Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents
Also called Broker, Equity Trader, Financial Advisor, or Financial Consultant
What Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents do
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents buy and sell securities or commodities in investment and trading firms, or provide financial services to businesses and individuals. May advise customers about stocks, bonds, mutual funds, commodities, and market conditions.
Who tends to enjoy it
Leading
People who like persuading, selling, starting things, and taking charge.
Organizing
People who like keeping things accurate, orderly, and running on schedule.
Helping
People who like teaching, caring for, and working closely with people.
What you'd actually do
- Make bids or offers to buy or sell securities.
- Monitor markets or positions.
- Agree on buying or selling prices at optimal levels for clients.
- Keep accurate records of transactions.
- Buy or sell stocks, bonds, commodity futures, foreign currencies, or other securities on behalf of investment dealers.
- Complete sales order tickets and submit for processing of client-requested transactions.
- Report all positions or trading results.
- Interview clients to determine clients' assets, liabilities, cash flow, insurance coverage, tax status, or financial objectives.
A typical day involves
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
What you'll need to know
- Customer and Personal Service
- Economics and Accounting
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Sales and Marketing
Where to study for this
College programs that commonly lead to this career, and how many US colleges offer each.
- Financial Planning and Services 118 colleges
- Investments and Securities 32 colleges
- Business and Personal / Financial Services Marketing Operations 11 colleges
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA), occupation 41-3031.00, used under CC BY 4.0 and modified by Whittle. Program links: NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. How we build these pages.