MSA Sr Research Analyst

Northwestern Mutual•Milwaukee, WI

6d•$108,160 - $162,240

About The Position

Mason Street Advisors, LLC (MSA), a wholly owned subsidiary of The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company and an SEC-registered investment adviser, manages approximately $42.3 billion of client assets as of June 30, 2026. MSA-advised mutual funds are underlying investment options in certain Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company programs and Northwestern Mutual variable products. The Sr Research Analyst conducts initial and ongoing research on third-party asset managers, evaluating their teams, investment processes, parent companies, performance, risk and factor attribution, style consistency, and adherence to stated processes. The role may involve on-site manager visits and industry conferences, and includes recommending manager additions, removals, and replacements. The analyst supports the Active/Passive fund suite, which has $2.6 billion in assets under management, and contributes to asset allocation strategy, strategic and tactical positioning, and fund selection. The role also assists with trading and cash management, commercial paper credit analysis, derivatives oversight, risk monitoring, and oversight of sub-adviser trading and brokerage practices. It participates in relevant committees and supports pricing policy and fair value pricing practices. The position produces investment research reports, manager write-ups, portfolio attribution summaries, and market and economic commentary for mutual fund boards. It also contributes to materials and presentations for MSA’s Investment Committee and Board of Directors, collaborates across departments, and builds working relationships with MSA and Northwestern Mutual leaders, customers, and service providers.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
Broad knowledge of markets, investments, economics, accounting, and financial tools.
Strong working knowledge of current trends within the investment industry.
Background researching or recommending mutual funds, ETFs, or SMAs for use within a portfolio.
Ability to communicate effectively at all levels of the organization, including writing reports, memos, and communications and giving presentations to audiences of varying sizes.

Nice To Haves

10 years of relevant investment-industry work experience, including investment research and/or evaluating investments or investment products as part of a portfolio.
MBA degree and/or CFA designation.
Experience giving presentations in large and small group settings.
Familiarity with Bloomberg, Morningstar Direct, eVestment, Excel, or similar financial tools.

Responsibilities

Conduct initial due diligence on third-party asset managers using MSA’s investment research process, including qualitative reviews and quantitative analysis.
Assess manager teams, investment processes, parent companies, performance characteristics, risk and factor attribution, style consistency, and adherence to stated investment processes.
Conduct ongoing monitoring of external investment managers and recommend additions, removals, and replacement managers as appropriate.
Assist in managing the Active/Passive fund suite and contribute to asset allocation strategy, strategic and tactical positioning, and fund selection parameters and processes.
Assist with trading functions, including cash management for the Active/Passive fund suite and MSA’s operating account.
Develop and maintain relationships with securities dealers and act as a liaison with industry and regulatory organizations on trading matters.
Perform credit analysis on commercial paper issuers.
Participate in oversight of sub-advisers’ trading and brokerage practices.
Assist with derivatives oversight and reporting, including setting risk limits, reviewing sub-adviser risk management processes, and monitoring portfolio derivatives exposures.
Help oversee and monitor market, counterparty, liquidity, leverage, valuation, operational, and regulatory risks related to derivatives use, as well as regulatory matters and prospectus/SAI disclosures.
Serve on MSA committees on a rotating basis, including the Brokerage and Trading Committee, Proxy Voting and Corporate Actions Committee, Derivatives Oversight Group, and Pricing Committee.
Prepare mutual fund board-facing investment research commentary, written research reports, manager write-ups, portfolio attribution summaries, and market and economic commentary.
Assist in preparing and presenting materials for MSA’s Investment Committee and Board of Directors.
Build positive working relationships with leaders within MSA and Northwestern Mutual and understand internal and external customers and service providers.
Use sound judgment to research and resolve complex issues, provide professional verbal and written responses, handle negative situations, offer workable alternatives, and facilitate resolutions.
Collaborate frequently with other departments.