Vincent McCarthy, CFA – Consultant, Writer, Adventurer
I recently resigned from my role at Invesco Ltd to pursue a new challenge. My goal is to learn Spanish fluently as I travel Central and South America. I am currently living in Xela, Guatemala, where I have embraced local life as I learn Spanish the immersion way.
Most recently I have chosen to immerse myself in the impact investment sector after accepting an investment fellowship with the business cultivation team at Alterna Impact.
As I travel further after Guatemala, whenever that might be, I also intend to meet local investment professionals to learn about and share insights on a range of countries that are often simply refereed to as the ’emerging markets’.
Investment Experience:
In my previous role as Head of Investment Consulting at Invesco Ltd I was responsible for all aspects of investment strategy for Defined Benefit and Defined Contribution pension schemes, providing clients with bespoke advice on asset allocation, investment selection and risk management.
I have also held roles with Merrill Lynch in San Diego, DAVY and IFG Ireland, advising and managing money for high net worth individuals and corporate clients. My time at Merrill Lynch as a Financial Adviser provided me with an excellent foundation for my career in the investment industry, most notably the importance of a process driven approach and the relevance of behavioural finance in portfolio management.
Education: I am huge believer in the power of education and the importance of intellectual curiosity. Coming from a small village in County Waterford, I can definitely say that University opened my mind to a world of possibility.
I am a CFA Charterholder and a Qualified Financial Adviser.
- I graduated from the University of Limerick (UL) with a 1.1 Honours Business degree in 2003, majoring in Economics and Finance. During my time at UL, I participated in the Erasmus program, studying at the Athens University of Economics and Business, and also on an 8-month internship program with State Street Bank in Boston.
- I was then lucky enough to get to study in the US for a Masters in Finance at Fairfield University in Connecticut, after been awarded the Fr. John Conlisk scholarship.
Sport & Travel: In their own way both sport and travel are an education, providing us with important life lessons and principles that apply in all walks of life. I’m an avid sports person; I am a die-hard Liverpool fan and at 35 I am still scoring goals.
I am adventurer at heart and have been lucky enough to travel to 34 countries, living in four and studying in two. Some highlights include:
- a Spanish immersion program in Tulum, Mexico
- experiencing Hiroshima, Japan
- a 24km kayak at Vallon Pont d’Arc, France
- scuba diving with sharks in Fiji (deep dive, no cage)
- trekking the Great Wall of China
- snorkelling with a huge sea turtle in the Gili Islands, Indonesia
- snorkelling with wild dusky dolphins at sunrise in Kaikoura, New Zealand
- helicopter flight over the Great Barrier Reef, Australia
- a 15,000 feet skydive over Lake Taupo, New Zealand
