BECOMING A FINANCIAL ANALYST

By: Francisco Escobar

Top Five Colleges

NEW YORK UNIVERSITY

BARUCH COLLEGE

New York, NY Average SAT Scores

Critical Reading:610-710

Math: 600-720 Writing: 620-710

GPA- 3.6 Tuition- $40,082

New York, NY Average SAT Scores

Critical Reading:490-590

Math: 560-670

GPA- 3.13 Tuition- Instate-

$4,600 Out of state -

$12,450

HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY

SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY

Hempstead,  New York 

Average SAT Scores Critical Reading: 540 -

630 Math: 560 - 640

GPA- 3.4 Tuition- $31,800

Syracuse,  New York   Average SAT Scores

Critical Reading:510 - 620

Math: 540 - 650 Writing: 520 - 630

GPA- 3.6 Tuition- $36,302

Fordham University Bronx,  New York    Average SAT Scores

Critical Reading:570 - 670

Math: 570 - 670 Writing: 570 - 670

GPA- 3.7 Tuition- $38,602

Training, Qualifications, and Advancement

Financial Analysts need a bachelor’s degree in business, finance, statistics, accounting, or economics.

Some jobs will require other degrees like an MBA or a Master’s degree in finance.

Another certification that will help in the advancement in a job is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Nature of the Work and Personal Traits

The job will consist of meeting with clients and helping them decide on what is the best way for them to invest their money.

You will need to be able to analyze different types of investments like stocks, bonds, or commodities.

Some personal traits that are needed are good communication skills, analytical skills, and problem solving skills.

Trends and Outlooks

There is a greater need for companies to diversify their investments so now it is more common to invest in foreign markets.

Financial Analyst will be required to know about foreign markets and companies.

Job Availability and Earning Potential

There were 250,600 jobs in 2008 for a financial analyst. This number is expected to increase 20% by 2018.

The median salary for a financial analyst is $73,150 and the highest salaries are around $141,070.

Many jobs are located here in New York City.

Challenges/Drawbacks and Related Occupations

Some things that might keep people from entering this field are the extensive amount of research you must do and the complex financial information you have to be able to understand.

Related occupations Accountants Budget analysts Securities, commodities, and financial services

sales agents

Sources Syracuse University http://collegesearch.collegeboard.com/search/CollegeDetail.jsp?collegeId=1269&profileId=2 photo http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/06/a4/08/syracuse-university.jpg

Hofstra University http://collegesearch.collegeboard.com/search/CollegeDetail.jsp?collegeId=3260&profileId=2 photo http://www.hofstra.edu/images/debate/debate_campus_008.jpg

Fordham University http://collegesearch.collegeboard.com/search/CollegeDetail.jsp?collegeId=3582&profileId=0 photo http://www.hofstra.edu/images/debate/debate_campus_008.jpg

Baruch College http://collegesearch.collegeboard.com/search/CollegeDetail.jsp?collegeId=1677&profileId=7 Photo: http://www.primusyurtdisiegitim.com/images/ColorSeal_By_Emseal_Baruch.jpg

NYU http://collegesearch.collegeboard.com/search/CollegeDetail.jsp?collegeId=3186&profileId=7 Photo http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/kotaku/2008/12/170px-NYU_seal.png

Financial analyst information http://www.bls.gov/k12/money02.htm http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos301.htm