Simply put, an investment bank is a financial institution that helps people and organisations make sound decisions for their money. It offers custom portfolios and advisory solutions for governments, corporate institutions, family based businesses, retail investors, etc.

Investment banks are different from retail or commercial banks. They do not accept funds as deposits. Their sole purpose is to offer investment services to those who either don’t have the time and skill to research investment ideas and even for some who simply don’t want to bother managing their funds on a regular basis.

Investing is also a much disciplined art and one cannot go about it without having enough knowledge of it. Also, it is sometimes difficult for an uninformed investor to make profits without taking adequate risks. That is why, there are several banks offering varying investment services which deal in capital markets, debt funds, derivatives, etc. Investment banks help investors make informed decisions on managing their wealth based upon their earnings and goals.

Investment banks have dedicated portfolio managers, who invest funds in a diversified manner so that it is balanced with equal weightage given to each instrument. This ensures that the customer’s portfolio is balanced and the dip in one sector or instrument does not affect the earnings made on that portfolio.

Investment banking is not limited to investment banks. Commercial and retail banks too have recently started offering investment services but it is the investment banks that are still holding their own. Investment services are based primarily upon the need and risk appetite of the individual investor. There are services which are asset based, structure based, based on capital market & derivatives, and advisory services. A few of these services are for institutions and larger funds while the retail investor mostly looks at capital market based or advisory services.

For the retail investor, the relationship manager of the bank is their one point of contact for all their investment decisions and banking advice. A relationship manager often advises based on the customer’s exact needs and the risk appetite. The kind of portfolios that a relationship manager will advise will also depend upon other important factors such as the time horizon of the investment, the type of instrument they are interested in investing in, etc.  Investing, however, is an art. So, go about it only in an informed manner. And if you desire better and consistent results, professionals are always there to guide you, who research extensively to come up with a suitable plan or investment ideas that suit your needs aptly.