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Stockbroker

investment manager wealth manager
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Career outlook for stockbroker

UK Salary Ranges

Entry-level

£24,000

Experienced

£125,000

Currently employed in Scotland

2,300

Salary information is provided by the "National Careers Service". "Oxford Economics" supplies job forecasts and employment figures. Due to COVID-19 the jobs market is constantly changing. Some of the information may not reflect the current situation.

What's it like?

You would look after investments for people or companies. It would be your job to get the best financial returns by buying and selling stocks, shares and other financial products.

You could offer three types of service:

  • Discretionary – making investment decisions for your clients
  • Advisory – giving clients advice about investments
  • Execution only – buying and selling only if clients ask you to, without giving advice

You may specialise in one type of service or offer all three.

For all types of service, you would:

  • Manage clients' investment portfolios
  • Help clients develop their investment strategy
  • Work closely with investment analysts to research financial markets
  • Answer clients' questions
  • Keep clients informed about their investments and changes in the market
  • Instruct stock market traders to get the best market prices
  • Market your services to new clients

In larger companies, you might specialise in investing in certain markets such as technology or finance, or in specific regions such as the Far East.

Working conditions

Hours

You would work long hours, typically 7am until around 6pm, Monday to Friday. If you work with commodities or Asian markets, your hours may be irregular due to international time differences.

Environment

You would usually work in a large, open plan office, and spend most of your time at the computer and on the telephone.

UK employment status

Full-time

84%

Part-time

6%

Self employed

9%

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  • Cooperating
  • Networking
  • Verbal communication
  • Working with numbers
  • Attention to detail
  • Taking initiative
  • Making decisions
  • Analysing

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Getting in

Entry requirements for courses can change. Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you'll need.

Foundation Apprenticeships

Choosing a Foundation Apprenticeship as one of your subjects in S5 and S6 can help you get a head start with this type of job.

You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification (the same level as a Higher) plus valuable work placement experience and skills you can't learn in a classroom.

Interested? Find out what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.

Qualifications

Most entrants are graduates.

Employers expect an honours degree at 2:1 or above (SCQF level 10). Some employers now look for postgraduate qualifications (SCQF level 11) such as a Master of Business Administration (MBA).

Degrees in accountancy, economics, law or another business-related subject are useful.

Useful subjects

  • English (often required by courses and employers)
  • Maths (often required by courses and employers)
  • Accounting
  • Economics
  • Statistics
  • Business subjects
  • ICT subjects

You will also need

Once in the job you must achieve industry-recognised qualifications and register with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

Helpful to have

Ability in one or more foreign languages.