As a Research Analyst at Marquette Associates, your daily activities will bridge the gap between asset managers and institutional clients. Your primary responsibility is to execute comprehensive qualitative and quantitative due diligence on investment managers. This involves reviewing offering memorandums, performance histories, regulatory filings, and conducting regular in-person or virtual meetings with senior investment professionals at private or public market firms.

Once due diligence is complete, you will transition into a content creator and advisor. You will draft detailed investment manager reports, document your meeting findings for the firm's internal database, and formulate clear, well-supported investment recommendations. These recommendations are presented directly to the Alternative Investment Manager Committee and to Marquette Associates consultants who rely on your expertise to advise clients.

Additionally, you will drive original capital markets research. This includes monitoring market trends, analyzing macroeconomic indicators, and authoring white papers, newsletters, and educational materials. You will also participate in client-facing presentations, helping to educate boards and trustees on asset class dynamics, and represent the firm at industry conferences to maintain a strong market presence.

To be competitive for the Research Analyst position, candidates must present a strong blend of academic achievement, relevant industry experience, and highly developed professional skills.

• Must-have credentials & experience:

  • A Bachelor's degree in finance, economics, or a closely related quantitative field.
  • A minimum of 5–10 years of direct investment-related experience, specifically focused on manager due diligence and fund evaluation (experience in institutional consulting or investment management is highly preferred).
  • Demonstrated expertise in the private credit or public equities manager universe.
  • Exceptional proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint for advanced modeling and presentation building.

• Nice-to-have credentials & experience:

  • Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designation, or an MBA.
  • Prior experience mentoring or training junior research staff members (highly valued for Senior-level roles).
  • Familiarity with institutional investment database tools and research software.

Q: What is the typical work-life balance and office policy for this role? A: Marquette Associates offers a modern hybrid work policy, allowing employees to balance remote work with collaborative in-office days at their downtown Chicago office. The firm also offers "summer hours" to support work-life balance. However, as an institutional consulting firm, workloads can be demanding around quarterly reporting cycles and committee meetings.

Q: How technical is the interview process for the Research Analyst position? A: The technical evaluation is highly practical. Rather than abstract brainteasers, you will face questions focused on real-world due diligence scenarios, manager evaluation methodologies, fee structures, and market dynamics. Be prepared to explain how you analyze a fund's portfolio and risk metrics.

Q: What differentiates a successful candidate in this role? A: The most successful analysts are self-starters who combine deep intellectual curiosity with absolute reliability. Because you will manage your own research pipelines and manager meeting schedules, the ability to work independently, maintain impeccable attention to detail, and meet tight deadlines is what sets top performers apart.

Q: How does the firm support professional development? A: Marquette Associates is highly supportive of continuous learning. The firm offers tuition and education reimbursement programs, actively encouraging and supporting analysts pursuing professional designations such as the CFA or CAIA, which are highly respected within the organization.

• Highlight Your Multitasking Systems: During your interviews, do not just say you are good at multitasking; explain the exact tools and frameworks you use to organize your day, track manager outreach, and manage deadlines.
• Understand the Fiduciary Model: Frame your answers around the client's best interest. Marquette Associates is independent and client-aligned. Showing that you analyze funds through a fiduciary lens—focusing on fee fairness, risk mitigation, and client goals—will resonate strongly with your interviewers.
• Be Prepared to Discuss Current Market Trends: Read the firm's recent public research and newsletters if available. Be ready to share an informed perspective on current market challenges, such as how inflation or interest rate hikes are impacting private credit yields or equity valuations.

• Prepare Specific Manager Due Diligence Examples: Be ready to walk through a complete due diligence cycle you personally executed in a previous role. Detail what you analyzed, what questions you asked the GP, what risks you identified, and what the final investment recommendation was.

The Research Analyst position at Marquette Associates is an exceptional opportunity for an analytical, driven investment professional to make a tangible impact within a premier institutional consulting firm. Operating at the intersection of manager research, capital markets analysis, and client service, this role allows you to build deep expertise in sophisticated asset classes while directly influencing the portfolios of major institutional investors.

To maximize your chances of success, focus your preparation on demonstrating a rigorous approach to manager due diligence, a strong grasp of macroeconomic factors, and a proven ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously. Approach your interviews with the confidence of an independent thinker and the humility of a client-first fiduciary.

The salary data above represents the target base compensation for research roles at Marquette Associates. In addition to base pay, these positions are highly competitive, offering participation in the annual incentive plan with target bonuses ranging from 15% to 18% of base salary, alongside a robust suite of healthcare, retirement, and educational benefits.

If you are ready to take the next step in your career, thoroughly review your past due diligence work, refine your market theses, and prepare to showcase your exceptional work ethic. For more company-specific interview insights, practice questions, and preparation resources, explore the additional materials available on Dataford to ensure you enter your interviews fully prepared to succeed.