- 1). It is a requirement to sit for securities exams or have your licensed registrations for the Series 7 (General Securities Registered Representative Examination) and Series 65 (Uniform Investment Adviser Law Examination), Series 66 (Uniform Combined State Law Examination) or Series 24 (General Securities Principal). These securities exams are recognized by the New York Stock Exchange and administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). (See Resource 2.)
- 2). It is a requirement to have a Bachelor of Science (BS) or Business Administration (BA) degree concentrating in accounting, finance and/or economics. Having a financial education will give you the basic introductory knowledge of international finance, money and capital markets, investments, corporate finance, corporate financial reporting and global macroeconomics.
- 3). It is a plus that you have one or more advanced degree as follows: Master of Business Administration (MBA) and/or Juris Doctor (JD).
- 4). You must have strengths in: self-motivation; excellent communication skills; ability to deal effectively and productively with management, coworkers and the public; goal setting and the capability to take a project from conception to completion; and client direction to develop comprehensive financial plans.
- 5). Once you acquire the necessary background, then you need to get yourself out there. Inquire if there are internships or summer associate positions available at firms you're interested in joining. Read the Wall Street Journal to assess the firms that are in the news favorably. Use your contacts at the schools, such as department heads or alumni, to network as well as provide letters of recommendation. You may have to establish yourself locally before heading off to Wall Street so keep those opportunities in mind.
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