Widely known and well-studied, financial research is the process of assessing the viability, stability, and profitability of a business, sub-business, or project.
By aligning oneself with successful financial researching, you grant yourself the ability to gain a comprehensive understanding of financial analysis and valuation. In numerous industries around the world, executives and other professionals can better assess the financial activities of investments and other business implications and make decisions that create greater value.
There are numerous types of financial research options available to the public today, including financial statement analysis, accounting analysis, or analysis of finance. This type of process has become extremely important to a well-run company in the essence that it provides a clear-cut comprehensive manner of gaining and maintaining a strong hold over the financial affairs of a business and everything involved.
The main benefits of choosing to perform a Financial Analysis include:
- A better thriving business.
- Identifying Financial Business Strengths.
- It can highlight and create opportunity with financial weaknesses.
- Provide professional clarity into a business, and the future is moving forward.
Because of the sheer importance of sound financial research, it has also led to a major career path with numerous subsections and choices one can decide to go into.
Research Career Options Within the Financial Industry
As this industry has become more popular and has grown with the times more and more positions and career choice, have started to appear on the scene often coming with large benefits both for the clients that turn to these professionals and the analysts themselves.
Because of the high levels of accuracy and dedication required, there are usually large professional benefits included. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 10.9 percent employment growth for financial analysts between the years 2016 to 2026.
Some of these research careers include:
Stockbrokers
A stockbroker career entails responsibilities involved in the management of financial portfolios of any clients being assisted; this includes an individual or a company. The main decisions made in this sector are usually based on advice given by investment analysts. (stockbrokers) who help their clients decide which shares to buy or sell to get them the best return on their money.
Although there are no set qualifications required to become a stockbroker, most employers will expect him/her to have a degree or, even better, a postgraduate qualification such as an MSc or MBA.
Investment Banking Analyst
Investment analysts provide stockbrokers, fund managers, and stock market traders with financial information, advice, and recommendations derived from global investment data.
Their main concentration falls on evaluating investment possibilities on behalf of their institution AKA banks; and In this capacity, investment banking analyst makes their living scrutinizing businesses within their industries.
In most banking analyst positions, the requirements for this career include MBA (Associate position) or equivalent education, training, and at least three years of work-related experience. As well as strong financial modeling skills.
Actuaries
An actuary is a professional who assesses and manages the risks of financial investments, insurance policies, and other potentially risky ventures. Due to the nature of this career one is required to have a strong understanding of mathematics and business, and they should complete an undergraduate degree in a major such as mathematics, statistics, finance, economics or business.
Wealth Management Advisor
A wealth management advisor is a high-level professional who utilizes the spectrum of financial disciplines available, such as financial and investment advice, legal or estate planning, accounting, and tax services, and retirement planning, to manage an affluent client’s wealth for one set fee. They are very beneficial when wanting to get everything sorted in one place.
Requirements included for this career include: a relevant university degree, a few years worth of relevant banking experience and an individual must fulfill the BNP Paribas Private Banker Certification requirements (if applicable).
Portfolio Manager
As the name of this position will suggest, a portfolio manager’s main requirement is to help their clients manage their financial portfolios. This is achieved by studying and analyzing the daily state of stock markets, investments, financial risks, and opportunities as well as addressing questions and concerns their clients might have.
Certain requirements of this type of career include the ability to conduct ongoing independent research into market trends and activity as well as a professional level of knowledge into economic theory and financial terminology.
Consultant
Financial consultants are professionals that work with a company or individuals to plan for their financial futures by offering information and guidance on complex topics including taxes, investments, and beneficial insurance decisions. Also known as Financial Advice, they are there to help the average citizen better understand and handle all financial matters.
Financial consultants have a bachelor’s or graduate degree in finance. Some colleges and universities offer degrees in financial consulting. Others offer more generalized degrees for those wanting to enter this career path.
When to Consider a Career in Financial Research
All industries require a basic level of interest or ability if someone is considering moving into that career direction moving forward, and financial research careers are no different.
If a person has a head for numbers, they could greatly benefit from pursuing a career as a financial analyst, working for banks, investment houses, and stock brokerages. There has never been a shortage of opportunities. There are two main areas that should be considered before making a choice:
Skill Levels
Because of the high level of accuracy and performance needed in this industry, Financial analysts need a wide range of skill sets to compete effectively; these skills include:
- The ability to represent finance issues in modeling forms.
- The ability to break down complex financial issues into simpler components.
- The ability to read and interpret copious amounts of data, then distill it into actionable conclusions.
- The ability to perform complex equations in their heads or calculating extensive financial projections on paper.
- And the ability to pay special attention to details and predictions.
Career Trajectory
Another important facet to consider is one’s future goals and professional direction. Because of the nature of the industry, a certain level of motivation and independence is needed to succeed. Many financial analysts create their own client bases by going out and actually finding those that need the assistance, and then spend most of their time nurturing those client relationships to ensure their professional futures. If a person is adept at communicating and reaching out to others with that special level of confidence, this could be the perfect industry for them.
The Importance of Financial Analytics
The crowning reason why this sector has become so important and is growing at such a profound rate comes down to a few factors, including the benefit of gaining different views of a company’s financial data. It also helps to gain in-depth knowledge and take action against potential risks to improve the performance of your business and financial matters.
It can expose clients to new and cutting-edge business models that could spell huge profits when handled correctly and provides a healthy form of control that goes a long way in keeping things running smoothly. With so many things swinging in favor of the individual, it is safe to assume that this industry will only get stronger and stronger.
The Benefits of a Financial Analytics Career and Why It Could Be Perfect for You
It is a fact that financial analytics can be very demanding and may not be the right career choice for everyone; however, as the saying goes, you are what you eat. If you are one of those individuals that aspire to achieve wealth and comfort, this industry can help you achieve exactly that. As you work with money, the benefits of your professional knowledge and experience gained could very well reflect in your own life and choices too.
Knowledge has always been power, and with added benefits like promoting investment, promoting savings and minimizing risks, there really isn’t anything to lose as long as you are willing to put in that needed effort.
So, start crunching those numbers, and if your answers start to add up perhaps, it’s time to investigate this professional path.
– Research Optimus
-Research Optimus
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