What is an investment counselor and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Dr. Meredith Bertrand

An investment counselor is an individual who provides advice and guidance to clients on investment-related matters. They work with clients to determine their financial goals and risk tolerance, and then create personalized investment strategies to help them achieve those goals. They may work for wealth management firms, banks, or other financial institutions, or operate independently.. Strong analytical skills, knowledge of financial markets, and a client-focused approach are key qualities for success in this field.

What general advice would you give to an investment counselor?

Dr. Meredith Bertrand

Chair of Education; Associate Professor of Education, Elms College

History is ever-changing, and teachers must clarify how current events are just as much a part of the study of history as any other socio-political period or event. If you are not comparing the civil rights movement of today to the ongoing civil rights movements of the past, and if you are not supporting the campaign against oppression and institutional racism upon which our nation was built, then you are doing continuous harm to those who need you to act and disrupt the cycle. History teachers better be ready to be activists, not just teachers, or else you are perpetuating the status quo.

ScoreInvestment CounselorUS Average

Salary

8.1

Avg. Salary $120,817

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.6

Growth rate 15%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.11%

Asian 8.15%

Black or African American 5.56%

Hispanic or Latino 9.36%

Unknown 4.37%

White 72.45%

Gender

female 26.05%

male 73.95%

Age - 44

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 44

Stress level

6.6

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.8

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

5.6

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an investment counselor?

Pros

High earning potential
Opportunities for career advancement
Variety of clients and investment options
Flexibility in work schedule
Rewarding when clients succeed

Cons

High pressure and stress levels
Long hours and demanding workload
Need to constantly stay up-to-date with industry trends and news
Risk of losing clients' money through poor investment decisions
Ethical and legal responsibilities can be challenging to navigate

Key steps to become an investment counselor

Explore investment counselor education requirements

Most common investment counselor degrees

Bachelor's

77.5 %

Master's

11.8 %

Associate

6.4 %

Start to develop specific investment counselor skills

Skills	Percentages
Client Service	13.39%
Capital Markets	11.20%
Client Relationships	9.57%
Securities	9.53%
Wealth Management	7.78%

Complete relevant investment counselor training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New investment counselors learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an investment counselor based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real investment counselor resumes.

Research investment counselor duties and responsibilities

Manage $3MM private investment portfolio consisting of mid-cap/large-cap equities.
Adjust sector exposure to express personal macro views, selecting single stocks within sector base on fundamental analysis and technical indicators.
Monitor preparation of asset/liability management report.

Prepare your investment counselor resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your investment counselor resume.

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