Investment Analyst

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Work Tasks

• Advise clients how to invest their money, what to buy, and when to buy and sell
• Make predictions about business, industry, and economic conditions to decide where to invest money
• Look at company financial reports, economic data, and financial magazines and newspapers
• Summarize information using charts and graphs
• Work in offices for banks, financial institutions, insurance companies, the government, colleges, and investment companies
• Work with daily financial reports, charts, graphs, calculators, computers, and current economic and social trends

Salary, Size & Growth

• $85,000 average per year ($40.75 per hour)
• A large occupation (220,800 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow rapidly (2.0% per year)

Education/Training

• Minimum for Entry: A 4-year degree in finance, business administration, accounting, statistics, or a related field
• Employers Prefer: A master's degree in business administration
• Skills/Courses: College courses include accounting, budgeting, financial analysis methods, options pricing, bond valuation, risk management, taxes, estate planning, law, economics, and office software.
• Certification/Licensing: Certification is available after training and passing tests.