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.

 

  • Make bids or offers to buy or sell securities.
  • Monitor markets or positions.
  • Agree on buying or selling prices at optimal levels for clients.
  • Keep accurate records of transactions.
  • Buy or sell stocks, bonds, commodity futures, foreign currencies, or other securities on behalf of investment dealers.
  • Complete sales order tickets and submit for processing of client-requested transactions.
  • Report all positions or trading results.
  • Interview clients to determine clients' assets, liabilities, cash flow, insurance coverage, tax status, or financial objectives.
  • Discuss financial options with clients and keep them informed about transactions.
  • Determine customers' financial services needs and prepare proposals to sell services that address these needs.
  • Sell services or equipment, such as trusts, investments, or check processing services.
  • Identify opportunities or develop channels for purchase or sale of securities or commodities.
  • Develop financial plans, based on analysis of clients' financial status.
  • Review all securities transactions to ensure accuracy of information and conformance to governing agency regulations.
  • Contact prospective customers to present information and explain available services.
  • Devise trading, option, or hedge strategies.
  • 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.
  • Offer advice on the purchase or sale of particular securities.
  • Evaluate costs and revenue of agreements to determine continued profitability.
  • Explain stock market terms or trading practices to clients.
  • Calculate costs for billings or commissions.
  • Prepare financial reports to monitor client or corporate finances.
  • 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.
  • Relay buy or sell orders to securities exchanges or to firm trading departments.
  • Negotiate prices or contracts for securities or commodities sales or purchases.
  • Prepare and send requests for price quotations to all companies in a particular market.
  • Price securities or commodities based on market conditions.
  • Purchase or sell financial derivatives for customers.
Work Context
  • Telephone
  • Electronic Mail
  • Face-to-Face Discussions
  • Contact With Others
  • Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
  • Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
  • Frequency of Decision Making
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Work Activities
  • Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
  • Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
  • Communicating with Persons Outside Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
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Detailed Work Activities
  • Negotiate prices or other sales terms.
  • Monitor market conditions or trends.
  • Negotiate prices or other sales terms.
  • Maintain records of sales or other business transactions.
  • Sell products or services.
  • Prepare sales or other contracts.
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Knowledge

Economics and Accounting
  • Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
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.
English Language
  • Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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Skills

Critical Thinking
  • Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Listening
  • Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Reading Comprehension
  • Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking
  • Talking to others to convey information effectively.
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Abilities

Oral Comprehension
  • The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression
  • The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Deductive Reasoning
  • The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Written Comprehension
  • The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
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Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Social Orientation
  • Self Control
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Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Enterprise resource planning ERP software
  • Oracle Hyperion Hot Technology
  • Microsoft Dynamics GP Hot Technology
  • Oracle PeopleSoft Hot Technology
  • Oracle PeopleSoft Financials Hot Technology
  • SAP Hot Technology
Data base user interface and query software
  • Microsoft Access Hot Technology
  • Data entry software Hot Technology
  • Web-based information systems
  • Database management software
  • FundCount Web
  • FileMaker Pro
Operating system software
  • Linux Hot Technology
  • Microsoft Windows Hot Technology
  • UNIX Hot Technology
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