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Registered representative vs investment consultant

The differences between registered representatives and investment consultants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a registered representative, becoming an investment consultant takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an investment consultant has an average salary of $109,300, which is higher than the $54,074 average annual salary of a registered representative.

The top three skills for a registered representative include financial services, financial products and securities. The most important skills for an investment consultant are financial services, FINRA, and financial products.

Registered representative vs investment consultant overview

Registered RepresentativeInvestment Consultant
Yearly salary$54,074$109,300
Hourly rate$26.00$52.55
Growth rate10%15%
Number of jobs17,62248,111
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 80%Bachelor's Degree, 77%
Average age4345
Years of experience64

What does a registered representative do?

A registered representative's job involves researching market conditions, liaising with potential clients, implementing advertising campaigns, cultivating personal contacts, and creating investment plans. Their duties and responsibilities include soliciting business from potential clients and selling financial products and services to clients for investment purposes.

What does an investment consultant do?

An investment consultant is an individual who gives investment products, planning, and/or advice to investors. Investment consultants formulate investment strategies to help clients fulfill their necessities and realize their financial objectives. They create internal research documents that outline real estate investment opportunities and private equity. It is also part of their job to review strategies of asset management that recognize estate and income tax needs.

Registered representative vs investment consultant salary

Registered representatives and investment consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Registered RepresentativeInvestment Consultant
Average salary$54,074$109,300
Salary rangeBetween $33,000 And $88,000Between $60,000 And $196,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYNew York, NY
Highest paying stateNew YorkNew York
Best paying companyNew York Life InsuranceBailey & Glasser
Best paying industryFinanceFinance

Differences between registered representative and investment consultant education

There are a few differences between a registered representative and an investment consultant in terms of educational background:

Registered RepresentativeInvestment Consultant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 80%Bachelor's Degree, 77%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Registered representative vs investment consultant demographics

Here are the differences between registered representatives' and investment consultants' demographics:

Registered RepresentativeInvestment Consultant
Average age4345
Gender ratioMale, 77.4% Female, 22.6%Male, 79.7% Female, 20.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.8% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 10.3% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 5.7% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 8.4% White, 71.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage6%5%

Differences between registered representative and investment consultant duties and responsibilities

Registered representative example responsibilities.

  • Manage variable and fix immediate and defer annuities for wealth accumulation.
  • Develop knowledge of complex financial instruments and successfully communicate strategies for utilizing various securities in achieving client financial objectives.
  • Manage and strengthen customer relationships through cross-selling and up-selling to maximize retention and income generation by contacting existing and prospective customers.
  • Intern at the NYSE with the M/S floor trader.
  • Provide due diligence for IPO of small cap.
  • Assist companies with development and sale of initial public offering (IPO).
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Investment consultant example responsibilities.

  • Manage $3MM private investment portfolio consisting of mid-cap/large-cap equities.
  • Research securities to determine value by analyzing financial statements, corporate filings and earnings reports
  • Preform timely and accurate securities operational support functions, trade processing, settlement reporting.
  • Adjust sector exposure to express personal macro views, selecting single stocks within sector base on fundamental analysis and technical indicators.
  • Advance knowledge of annuities and interest rates.
  • Team leader for license bank employees in the selling of tax-defer annuities.
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Registered representative vs investment consultant skills

Common registered representative skills
  • Financial Services, 25%
  • Financial Products, 14%
  • Securities, 6%
  • Annuities, 4%
  • Long-Term Care, 4%
  • Health Insurance, 3%
Common investment consultant skills
  • Financial Services, 12%
  • FINRA, 8%
  • Financial Products, 7%
  • Client Relationships, 5%
  • Investment Products, 4%
  • Client Satisfaction, 4%