Example Career: Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents

Career Description

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.

What Job Titles Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents Might Have

• Broker
• Equity Trader
• Financial Advisor
• Financial Consultant

What Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents 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.
• Discuss financial options with clients and keep them informed about transactions.
• Identify opportunities or develop channels for purchase or sale of securities or commodities.
• Develop financial plans, based on analysis of clients' financial status.
• Review all securities transactions to ensure accuracy of information and conformance to governing agency regulations.
• Devise trading, option, or hedge strategies.
• Determine customers' financial services needs and prepare proposals to sell services that address these needs.
• Track and analyze factors that affect price movement, such as trade policies, weather conditions, political developments, or supply and demand changes.
• Inform other traders, managers, or customers of market conditions, including volume, price, competition, or dynamics.
• Offer advice on the purchase or sale of particular securities.
• Contact prospective customers to present information and explain available services.
• Explain stock market terms or trading practices to clients.
• Calculate costs for billings or commissions.
• Prepare financial reports to monitor client or corporate finances.
• Supply the latest price quotes on any security, as well as information on the activities or financial positions of the corporations issuing these securities.
• Supervise support staff and ensure proper execution of contracts.
• Relay buy or sell orders to securities exchanges or to firm trading departments.
• Evaluate costs and revenue of agreements to determine continued profitability.
• Sell services or equipment, such as trusts, investments, or check processing services.
• Negotiate prices or contracts for securities or commodities sales or purchases.
• Prepare and send requests for price quotations to all companies in a particular market.
• Price securities or commodities based on market conditions.
• Purchase or sell financial derivatives for customers.

What Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents Should Be Good At

• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
• Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
• Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
• Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
• Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

What Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents Should Be Interested In

• Enterprising - Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
• Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

What Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents Need to Learn

• Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Economics and Accounting - Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
• Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
• Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
• Clerical - Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
• Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.