To become a mutual fund advisor, you should start with the necessary college degree. After completing a degree in business, it is important to pursue the appropriate licensing and certifications that may be required for mutual fund advising in your area. Your path to mutual fund jobs might also lead you to an internship, temporary job, or apprenticeship with a mutual fund company, stockbroker, or financial planning firm. The dynamic financial field is constantly changing, which makes continuing education critical for all mutual fund advisors.
The academic training for a mutual fund advising career is rigorous due to the complex nature of this profession. You can become a mutual fund advisor after completing an undergraduate degree in business with an emphasis in finance and accounting. This degree path becomes more valuable when you pursue an internship with local financial firms. Look for an internship in your third year of college to gain experience needed to become a full-time mutual fund advisor. An experienced mutual fund advisor can later advance into management positions with a graduate degree in business administration.
Mutual fund advisors generally need to be certified by industry organizations and government agencies before assisting customers and investors. Industry organizations throughout the world require passing certification exams to ensure that mutual fund advisors comply with all applicable laws and codes of ethics. A mutual fund advisor must also need to be specially certified by local and regional government agencies to work with their pension and retirement funds. Some government regulators require mutual fund advisors to pass licensing exams that ask specific questions about fund regulations.
You can pursue myriad entry-level paths in order to become a mutual fund advisor. You might want to apply for temporary work with a mutual fund provider before or after certification. This path gets your resume in front of hiring managers while you learn the intricacies of mutual fund industry. Another path is to work with a mutual fund in a non-advising position like data entry. Your eventual transition from an entry level job to mutual fund advising might be simplified if you already work with the company.
An important lesson for anyone looking to become a mutual fund advisor is that continuing education is key to future success. You should pursue any in-house training courses and seminars on mutual fund advising offered by your employer. Your company might provide funding for additional courses at local universities or sponsored by trade groups that improve your career prospects. It is also important to keep your credentials current by noting the expiration dates of any certifications and licenses. You can also become a better informed mutual fund advisor by visiting online databases and reading pertinent stories about the stock market in financial magazines and newspapers.