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What does a stock broker do?

Updated January 8, 2025
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Stock broker responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real stock broker resumes:

  • Manage communication with clients regarding margin call requirements base on NYSE and NASD standards.
  • Administer the purchase and sale of small cap equities trade on NASDAQ and NYSE exchanges.
  • Study to pass all require FINRA testing!
  • Develop and monitor all stock trading and reporting and institute guidelines for proper FINRA procedures.
  • Calculate common area maintenance expenses and CPI increases and notify tenants via letter of increases.
  • Generate over $200k in derivative commission revenue through full-service brokerage and execution and roughly $100K in self-direct trading commission.
  • Identify and capitalize on arbitrage situations.
  • Perform ad-hoc financial analysis and portfolio forecasting.
  • Mentore junior traders in equities selection and order routing executions.
  • Research and evaluate securities in terms of suitability for a diverse clientele of qualify investors.
  • Solicit profitable freight brokerage business by marketing transportation capability via direct sales calls, telephone and direct mail marketing activity.
  • Retail register representative for stock and bond sales
  • Initiate and develop profitable prefer stock and convertible bond brokerage departments.
  • Develop complex trading systems and programs for speculative derivatives trading and hedging.
  • Review and evaluate investor execute subscription agreements to ensure eligibility, compliance and AML guidelines are meet.

Stock broker skills and personality traits

We calculated that 11% of Stock Brokers are proficient in Financial Products, Client Portfolios, and Securities. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Customer-service skills, and Detail oriented.

We break down the percentage of Stock Brokers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Financial Products, 11%

    Passed all licensing examinations required to sell financial products to include insurance based annuities.

  • Client Portfolios, 10%

    Gathered client portfolio information, calculated asset allocation percentages, and constructed charts to track portfolio progress.

  • Securities, 8%

    Researched and evaluated securities in terms of suitability for a diverse clientele of qualified investors.

  • Bonds, 7%

    Initiated and developed profitable preferred stock and convertible bond brokerage departments.

  • Stock Market, 4%

    Served as the director of the Capital Market and responsible for the execution of all transactions in the Venezuelan stock market.

  • Cold Calls, 4%

    Performed and practiced daily cold calling and telemarketing about various products offered within the industry.

"financial products," "client portfolios," and "securities" are among the most common skills that stock brokers use at work. You can find even more stock broker responsibilities below, including:

Analytical skills. The most essential soft skill for a stock broker to carry out their responsibilities is analytical skills. This skill is important for the role because "to judge the profitability of potential deals, securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents must have strong analytical skills." Additionally, a stock broker resume shows how their duties depend on analytical skills: "committed company capital to maintain market stabilization and generate trading profits employing market, industry, financial and technical analysis. "

Customer-service skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling stock broker duties is customer-service skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents must be persuasive and make clients feel comfortable with the agent’s recommendations." According to a stock broker resume, here's how stock brokers can utilize customer-service skills in their job responsibilities: "assisted over 865 customers on a monthly basis with their financial service, guidance, and brokerage needs"

Detail oriented. stock brokers are also known for detail oriented, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to stock broker responsibilities, because "investment bankers must pay close attention to the details of initial public offerings and mergers and acquisitions because small changes can have large consequences." A stock broker resume example shows how detail oriented is used in the workplace: "performed technical market analysis and thorough fundamental analysis using metastock to provide clients with detailed view of market. "

Initiative. A big part of what stock brokers do relies on "initiative." You can see how essential it is to stock broker responsibilities because "securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents must create their own client base by making “cold” sales calls to people to whom they have not been referred and to people not expecting the call." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical stock broker tasks: "prospect for new customers/clients by conducting daily open houses, cold calling and utilization of internet marketing initiatives. "

Math skills. Another crucial skill for a stock broker to carry out their responsibilities is "math skills." A big part of what stock brokers relies on this skill, since "securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents need to be familiar with mathematical tools, including investment formulas." How this skill relates to stock broker duties can be seen in an example from a stock broker resume snippet: "analyzed financial markets and processed quantitative and qualitative information and vast arrays of data. "

All stock broker skills

The three companies that hire the most stock brokers are:

  • Aegis Venture Funds

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Compare different stock brokers

Stock broker vs. Bonding agent

A sales agent is the one who serves as a seller for the customer. They are the one who fulfills and allows them to choose a product or item that they need. Some of their tasks include offering products, taking orders, and providing services for clients. Also, they keep the required documents to report errors or dissatisfaction. Their skills involve being customer-oriented, good management skills, and can communicate effectively.

