Investment Banking & Finance Education Free Resources

Investment Banking Education

In the U.S., some of the highest paying investment bankers work on Wall Street in New York.In the U.S., some of the highest paying investment bankers work on Wall Street in New York.

Investment bankers serve a critical role in the financial industry. They work with companies and other organizations on the issuing of new stocks and bonds, and they work with companies involved in mergers and acquisitions, helping to develop the terms of the deals. Investment bankers do not have a required academic background, but industry licenses require proof of knowledge in certain occupation-specific areas.

Degrees

A bachelor's degree serves as a minimum of education for investment bankers. Investment bankers are not required to have an educational background in a particular field, but those with business-related undergraduate degrees such as finance, commerce and accounting have an advantage at many firms because of the direct relevance of their education. A graduate degree, particularly an M.B.A. degree, not only can help an investment banker land a job, but also provides a notable boost for career advancement. In fact, an M.B.A. can help a new investment banker start a career in a more advanced role.

Licenses and Credentials

Investment bankers must register with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, and must pass designated FINRA exams to work on certain tasks. For instance, an investment banker who works on structuring private securities offerings must pass either the Series 79 exam, which qualifies him as an investment banking representative, or the Series 82 exam, which makes him a private securities offering representative, according to FINRA. Investment bankers also can choose to improve their credentials by earning a chartered financial analyst designation, a strenuous process that involves passing exams in areas such as financial markets and instruments, corporate finance and asset valuation.

Source: work.chron.com