan, and also received ” Best Equity Salesperson” from CFA Society Pakistan two years in a row. Raza graduated from the Lahore University of Management Sciences and is a CFA Charter holder.

What role does the Portfolio Management Department play at NBP Funds?

The Portfolio Management Department is able to offer tailored solutions to clients, suitable for their individual needs and preferences. We fulfill the dual role of keeping up to date with clients’ evolving needs, and deploying their funds into the most suitable avenues keeping the investment conditions in mind. We also offer portfolio support and fund accounting services to our clients, so they can focus on what they do best while we take care of the rest.

How do you keep your team motivated?

A happy employee is a motivated employee. I work in a very collaborative manner, hearing everyone’s opinion and incorporating it into our work, which helps ensure buy-in from the team. New ideas are always welcome and encouraged. At my end, I share my experience and learnings with the team especially if I think it will help improve processes and standards.

How do you keep yourself up to date with market trends?

Markets are dynamic and fast moving, typically incorporating new information instantly. This makes it imperative to keep in touch with evolving trends. I rely on a mix of printed and electronic mediums for basic information, with underlying trends gleaned from talking to clients and the wider investment community to gauge consensus and sentiment. Importantly, it is important to assess whether changing trends are just temporary or reflect a more permanent shift. The former can lead to tactical changes in the portfolio but the latter may merit a deeper revisit.

If you could have any super power, what would you choose and why?

Time travel! Until science conclusively proves otherwise, I would continue to categorize this is a super power. I have always enjoyed history and to actually witness momentous historical events fascinates me. This feeds into my work as well. Markets and history go hand in hand, with economic and investing cycles repeating, if with subtle differences. Appreciating history gives a great handle on why we stand here today, and where we are going.