There are many types of jobs available in the financial world. One of them is an investment representative. With this type of job you have sales opportunities for unlimited income.

Here are some of the required qualification for a Investment representative position

•   4 year college degree is preferred by most employers
•   Excellent oral communication skills are necessary
•   Proven ability to adapt and respond appropriately to changing work demands
•   Strong analytical and decision making abilities
•   Excellent customer relations and strong ability to interface with all customers
•   Certified Financial Planner license a plus
•   Able to take initiative in a fast paced environment
•   Excellent interpersonal and collaboration skills

These are exciting times for investors and for those helping them with their investment decisions. With record numbers of people investing in the stock market, financial analysts and personal financial advisors are busy. They are the money masters who provide investment analysis and guidance to businesses and individuals. Financial analysts research and assess companies’ financial condition and prepare reports recommending investment in a company’s stocks or bonds. Personal financial advisors help people achieve financial goals through management of their financial resources; they offer advice on many types of investments.

Nature of the work Although both financial analysts and personal financial advisors make recommendations, they work with investment information in different ways. For financial analysts working in firms, the focus is on gathering and analyzing information about companies or stock; for personal financial advisors helping individuals, it is on presenting information about investment options. Financial analysts. Financial analysts perform a variety of duties, including studying and reporting on businesses and

Financial analysts and financial advisors gather information, analyze investments, and make investment recommendations. But their job duties differ because of the types of services they provide, such as stock offerings, arranging mergers and acquisitions, evaluating a company’s financial soundness, and making presentations. In conducting research about companies, financial analysts gather annual and other financial reports. They must learn about each company’s history, management, products, markets, financing, past earnings, and future earnings potential.

Analysts also may make site visits to company can sell stocks to the public. Other analysts work on mergers and acquisitions, helping to set up deals in which one company buys another. These deals, too, require financial analysts to write a report about the current and projected value of the company to be purchased. Some financial analysts, called ratings analysts, evaluate companies’ financial soundness. Based on this evaluation, a management team assigns a rating to companies’ financial and corporate bonds. As a result, ratings analysts must be experts on particular stocks and their information and advice must be timely, because other investment professionals depend on the analyses in making investment decisions.

Financial analysts spend a lot of time processing numbers, often using a computer. They may use a computer to help forecast a company’s future earnings, for example, or to analyze balance sheets that compare companies’ earnings with expenses. Computer programs also identify undervalued securities — stocks that may be worth more than their current market value. Many persons designated as financial analysts have additional responsibilities, including budget, cost, and credit analysis.

Financial analysts also may give presentations touting the merits of new companies whose shares are being sold to managers of mutual funds. Some analysts are industry specialists for one or a few industries; those who study a large number of industries are known as generalists. Analysts also may specialize in a type of investment, such as bonds, foreign currency trading, or portfolio management. The size or character of the firm at which they work usually determines whether analysts are specialists or generalists.

Personal financial advisors provide individualized investment guidance based on clients’ financial needs and resources. vestment strategies involving securities, insurance, pension plans, and real estate. Their advice depends on each client’s financial needs and resources. An advisor’s work with clients begins with a consultation. At this meeting, the advisor helps clients to analyze their finances and financial goals. After gathering this and other financial information, the advisor helps clients select investments based on their goals, including expectations or needs for a return on the investment. For example, individuals investing for retirement would consider tax-sheltered, long-term investments, while those with short-term goals, such as having money available for a wedding or for a down payment on a home. . . would be interested in a more conservative approach to provide returns for several years.

Finding clients and building a customer base is one of the most important parts of a financial advisor’s job. Many advisors contact potential clients by giving seminars or lectures or meeting clients through business and social contacts. Periodically, financial advisors must meet with established clients to evaluate their investment strategy and performance, taking into account changing economic conditions, family income, and financial needs.

Sometimes, financial advisors develop a comprehensive financial plan for individuals. Most of these plans involve several steps. First, the advisor interviews a client and obtains a statement of the client’s assets and liabilities (property and debts). The advisor then reviews the client’s financial information, identifying problems and developing recommendations for improvement. After discussing options with the client, the advisor suggests a plan suited to the client’s resources, financial objectives, and attitudes toward investment risk.

Finally, the advisor presents the plan to the client, collaborates with him or her to ensure that it meets his or her goals, and makes revisions, if necessary. In addition to developing comprehensive plans, financial planners offer advice on financial questions or concerns. Among these are the financial consequences of changing careers or receiving an employee benefits package, an early retirement package, or a lump-sum payment from a pension plan.

Advisors also may buy and sell financial products, such as mutual funds and insurance, or refer clients to other companies for products and services such as preparation of taxes or wills. Personal financial advisors often have other titles, such as financial planner and financial consultant. Some choose to specialize in one area, such as asset management, retirement, or risk management. In most small or self-owned firms, advisors are usually generalists who offer investment advice on a wide range of financial products and services.

