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Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents

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.
  • Summary

  • Details

  • Work Activities

    • Review all securities transactions to ensure accuracy of information and conformance to governing agency regulations.
    • Complete sales order tickets and submit for processing of client-requested transactions.
    • Explain stock market terms or trading practices to clients.
    • Interview clients to determine clients' assets, liabilities, cash flow, insurance coverage, tax status, or financial objectives.
    • Buy or sell stocks, bonds, commodity futures, foreign currencies, or other securities on behalf of investment dealers.
    • Monitor markets or positions.
    • 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.
    • Identify opportunities or develop channels for purchase or sale of securities or commodities.
    • Contact prospective customers to present information and explain available services.
    • Report all positions or trading results.
    • Sell services or equipment, such as trusts, investments, or check processing services.
    • Keep accurate records of transactions.
    • Evaluate costs and revenue of agreements to determine continued profitability.
    • Make bids or offers to buy or sell securities.
    • Offer advice on the purchase or sale of particular securities.
    • Complete sales order tickets and submit for processing of client-requested transactions.
    • Develop financial plans, based on analysis of clients' financial status.
    • Discuss financial options with clients and keep them informed about transactions.
    • 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.
    • Supervise support staff and ensure proper execution of contracts.
    • Agree on buying or selling prices at optimal levels for clients.
    • Devise trading, option, or hedge strategies.
    • Contact prospective customers to present information and explain available services.
    • Identify opportunities or develop channels for purchase or sale of securities or commodities.
    • Determine customers' financial services needs and prepare proposals to sell services that address these needs.
    • Supply the latest price quotes on any security, as well as information on the activities or financial positions of the corporations issuing these securities.
    • Track and analyze factors that affect price movement, such as trade policies, weather conditions, political developments, or supply and demand changes.
    • Determine customers' financial services needs and prepare proposals to sell services that address these needs.
    • Calculate costs for billings or commissions.
    • Relay buy or sell orders to securities exchanges or to firm trading departments.
    • Prepare financial reports to monitor client or corporate finances.

    Skills

    • Operation and Control
      • Using equipment or systems.
    • Mathematics
      • Using math to solve problems.
    • Science
      • Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
    • Reading Comprehension
      • Reading work-related information.
    • Installation
      • Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
    • Judgment and Decision Making
      • Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
    • Monitoring
      • Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
    • Instructing
      • Teaching people how to do something.
    • Systems Evaluation
      • Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
    • Active Listening
      • Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
    • Systems Analysis
      • Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
    • Management of Material Resources
      • Managing equipment and materials.
    • Operations Monitoring
      • Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
    • Equipment Maintenance
      • Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
    • Management of Financial Resources
      • Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.
    • Coordination
      • Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
    • Learning Strategies
      • Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
    • Technology Design
      • Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
    • Equipment Selection
      • Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.
    • Time Management
      • Managing your time and the time of other people.
    • Management of Personnel Resources
      • Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
    • Critical Thinking
      • Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
    • Negotiation
      • Bringing people together to solve differences.
    • Quality Control Analysis
      • Testing how well a product or service works.
    • Persuasion
      • Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
    • Complex Problem Solving
      • Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
    • Operations Analysis
      • Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
    • Service Orientation
      • Looking for ways to help people.
    • Writing
      • Writing things for co-workers or customers.
    • Speaking
      • Talking to others.
    • Troubleshooting
      • Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
    • Repairing
      • Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
    • Programming
      • Writing computer programs.
    • Social Perceptiveness
      • Understanding people's reactions.
    • Active Learning
      • Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.

