Financial and investment analysts collect information about companies, stocks, bonds, and other investments, examine and analyze information to provide investment advice / recommendations to clients, senior company officials, pension fund managers, securities agents, and associates, and prepare company, industry, and economic outlooks; analytical reports; briefing notes; and correspondence.

In general, you need a bachelor's degree in commerce, business administration or economics as well as on-the-job training and industry courses / programs.

Some employers may require you to have the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation available through a program from the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts in the United States.

With experience, you may move up the ranks to a management position such as securities manager.

Most recent entrants have an undergraduate university degree, and about 1 in 4 has a graduate degree.

Get more info on how to become a financial analyst.