If we compare the average stock broker annual salary with that of a bonding agent, we find that bonding agents typically earn a $23,736 lower salary than stock brokers make annually.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between stock brokers and bonding agent. For instance, stock broker responsibilities require skills such as "financial products," "client portfolios," "securities," and "stock market." Whereas a bonding agent is skilled in "data entry," "customer service," "court dates," and "bail bonds." This is part of what separates the two careers.

On average, bonding agents reach lower levels of education than stock brokers. Bonding agents are 9.0% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.5% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Stock broker vs. Licensed sales agent

An airport sales agent advertises airline tickets, flight packages, and promos to potential passengers. Their job is to determine what kind of marketing strategies will most effectively entice people to travel. They may employ strategies such as offering travel packages, lowering ticket prices, creating destination promos, or showing off potential vacation escapades. This position requires a keen sense of the market and good intuition for advertising trends.

Licensed sales agent positions earn lower pay than stock broker roles. They earn a $22,643 lower salary than stock brokers per year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Stock brokers and licensed sales agents both require similar skills like "financial products," "cold calls," and "life insurance" to carry out their responsibilities.

Each career also uses different skills, according to real stock broker resumes. While stock broker responsibilities can utilize skills like "client portfolios," "securities," "bonds," and "stock market," licensed sales agents use skills like "real estate," "lead generation," "customer service," and "auto insurance."

On average, licensed sales agents earn a lower salary than stock brokers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, licensed sales agents earn the most pay in the finance industry with an average salary of $56,008. Whereas stock brokers have higher pay in the finance industry, with an average salary of $69,142.In general, licensed sales agents achieve similar levels of education than stock brokers. They're 4.0% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Stock broker vs. Airport sales agent

A direct sales agent is primarily responsible for introducing and selling products or services to clients in a particular area. Aiming to reach sales quotas, they typically conduct market research and analysis, generate leads, and develop sales strategies to build positive client relationships. They reach out directly to clients through calls or face-to-face interactions, discuss product specifications or promos, negotiate contracts, and demonstrate products when necessary. They are also responsible for processing client orders and payments, ensuring efficiency and client satisfaction.

An average airport sales agent eans a lower salary compared to the average salary of stock brokers. The difference in salaries amounts to airport sales agents earning a $29,109 lower average salary than stock brokers.

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a stock broker is likely to be skilled in "financial products," "client portfolios," "securities," and "bonds," while a typical airport sales agent is skilled in "customer issues," "belt loaders," "loaders," and "reservations."

Airport sales agents earn the highest salary when working in the technology industry, where they receive an average salary of $30,744. Comparatively, stock brokers have the highest earning potential in the finance industry, with an average salary of $69,142.When it comes to education, airport sales agents tend to earn lower degree levels compared to stock brokers. In fact, they're 6.9% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.6% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Stock broker vs. Direct sales agent

Direct sales agents typically earn lower pay than stock brokers. On average, direct sales agents earn a $1,384 lower salary per year.While both stock brokers and direct sales agents complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like cold calls, customer accounts, and life insurance, the two careers vary in some skills.While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "financial products," "client portfolios," "securities," and "bonds" are skills that commonly show up on stock broker resumes. On the other hand, direct sales agents use skills like customer service, medicare, health insurance, and direct sales on their resumes.The average resume of direct sales agents showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to stock brokers. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 4.9% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.6%.

Types of stock broker

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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