    Abilities

    • Fluency of Ideas
      • Coming up with lots of ideas.
    • Number Facility
      • Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
    • Time Sharing
      • Doing two or more things at the same time.
    • Inductive Reasoning
      • Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
    • Explosive Strength
      • Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.
    • Mathematical Reasoning
      • Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
    • Memorization
      • Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
    • Response Orientation
      • Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.
    • Written Comprehension
      • Reading and understanding what is written.
    • Spatial Orientation
      • Knowing where things are around you.
    • Gross Body Coordination
      • Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.
    • Night Vision
      • Seeing at night or under low light.
    • Speech Recognition
      • Recognizing spoken words.
    • Sound Localization
      • Noticing the direction that a sound came from.
    • Trunk Strength
      • Using your lower back and stomach.
    • Written Expression
      • Communicating by writing.
    • Selective Attention
      • Paying attention to something without being distracted.
    • Perceptual Speed
      • Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
    • Control Precision
      • Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
    • Deductive Reasoning
      • Using rules to solve problems.
    • Peripheral Vision
      • Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.
    • Speech Clarity
      • Speaking clearly.
    • Gross Body Equilibrium
      • Keeping your balance or staying upright.
    • Glare Sensitivity
      • Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.
    • Speed of Limb Movement
      • Quickly moving your arms and legs.
    • Static Strength
      • Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.
    • Dynamic Strength
      • Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
    • Oral Expression
      • Communicating by speaking.
    • Visualization
      • Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
    • Information Ordering
      • Ordering or arranging things.
    • Multilimb Coordination
      • Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.
    • Near Vision
      • Seeing details up close.
    • Visual Color Discrimination
      • Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
    • Far Vision
      • Seeing details that are far away.
    • Stamina
      • Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.
    • Flexibility of Closure
      • Seeing hidden patterns.
    • Finger Dexterity
      • Putting together small parts with your fingers.
    • Depth Perception
      • Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
    • Rate Control
      • Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
    • Reaction Time
      • Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.
    • Originality
      • Creating new and original ideas.
    • Arm-Hand Steadiness
      • Keeping your arm or hand steady.
    • Wrist-Finger Speed
      • Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.
    • Oral Comprehension
      • Listening and understanding what people say.
    • Category Flexibility
      • Grouping things in different ways.
    • Problem Sensitivity
      • Noticing when problems happen.
    • Speed of Closure
      • Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
    • Manual Dexterity
      • Holding or moving items with your hands.
    • Dynamic Flexibility
      • Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
    • Hearing Sensitivity
      • Telling the difference between sounds.
    • Auditory Attention
      • Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
    • Extent Flexibility
      • Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.

    Knowledge

    • Philosophy and Theology
      • Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
    • Foreign Language
      • Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
    • Personnel and Human Resources
      • Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
    • Computers and Electronics
      • Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
    • Communications and Media
      • Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
    • Production and Processing
      • Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
    • Sociology and Anthropology
      • Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
    • Medicine and Dentistry
      • Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
    • Psychology
      • Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
    • Building and Construction
      • Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
    • Chemistry
      • Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
    • Fine Arts
      • Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
    • Public Safety and Security
      • Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
    • Engineering and Technology
      • Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
    • Design
      • Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
    • Economics and Accounting
      • Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
    • Therapy and Counseling
      • Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
    • Geography
      • Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
    • Mechanical
      • Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
    • Food Production
      • Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
    • Law and Government
      • Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
    • Mathematics
      • Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
    • 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.
    • Telecommunications
      • Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
    • Transportation
      • Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
    • Physics
      • Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
    • 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.
    • History and Archeology
      • Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
    • Biology
      • Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
    • Education and Training
      • Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
    • English Language
      • Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
    • 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.
    • Administrative
      • Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.

    Education

    Education
    Bachelor's degree
    Work Experience
    No work experience
    Training
    1 to 12 months on-the-job training

    Pay

    Washington Annual Salary
    77900/yr
    Washington Hourly Wage
    37.45/hr

    Washington Employment Trends

    Currently Employed
    9,360
    Yearly Projected Openings
    800

    Personality

    Enterprising: People interested in this work like activities that include leading, making decisions, and business. They do well at jobs that need:
    • Integrity
    • Dependability
    • Stress Tolerance
    • Attention to Detail
    • Initiative
    • Persistence

    Tools

    • Desktop calculator
    • Desktop computers
    • Laser fax machine
    • Notebook computers
    • Personal computers
    • Photocopiers
    • Scanners
    • Special purpose telephones
    • Tablet computers
    • Wearable computing devices

    Technology

    • Accounting software
    • Analytical or scientific software
    • Business intelligence and data analysis software
    • Calendar and scheduling software
    • Compliance software
    • Customer relationship management CRM software
    • Data base user interface and query software
    • Desktop communications software
    • Development environment software
    • Document management software
    • Electronic mail software
    • Enterprise resource planning ERP software
    • Financial analysis software
    • Graphics or photo imaging software
    • Internet browser software
    • Object or component oriented development software
    • Office suite software
    • Operating system software
    • Presentation software
    • Project management software
    • Spreadsheet software
    • Transaction server software
    • Web page creation and editing software
    • Word processing software