Financial Dealer and Broker
Financial dealers and brokers, also sometimes known as investment advisors, conduct financial market transactions on behalf of clients and offer advice on financial matters.
Financial dealers and brokers obtain and use information on securities, market conditions, government regulations and the financial circumstances of clients. They deal in the marketplace on behalf of clients and provide financial advice. They record and transmit 'buy' and 'sell' orders and calculate and record the cost of transactions. They develop lists of appropriate investments for clients and carefully plan buying and selling activities.
Areas of specialization include:
Commodities traders bring together buyers and sellers of commodities to negotiate private sales and arrange sales through established marketplaces. With experience and perhaps further training, financial dealers and brokers may progress to become merchant bankers.
Financial market dealers buy and sell securities within financial markets, and trade and distribute financial securities on behalf of financial institutions.
Financial planners provide financial advice to clients covering all areas of finance, including issues such as taxation, retirement, redundancy, super annuation, insurance and estate planning.
Merchant bankers offer financial products and services, handle large financial transactions and operate as intermediaries in the professional and commercial sectors of the finance industry. They are also involved in the money market, in corporate lending activities and in investment banking.
Stockbrokers buy and sell stocks and bonds on behalf of clients.
People in this occupation have a legal obligation to provide sound advice, and consequently the job has considerable responsibility attached to it. Once experience has been gained, opportunities for advancement are generally very good.
Satisfying Aspects
- excitement on the stock exchange floor
- jubilation when investment stocks rise
- helping people to grow their investment
Demanding aspects
- tress and pressure of making the right decisions about investments
- gloom when stocks fall
- the heavy responsibility of giving sound financial advice to people
Requirements
- good communication skills
- able to make accurate calculations quickly
- aptitude for using computers
- able to work independently
-- able to work under pressure
- aptitude for research
- some ability in mathematics
- analytical skills
- interest in the financial market
School Subjects
National Senior Certificate meeting degree requirements for a degree course
National Senior Certificate meeting diploma requirements for a diploma course
Each institution will have its own minimum entry requirements.
Compulsory Subjects: Mathematics, Accountancy
Recommended Subjects: Business Sciences, Economics
Training
Degree: Financial Management or Accounting - UCT, UP, UWC, NMMU, RU, US, UNISA, UJ, NWU, UFH, UZ, UNISA, Wits, Monash.
Diploma: Accounting - UNISA, DUT, CPUT, TUT, CUT, VUT. Financial Accounting - DUT.
To become a financial dealer and broker usually requires the completion of a degree such as commerce, accounting, finance, economics or actuarial studies. Entry to this occupation may be improved if you have a combined degree, eg. with law. Such degrees are available at most universities.
Postgraduate qualifications are usually required to become fully qualified as a financial dealer and broker.
Employer
Entry to this career is competitive. Firms usually recruit applicants who can demonstrate a strong academic background. It takes some time to gain the experience required for advancement, and many firms demand specialized qualifications or relevant experience.
- stockbroking firms
- financial planning organizations
- banks and building societies
- accounting and law practices
- organizations within the finance and investment sector
- self-employment, as a financial consultant or stockbroker
Contact
Universities, universities of technology and other training institutions can also supply information regarding courses that can be followed.
Stockbroking firms can also be contacted.
The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA)
P O Box 331
Wits, 2050
Tel: (011) 403-2900 Fax: (011) 403-1522
The Secretary
SA Institute of Management
P O Box 31828
Braamfontein, 2017
Tel. (011) 836-5301 Fax: 0866 517 963
www.saim.co.za
www.icsa.co.za