Hugh Cutler. Career model

Hugh Cutler FFA/FIA: 1997 Company: Barclays Global Investors (BGI) Role: Managing Director, Client Solutions Other actuaries: BGI employs approximately ten actuaries, of whom only one works within a traditional role. The others work within executive management, fund management, sales and client service.

First job: Actuarial analyst with pensions group of Towers Perrin.

Key steps between first job and current one:

Moved to BGI in 1997.

Current work

I lead the team responsible for developing investment solutions for BGI clients, including DB, DC, other institutional investors and retail/HNW investors. Solutions include liability-driven investing, multi-asset portfolios and dynamic strategies incorporating alpha and beta.

Opportunities for others

There are very few pure actuarial roles at BGI, but if you are interested in investment, this is the ideal place to work.

Hurdles to surmount

The actuarial qualification is well respected and actuaries are valued in the fund management industry. However, for almost all roles, actuaries are competing with non-actuaries for the same job. Communication skills and investment markets knowledge and experience are more important than exam success.

Original reason for becoming an actuary

To have the opportunity to mix technical and interpersonal skills as a consultant while continuing education.

Subsequent thoughts

I have no regrets, but if you decide to follow a career path like mine, it is not worth spending too long on exams - they only taught me 10% of the investment knowledge I need.

Career history

I started at Towers Perrin in 1994 as an actuarial analyst, advising companies on all aspects of pension scheme management and design. I moved to BGI to work within the UK Defined Contribution business soon after qualifying in 1997. In 2000, I moved roles to be involved in the development of our hedge fund business and then spent five years working with a variety of larger clients across our full product range. In 2006, I moved into our solutions effort.