Looking for a career as a Stockbroker, Financial Advisor, or Broker? Find required Bachelor's degrees in economics, finance, business or accounting
A stockbroker, financial consultant, financial advisor, securities broker, securities sales agent, assists clients with investment management.
Stock brokers typically need at least a bachelor's degree in economics, finance, business, accounting or a related field, and on-the-job training is usually provided by employers. A stockbroker is a regulated professional individual, usually associated with a brokerage firm or broker-dealer, who buys and sells stocks and other securities for both retail and institutional clients, through a stock exchange or over the counter, in return for a fee or commission. Stockbrokers are known by numerous professional designations, depending on the license they hold, the type of securities they sell, or the services they provide. In the United States, a stockbroker must pass both the Series 7 and either the Series 63 or the Series 66 exams in order to be properly licensed.
A stockbroker, financial consultant, financial advisor, securities broker, securities sales agent, assists clients with investment management. These degrees can teach students vital skills, such as basic economic principles, financial planning, accounting methods, risk management, securities and commodities, and international finance. Finance-focused degrees are especially helpful because many stock brokers today are now called financial consultants. In addition to trading on the stock market, they help their clients with financial planning. You also may offer investment advice and suggest specific investment moves. When you're not working on a case, you might manage a portfolio for a client or go searching for additional investors.
Employers prefer to hire stock brokers with 1 - 3 years of brokerage experience. Employers that offer online brokerage services may require one or more years of online brokerage experience. Internships are an ideal way for beginning brokers to gain experience and build their knowledge of the industry. Stock brokers with limited experience can find entry-level positions that provide on-the-job training programs. Stock brokers should have experience in investment management, financial planning, securities sales and customer service.
According to a 2012 report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there are almost 354,600 stock brokers in the United States. As individual retirement accounts (IRAs) and 401Ks continue to replace traditional pension plans, people call on stock brokers for guidance. By 2016, the BLS predicts an increase in stock broker jobs by 11 percent. But even with this demand, competition is tough, and there are usually more applicants than jobs.
In terms of stock broker salary, a commission from transaction fees and a percentage of client profits can be earned, but most firms also provide brokers with a steady income by paying a minimum salary against this commission.