How to Become an Investment Consultant
While it is common for an investment consultant to be thought of as someone who plans personal finance strategies or serves as a money manager, it is actually a position with a more supervisory role. You can become an investment consultant through college training, professional accreditation and acquisition of practical experience.
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Things You'll Need
- Bachelor's degree in business, finance and economics
- Investment certification
Instructions
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Get the Education
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1
Earn your bachelor's degree, preferably in finance, business or economics. Learn as much as you can about personal and corporate investing, and supplement your education by following the investment markets in your spare time. Pay particular attention to mutual funds and personal investing.
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2
Choose a specific professional investment field that you want to practice at the entry level. To become an investment consultant, you'll have to work your way up. Since the position entails selecting and supervising both money managers and financial planners, it's best to gain experience working as one or the other.
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3
Find a professional organization that is qualified to bestow certification on you upon satisfactory completion of a course of study. There are many out there, and the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards can help you find further information (see Resources below).
Earn an Investment Consultant Position
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4
Work at a bank. Start as a teller while you're in college, if you must. The work experience you'll gain will show that you've been committed to this career path for a long time. It will look good to both future employers, as well as institutions reviewing your application for admission to a certification program.
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Accept a junior position in the money manager or financial planner field when you have completed your certification process. You can typically find these through brokerage firms, investment firms and at banks.
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Gain several years of practical experience. Build a client base and be able to demonstrate your professional success.
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Become an investment consultant by attaining a position choosing and supervising money managers at an advisory firm or at an independent brokerage. This job comes with significant responsibility, and you'll have to prove your worth by demonstrating an ongoing commitment to professional excellence.
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Tips & Warnings
Always adhere to the code of standards associated with your professional certification, or you'll risk losing your credentials.
