Occupation · SOC 41-3031
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents
Buy and sell securities or commodities in investment and trading firms, or provide financial services to businesses and individuals. May advise customers about stocks, bonds, mutual funds, commodities, and market conditions.
Median wage
$78,140
$47,080–$215,210
Projected growth
+3.3%
Average growth
Annual openings
1,710
per year
Employed (US)
472,300
Job Zone 4
Typical preparation
Considerable preparation
Stackable credential programs
47 mapped
Core skills
Critical ThinkingActive ListeningMonitoringJudgment and Decision MakingSpeakingReading ComprehensionPersuasionActive LearningWritingSocial PerceptivenessComplex Problem SolvingSystems AnalysisService OrientationTime ManagementSystems EvaluationMathematicsManagement of Financial ResourcesNegotiationInstructingCoordinationManagement of Personnel ResourcesLearning StrategiesOperations AnalysisManagement of Material ResourcesProgrammingTechnology DesignOperations MonitoringQuality Control AnalysisScienceTroubleshootingOperation and ControlInstallationEquipment SelectionEquipment MaintenanceRepairing
Knowledge areas
Customer and Personal ServiceEconomics and AccountingEnglish LanguageMathematicsSales and MarketingComputers and ElectronicsAdministration and ManagementLaw and GovernmentAdministrativeCommunications and MediaEducation and TrainingPersonnel and Human ResourcesPsychologyTelecommunicationsTransportationProduction and ProcessingPublic Safety and SecuritySociology and AnthropologyGeographyEngineering and TechnologyHistory and ArcheologyPhilosophy and TheologyTherapy and CounselingForeign LanguageBuilding and ConstructionFood ProductionMechanicalDesignBiologyChemistryMedicine and DentistryFine ArtsPhysics
Technology & tools
ADP/Vantra VOLTSAIQ Systems TradingExpert ProAnalyzerXLAspen Graphics Technical Analysis SoftwareBloomberg ProfessionalBondDesk Group Trader WorkStationC++CQG Integrated ClientCSI Complex Systems ClientTradeCableSoft LiveWire TraderCalypso Technology Calypso Asset ManagementCharles River Development Charles River Investment Management SystemCiti The Yield Book CalculatorCustomer information control system CICSCustomer relationship management CRM softwareDatabase management softwareDerivicom FinOptions XLEmail softwareFileMaker ProFinancial needs analysis softwareFixed income alternative trading systems ATSFund accounting softwareFundCount WebGraphics softwareIBM Cognos ImpromptuIBM NotesImagine Software Imagine Trading SystemKnight BondPointLeading Market Technologies EXPOLinkedInLinuxMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft DynamicsMicrosoft Dynamics GPMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft SharePointMicrosoft Visual Basic
Representative tasks
Working with ComputersGetting InformationEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsProcessing InformationMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsAnalyzing Data or InformationOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersSelling or Influencing OthersIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsDocumenting/Recording InformationPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsThinking CreativelyPerforming Administrative ActivitiesDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesScheduling Work and ActivitiesProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersDeveloping and Building TeamsCoaching and Developing OthersTraining and Teaching OthersGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesAssisting and Caring for OthersStaffing Organizational UnitsPerforming General Physical ActivitiesInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsControlling Machines and ProcessesOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentHandling and Moving ObjectsRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Sales order tickets — complete and submit accurately under supervisor review for client-requested transactions on a licensed brokerage desk.Client financial profiles — gather basic data on assets, liabilities, and cash flow during structured intake interviews with guidance from a senior agent.Transaction records — maintain accurate logs of buy and sell activity using firm-provided accounting software under direct oversight.Market positions — monitor assigned watchlists and report observed price movements to a supervising trader using desktop communications tools.Securities terminology — demonstrate foundational comprehension of stocks, bonds, and commodity futures in written and oral communications with team members.Bid and offer mechanics — recognize standard bid/ask procedures and assist senior agents in preparing preliminary bids under close direction.CRM software — enter and update client contact and account information into the firm's customer relationship management system following established protocols.Compliance documentation — follow prescribed regulatory recordkeeping procedures to ensure all client transaction records meet basic legal and administrative standards.Client financial objectives — identify and document stated investment goals, tax status, and insurance coverage during supervised discovery conversations.Position reports — compile daily trading result summaries using reporting templates and submit to supervisors for review and approval.
