Jobs › Northern Trust

Portfolio Advisor, Wealth Management

Northern Trust · Lake Forest, IL · $114,500–$194,700 a year · Full time

Posted Sep 18, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

Apply at Northern Trust

Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about the portfolios you manage now. How many relationships, what size, and how much discretion do you have?

What they are checking: Whether they are ready to manage a full set of fee-producing HNW and UHNW accounts.

Explain how you would talk a client through a year where their portfolio trailed the market.

What they are checking: Whether they can explain results honestly and tie them back to the client's goals and risk.

Tell me about a time you had to manage risk in a portfolio before a client asked you to.

What they are checking: Whether they monitor accounts actively and act early on risk rather than waiting for complaints.

How do you keep up with markets and research while also handling client meetings and service work?

What they are checking: Whether they can balance investment work and client time without letting either suffer.

What would you do

A client's goals change after selling a business. Walk me through how you revise their investment strategy.

What they are checking: Whether they revisit strategy as life changes instead of leaving a stale allocation in place.

How do you work with the Relationship Advisor and wealth strategist to find new opportunities with a client?

What they are checking: Whether they partner proactively with the broader team rather than staying inside the portfolio.

A client wants to put a large share of their money into a single hot sector. How do you respond?

What they are checking: Whether they can push back on risky ideas with respect and keep the client invested in their plan.

About the work

How do you build an investment recommendation for a new personal trust client, starting from the trust document?

What they are checking: Whether they understand that a trust's terms and beneficiaries shape the investment strategy.

How do you think about tax efficiency in a taxable account versus a trust or IRA?

What they are checking: Whether they place assets and manage gains with after-tax results in mind for wealthy clients.

What is your view on active versus passive management, and how would you decide for a specific client?

What they are checking: Whether they have a reasoned investment philosophy and apply it to the client instead of to themselves.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Northern Trust from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

Practice this out loud

The full job description

As published by Northern Trust.

About Northern Trust As a global leader in innovative wealth management, asset servicing, asset management and banking services, Northern Trust (Nasdaq: NTRS) is proud to guide the world’s most successful individuals, families, corporations and institutions. Since 1889, we have aligned our efforts with our three guiding Principles That Endure: Service, Expertise, and Integrity. Together, they reflect the three cornerstones of business conduct which we strive to instill in our employees, whom we call partners, and to provide to our clients and the communities we serve worldwide. With more than 135 years of financial experience and over 24,000 partners, we serve the world’s most sophisticated clients using leading technology and exceptional service. PORTFOLIO ADVISOR, WEALTH MANAGEMENT OH: R161703 1. Manages investment activities for a full set of major fee revenue producing accounts, representing high net worth (HNW) ultra-high net worth (UHNW) personal trusts in a Wealth Advisory team. 2. Assists in development and recommendations of designed to achieve investment objectives for specific individual clients. 3. Analyzes and plans the overall investment strategy with continuous revision as goals and objectives change and in the context of client needs working closely and proactively with the broader client service team to identify and execute on areas of opportunity. 4. Developing an influential presence within the local client facing team, clients, co-trustees, consultants, the bank's legal area and outside attorneys to ensure communication of client requirements and coordinate portfolio activity. 5. Consistently demonstrates proficiency with new investment strategies, tools and capabilities, and portfolio research and investment methodologies through regular contact and engagement with the National Investment and Goals Driven Wealth Management Practices, their peers, and broader Wealth and Asset Management. 6. Accountable for personal adherence to best practices as measured by the PM Dashboard and related reporting. 7. Accountable for personal execution of initiatives, new capability rollouts, and required training. 8. Provides continuous feedback on areas for improvement to leadership on national initiatives, changes, and expectations. 9. Adheres to National Investment Guidelines, feedback from the REV peer review process, and observes sound risk management practices 10. Solves complex problems The ideal candidate will benefit from having the following competencies: • Minimum 8 years of investment experience working with wealth management clients that consists of high net worth and ultra-high net worth clientele. This will include research, in which consistent long term investment performance has met objectives. • Knowledge of investment and portfolio management theory, accounting and financial principles, associated investment strategies and instruments, and characteristics of various marketplaces, usually acquired through formal education and work experience, is required to manage portfolios. A professional designation e.g. CFA is preferred. • Decision making, sales, and negotiating skills are required to contribute to the market’s revenue generation and guide sensitive or difficult situations through to agreement. • Requires in-depth conceptual and practical knowledge in own job discipline and basic knowledge of related job discipline. • Acts as a resource for colleagues with less experience. Salary Range: $114,500 - 194,700 USD Salary range is a good faith estimate of base pay. Northern Trust provides a comprehensive benefits package including retirement benefits (401k and pension), health and welfare benefits (medical, dental, vision, spending accounts and disability), paid time off, parental and caregiver leave, life & accident insurance, and other voluntary and well-being benefits. Northern Trust also provides a discretionary bonus program that may include an equity component. Work Authorization Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for employment-based visa sponsorship now or in the future. Northern Trust will not sponsor applicants for U.S. work visa status for this opportunity (no sponsorship is available for H-1B, L-1, TN, O-1, E-3, H-1B1, F-1, J-1, OPT, CPT or any other employment-based visa). Working with Us As a Northern Trust partner, you will be part of a flexible and collaborative work culture, which has a strong history of financial strength and stability. Movement within the organization is encouraged, senior leaders are accessible, and you can take pride in working for a company committed to an inclusive workplace and assisting the communities we serve. Philanthropy is deeply rooted in Northern Trust’s history and is an essential element of our culture. Employees around the world give their time and talent to work for the greater good of their communities. Reasonable Accommodation Northern Trust is committed to working with and providing adjustments to individuals with health conditions and disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please email our HR Service Center at MyHRHelp@ntrs.com , or alternatively you can discuss your individual requirements with the recruiter you are working with.

Apply at Northern Trust