What role does a portfolio manager play?

A portfolio manager primarily focuses on making investment decisions for clients, which involves selecting and managing a range of investments to achieve specific financial objectives. This role includes analyzing market trends, assessing potential investment opportunities, and measuring performance against benchmarks.

The responsibilities of a portfolio manager extend to balancing risk and return tailored to the client’s investment goals and risk tolerance. They may also communicate with clients about their investment strategies and performance, ensuring that clients are informed about their portfolios.

The other options listed reflect tasks typically associated with different financial roles but do not encompass the comprehensive function of a portfolio manager. For example, calculating a company's net worth falls under financial analysis or accounting, auditing financial statements is the job of auditors or accountants, and providing tax consulting is a specialization that involves tax advisors rather than investment management. Thus, making investment decisions for clients is the core duty that distinctly defines a portfolio manager's role.