Discretionary Investment Management is a form of professional investment management that invests on behalf of their clients through a variety of securities. The term "discretionary" refers to the fact that investment decisions are made at the investment manager's judgement. The major aim of the services offered is to outperform benchmarks listed in the mandate; this is called providing alpha.
The services provided are usually tailored for institutional business, pension funds and high-net worth individuals. The investment management company has a continuing responsibility to ensure that an investment portfolio is suitable for the client's attitude to risk and investment objectives.