Funding expert popular, welcomed by hobbyist (9)
I believe the answer is:
financier
'hobbyist' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'funding expert popular welcomed' is the wordplay.
'funding expert' becomes 'fancier' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'popular' becomes 'in' ('in' can mean trendy).
'welcomed' indicates putting letters inside (inserted letters are welcomed in).
'fancier' going around 'in' is 'FINANCIER'.
'by' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for financier that I've seen before include "Merchant banker, perhaps" , "Person engaged in large money transactions" , "City man" , "Investor" , "I can infer (anag)" .)