Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between investment advisors and investment analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an investment advisor and an investment analyst. Additionally, an investment advisor has an average salary of $105,377, which is higher than the $79,056 average annual salary of an investment analyst.
The top three skills for an investment advisor include exceptional client, risk management and client relationships. The most important skills for an investment analyst are portfolio management, financial statements, and strong analytical.
| Investment Advisor | Investment Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $105,377 | $79,056 |
| Hourly rate | $50.66 | $38.01 |
| Growth rate | 15% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 63,438 | 63,003 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 45 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
An investment advisor is responsible for managing the clients' financial portfolios, advising them of investment options according to their financial goals and objectives, and their ability to handle risks. Investment advisors should have excellent knowledge of the investment policies, providing the clients with the best financial strategies according to their interests. They also determine their expenses, income, and credit scores to identify a comprehensive financial plan. An investment advisor helps the clients with cash management techniques, as well as conducting data analysis on financial market projections.
An Investment Analyst provides research and information to help traders, fund managers and stock brokers make decisions about investments. They are hired by companies, investment trusts, stock trading and brokerage firms, and insurance providers.
Investment advisors and investment analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Investment Advisor | Investment Analyst | |
| Average salary | $105,377 | $79,056 |
| Salary range | Between $60,000 And $184,000 | Between $44,000 And $140,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | New York |
| Best paying company | McKinsey & Company Inc | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between an investment advisor and an investment analyst in terms of educational background:
| Investment Advisor | Investment Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Business | Finance |
| Most common college | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between investment advisors' and investment analysts' demographics:
| Investment Advisor | Investment Analyst | |
| Average age | 45 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 72.3% Female, 27.7% | Male, 70.1% Female, 29.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.6% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 8.2% White, 72.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 5.6% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.7% Asian, 14.1% White, 68.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 7% |