And who may you be wise sage aka JavaBeans?? Spill some of that smartly brewed coffee unto my brains, would ya as I need it real BAD. hahaha My old boss (back during college when I interned at Smith Barney) started out as a stock broker during the crazy run during the early 80s and today, he's one of the most repected Portfolio Managers there. Forget about gazillion, happened in the last 15-20 years!! Most of the Advisiors and Portfolio Managers in major IBs all started out as brokers and morphed as the market changed. BTW, I think what you're trying to say is a Fund Manager? Is that it? coz a portfolio manager is a position that can be seen at IBs too.