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Senior Investment Researcher, Multi-Asset

Northern Trust · Chicago, IL · $239,900–$419,700 a year · Full time

Posted Sep 1, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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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

Walk me through a research project you led that changed an asset allocation or model portfolio decision.

What they are checking: Whether their research has actually moved real portfolio decisions rather than living only in internal reports.

Tell me about a backtest that looked great but you decided not to trust. What made you skeptical?

What they are checking: Whether they recognize overfitting and data mining, which is the most common way research misleads investors.

What would you do

A portfolio manager disagrees strongly with your research conclusion. How do you handle that conversation?

What they are checking: Whether they can defend evidence calmly while staying open to what the practitioner sees that the model misses.

How would you design a research framework for an institutional client solution, like a pension with specific liabilities?

What they are checking: Whether they can tailor portfolio construction to a client's real constraints rather than a generic model.

How do you explain a complex research finding to senior leadership who have ten minutes?

What they are checking: Whether they can distill rigorous work into a clear point leaders can act on.

About the work

How do you build capital market assumptions for asset classes like equities, credit and real assets over a five to ten year horizon?

What they are checking: Whether they understand the building blocks of long-run return forecasts and how fragile each input really is.

What are the weaknesses of mean-variance optimization in portfolio construction, and how have you worked around them?

What they are checking: Whether they know why naive optimizers give extreme, unstable weights and have practical fixes like constraints or shrinkage.

How would you measure and manage risk in a multi-asset portfolio beyond simple volatility?

What they are checking: Whether they think about drawdowns, factor exposures, correlations in stress and liquidity, not just one number.

Correlations between stocks and bonds have changed in recent years. How does that affect how you build balanced portfolios?

What they are checking: Whether they can reason about regime changes that break long-held portfolio rules of thumb.

What tools and data do you use for research, and how do you keep your work reproducible?

What they are checking: Whether they work in a disciplined, code-based way that others can check and build on.

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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. Position Summary: Responsible for leading investment research across global asset classes to support asset allocation decisions, model portfolio management and institutional investment solutions. Develops innovative research frameworks, investment insights, and portfolio construction methodologies that directly influence investment decision-making. Partners closely with portfolio managers, strategists, and senior leadership to identify opportunities, manage risks, and enhance investment outcomes for clients. Responsibilities: • Lead research initiatives on asset allocation, portfolio construction, risk management, and investment strategy across public and private markets. • Develop and enhance investment signals, forecasting models, and analytical frameworks used in strategic and tactical portfolio decisions. • Analyze global economic, market, policy, and valuation trends to identify investment opportunities and portfolio risks. • Conduct empirical research and back-testing to evaluate asset allocation ideas, factor exposures, manager strategies, and portfolio outcomes. • Apply advanced quantitative techniques, data science, and machine learning tools to improve investment research and decision-making. • Partner with portfolio managers to evaluate portfolio positioning, performance drivers, risk exposures, and implementation considerations. • Generate actionable investment recommendations supported by rigorous quantitative and qualitative analysis. • Produce thought leadership, market commentary, and research publications for internal stakeholders and external clients. • Present research findings and investment views to investment committees, senior management, clients, consultants, and distribution partners. • Mentor junior researchers and contribute to the ongoing development of the team's research agenda, investment process, and analytical capabilities. Requirements: • 10+ years of experience in investment research, asset allocation, multi-asset investing, portfolio management, or quantitative research. • Previous experience leading, mentoring, and developing investment researchers, quantitative analysts, or related investment professionals is a plus. • Strong knowledge of financial markets, investments, asset allocation, portfolio construction, and risk management. • Advanced programming skills in Python and SQL, with experience working with large and complex datasets and modern data platforms (e.g., Azure, Snowflake, Databricks). • Experience applying quantitative methods, statistical modeling, machine learning, or artificial intelligence to investment research. • Demonstrated track record of conducting research that directly informs portfolio construction, investment decision-making, and client outcomes. • Advanced degree in Finance, Economics, Financial Engineering, Statistics, Data Science, Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, or a related field; CFA or similar designation preferred. Salary Range: $239,900 - 419,700 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.

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