Employment of financial analysts and investment representatives is expected to grow rapidly. Investment funds should grow along with the economy, personal incomes, savings for retirement plans, and inherited wealth. Large numbers of “baby boomers,” people born from 1946 to 1964, will fuel investment during their peak savings years and with retirement related investments. In addition, people are living longer and must plan to finance more years of retirement. As these factors increase demand for investments, demand for the services of financial analysts and personal financial advisors will grow as well.

Most financial advisors receive commissions on the sale of insurance products or securities, in addition to assessing a fee charged by the hour or by the complexity of the plan. Earnings for some financial advisors are completely fee-based. Good earnings and opportunity for advancement are not the only things that attract people to these occupations. Financial analysts and personal financial advisors usually work indoors in safe and comfortable environments. People are also drawn to become financial analysts and advisors because they enjoy the challenges of the work and the satisfaction of helping firms or people make financial decisions. They also like interacting with other people.

People are drawn to financial representative occupations because they enjoy helping firms or people make financial decisions.

However, there are some disadvantages to working in these occupations. The investment field is competitive and high-pressured. No fees or commissions earned often means no money earned for personal living expenses, and errors of judgment about investment options can result in huge losses—in investment, earnings, or even a job. Long, irregular hours, sometimes including weekends, are common. For example, financial advisors work irregular hours visiting clients; teaching classes, traveling away from home, or giving seminars in the evenings; and socializing on weekends to meet clients.

Qualifications, training, and certification Financial analysts and personal financial advisors have some skills in common but have different educational requirements. Both may have professional certification, although it is not required. Qualifications. The job duties involved in both financial analysis and advising require mathematical, problem solving, computer, and analytical skills. Financial analysts and advisors must also have excellent communication skills to present complex financial concepts and strategies in easy-to-understand language, both orally and in writing. Self-confidence, maturity, and the ability to work well with the public.

Good communication and interpersonal skills are essential for financial analysts, advisors and representatives.

Financial analysts need in-depth knowledge of accounting principles and financial analysis because their work is highly technical. They also must have a broad perspective of financial and business markets and knowledge of investment analysis, financial modeling, and company and industry trends, along with market judgment and a sense of market timing. Analysts should be detail and customer-oriented.

For financial advisors, many employers consider interpersonal skills and sales ability more important than academic training. Employers seek applicants who have good interpersonal and communications skills and a strong desire to succeed; considerable sales experience often is preferred. One of an advisor’s most valuable skills is the ability to ask good questions and listen to the answers. Self-confidence and an ability to handle client rejection are also important. Training. College-level knowledge is important to both financial analysts and personal financial advisors, but financial analysts have stricter educational requirements.

Most companies require financial analysts to have at least a bachelor’s degree in business administration, accounting, statistics, or finance. Coursework in statistics, economics, and business is required, and knowledge of accounting policies and procedures, corporate budgeting, and financial analysis methods is recommended. A master of business administration degree is desirable. Advanced courses in options pricing or bond valuation and knowledge of risk management are also suggested. Personal financial advisors have no formal educational requirements. But because financial advisors must understand economic theory, conditions, and trends, college is recommended. Suggested majors include business administration with a concentration in financial planning or liberal arts, with courses such as accounting, economics, marketing, and human behavior. Financial analysts and advisors can find these courses and programs in colleges and universities nationwide. Students may also receive training in financial planning through independent study programs.

Certification and licensure . . . There are no certification or licensure requirements for either financial analysts or personal financial advisors. However, professional designation is encouraged. Financial analysts who successfully complete a series of three examinations receive the title of Chartered Financial Analyst. The essay exams, administered by the Association for Investment Management and Research, cover subjects such as accounting, economics, and securities. Applicants may take only one exam each year, in sequence, so the program takes a minimum of 3 years to complete. Personal financial advisors may pursue a Certified Financial Planner or Chartered Financial Consultant designation. The certified planner designation requires relevant experience, completion of education requirements, passage of an examination, and adherence to a code of ethics. The chartered consultant designation requires experience and completion of a 10-course study program. Both require continuing education. And although use of

There are no certification or licensure requirements for either financial analysts or personal financial advisors. However, professional designation is encouraged.

Financial advisors and investment representatives may need licenses for some services — such as providing legal advice or selling stocks and bonds, insurance, or real estate.

Related occupations Financial analysts must thoroughly analyze one or more areas of finance. Other occupations requiring that skill include budget analyst, credit analyst, financial manager, loan officer, portfolio manager, and pension consultant. In addition to personal financial advisor, occupations that provide financial advice to individuals include accountant, insurance sales agent, lawyer, loan counselor, and securities, commodities, and financial services sales representative.

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