developing
Buy and sell orders — execute client-directed transactions across stocks, bonds, and foreign currencies with reduced oversight on an active trading desk.Market conditions — monitor multiple asset classes simultaneously using financial analysis software and flag developing risks to the client portfolio.Client interviews — conduct independent discovery sessions to assess financial objectives, cash flow, liabilities, and tax status with moderate complexity clients.Negotiated pricing — agree on buying or selling prices at levels favorable to clients by applying current market knowledge and basic negotiation skills.Trade confirmations and records — verify and reconcile transaction data in database systems to ensure accuracy and regulatory compliance after each trading session.Sales presentations — prepare and deliver clear written and oral communications explaining investment options to retail or institutional clients using relevant financial data.Position reporting — produce timely and complete reports of all trading positions and results for compliance and management review in a regulated brokerage environment.Client relationship management — maintain ongoing client contact through electronic mail and CRM tools, proactively addressing routine account inquiries and service needs.Risk signals — apply critical thinking to evaluate market indicators and identify emerging threats or opportunities affecting client portfolios in familiar asset classes.Time-sensitive order processing — prioritize and complete multiple sales order tickets accurately under moderate time pressure on a fast-paced trading floor.
proficient
Complex bid and offer strategies — structure and execute competitive bids or offers autonomously across equities, fixed income, futures, and currency markets to optimize client outcomes.Portfolio-level market monitoring — continuously assess cross-asset market dynamics using business intelligence and financial analysis software, acting independently on non-routine signals.Comprehensive client financial planning — conduct in-depth interviews with high-net-worth clients to evaluate full financial pictures including tax implications, insurance gaps, and multi-year objectives.Optimal pricing negotiation — independently negotiate buying and selling prices at levels that balance client value and firm profitability in volatile or illiquid market conditions.Regulatory recordkeeping — maintain and audit transaction records across all account types ensuring full compliance with SEC, FINRA, and firm-specific documentation standards.Customized investment solutions — design tailored securities and commodities strategies aligned with individual client risk tolerance, time horizon, and financial objectives without supervisory input.Advanced position reporting — generate and interpret comprehensive trading result analyses, identifying performance variances and communicating findings clearly to management and clients.Client persuasion and retention — apply sophisticated social perceptiveness and persuasion techniques to address objections, deepen client relationships, and grow assets under management.Systems-level problem solving — diagnose complex issues in transaction server software or order processing workflows and implement solutions that minimize client impact during disruptions.Cross-functional compliance coordination — lead coordination with legal, compliance, and back-office teams to resolve non-routine regulatory inquiries and ensure accurate reporting to governing bodies.
advanced
Firm-wide trading strategy — set the directional framework for securities and commodities sales practices across business lines, aligning execution standards with organizational growth objectives.Market risk governance — establish enterprise-level protocols for monitoring positions and escalating systemic market risks, ensuring the firm's exposure remains within board-approved thresholds.Client relationship architecture — design and champion a client engagement model that integrates CRM technology, financial planning tools, and service standards to maximize long-term retention at scale.Regulatory strategy and advocacy — represent the firm in interactions with regulatory bodies, shape internal compliance frameworks, and interpret evolving law and government requirements for senior leadership.Talent development pipeline — mentor and evaluate a team of developing and proficient agents, designing training programs that accelerate licensing, product knowledge, and client-facing skill progression.Revenue and pricing governance — lead the development of institutional pricing strategies for complex securities transactions, balancing competitive positioning with fiduciary obligations to clients.Technology investment decisions — evaluate and authorize adoption of new financial analysis, business intelligence, and transaction processing platforms to sustain competitive advantage in dynamic markets.Performance reporting framework — define the metrics, reporting cadence, and accountability structures used to evaluate trading results and sales productivity across the entire advisory division.Complex client portfolio oversight — assume ultimate responsibility for the strategic asset allocation recommendations made to the firm's largest institutional and ultra-high-net-worth client relationships.Organizational integrity culture — model and institutionalize standards of integrity, attention to detail, and dependability across the sales organization, embedding ethical conduct into hiring, review, and incentive systems.
Also known as
99 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Account AdministratorAccount ManagerAccount SpecialistBank and Savings Securities TraderBankerBanker AssociateBlock TraderBond BrokerBond TraderBranch BankerBranch Relationship BankerBranch Sales RepresentativeBranch Service RepresentativeBrokerBusiness BankerBusiness Banking Relationship ManagerBuyerChartered Financial Analyst (CFA)Client AdministratorClient Service AssociateCommodities BrokerCommodities TraderCustomer AgentDay TraderDealerEnergy TraderEquities TraderEquity TraderField Marketing RepresentativeFinance SpecialistFinancial AdvisorFinancial ConsultantFinancial Report Service Sales AgentFinancial RepresentativeFinancial Sales AdvisorFinancial Services AgentFinancial Services AssociateFinancial Services RepresentativeFinancial Services Sales RepresentativeFinancial Specialist