A day in the life: In a placement agent

In the Investor Relations and Distribution team here at Dartmouth Partners, we specialise in recruiting people into their first IR role or helping experienced professionals find exciting career moves.

We work with select placement agents to hire into their project management teams, as well as working with placement agent talent to find their next seat. I recently connected with one of my networks in this space to discuss this role further.

Associate – Boutique Placement Agent

1. What motivated you to move into a placement agent?

I started my fundraising career as an in-house IR and found it very rewarding. However, I wanted to broaden my perspective and understand how other successful funds approach fundraising. My goal was to learn and adopt best practices in the IR and fundraising world. Currently, I work with 2-4 GPs at any given time, which adds variety and depth to my role, something I truly enjoy.

2. What would you say is the most important skill to have in this role?

I believe the most important skills for this role are prioritisation and communication. Given the numerous requests from both internal teams and clients that need to be addressed within tight deadlines, being organised and knowing how to effectively prioritise tasks is crucial. Additionally, proactively communicating the process and managing stakeholders’ expectations is essential.

While technical skills can always be learned, strong prioritisation and communication abilities are what truly set you apart in this career.

3. What does a typical day look like?

8:00 – Read and respond to overnight emails from clients and our US team.

9:30 – Team meeting to discuss current tasks, upcoming meetings, and strategic discussions.

10:00 – 12:00 – Continue addressing overnight emails and clear the inbox.

13:00 – 14:00 – Prepare for client calls.

14:00 – 16:00 – Conduct weekly client calls and occasionally LP calls.

16:00 – 21:00 – Focus on core work after hours of calls. This includes tasks such as reviewing investor presentations, drafting case studies or DDQs, and typing out call notes.

4. What is your favourite part of the job?

My favourite part of the job is working directly with the CEOs and managing directors of the GPs we work with. It’s incredibly rewarding to hear their pitches first-hand and provide strategic advice on crafting compelling narratives.

5. What is your favourite thing about working for your employer?

My favourite thing about working for my employer is the unique balance we strike between ambition and collaboration. Our team is incredibly hardworking and driven, yet we always prioritise working together and supporting one another.

6. What is one piece of advice you would give to someone looking at getting into placement?

Glad you asked.

My advice would be to determine whether you’re more suited for a buy-side/in-house role or if you would thrive in a sell-side/placement agent environment. While the nature of the work can be similar, the cultures can differ significantly. Finding the right cultural fit is crucial to your success and satisfaction in the role.

7. How has the role of a placement agent and the view of their role in the fundraising ecosystem evolved since you have been in the market?

As fundraising has become increasingly challenging, the demand for fundraising specialists and their expertise has grown significantly. Initially, the core value of a placement agent was primarily focused on making introductions to LPs and handling distribution. However, the role has since evolved to encompass strategic advice and project management, making these elements crucial components of a placement agent’s value proposition.

If you would like to hire into your placement agent team or would like to explore this career move, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.