Investment Brokerage Jobs Education and Training

Train for investment brokerage careers

Investment brokerage jobs require many skills, including a knowledge of business and finance, an understanding of the stock market and experience working in investment brokerage companies. Most investment broker jobs require education in finance, business or economics.

Once you earn a degree, you should seek internships and continuing education opportunities to build upon your skills. Begin your path to investment brokerage employment with a plan to obtain education and training on broad financial topics, as well as specific knowledge necessary for brokers. Look for investment brokerage jobs education and training through:

1. College degrees with an emphasis on investments.

2. Internships that provide work experience at broker dealer jobs.

3. Continuing education opportunities offered by professional organizations.

Get a college degree to prepare for investment brokerage firm careers

Many colleges and universities have multiple options for those who want to study topics in investment brokerage. You can choose from one of three major routes to learn the skills you need: business, finance or economics. All of these majors will have some type of training that teaches you how to invest a client's money.
Bentley University offers an undergraduate degree in finance that also offers training in investment topics. The Kelley School of Business at Indiana University offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in finance that focus on trading in real world environments.

Talk to broker recruiters about internship positions

To learn more about being an investment broker, you should get on-the-job training in the form of a paid or unpaid internship. Many schools encourage students to apply for internships and provide lists of companies that offer them. You can also find internship listings through a host of other sources.
The University of Dreams offers many listings for finance and brokerage internships with established companies in the United States and internationally. The international investment group, Calyon, offers internship positions in the United States and in more than 50 countries around the world.

Study to earn your license for careers in investment brokerage

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) requires that brokers pass the General Securities Registered Representative Examination, or Series 7 exam. To qualify for the exam, a broker must work at a brokerage company for at least four months prior to the exam date. Other state licensing may apply to brokers, depending on their location.
FINRA offers many training programs and educational resources to study and pass the Series 7 exam. RegEd offers virtual classes for FINRA exam preparation.

Explore professional organizations for investment brokerage job listings and continuing education

Continuing education is important, especially in a field where the rules are constantly changing. Many professional organizations offer continuing education opportunities for investment brokers to stay advised on the current trends, stay current with their certification, and network with other professionals at conferences and events.
The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors provides many continuing education opportunities, including conferences, a resource library and study groups around the country. The National Investment Banking Association offers educational resources, internship listings and organizes conferences for its members.

Some entry level investment brokerage jobs can also serve as an internship opportunity. Entry level jobs get you the experience you need to work in a brokerage firm, without having to finish school first.