Sales Agents, Securities and Commodities

Employment is projected to about as fast as the average. Keen competition is expected as the number of applicants will continue to far exceed the number of job openings in this high-paying occupation.

Although not always required, certifications enhance professional standing and are recommended by employers. Brokers, investment advisors and financial services sales agents can earn the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, sponsored by the CFA Institute. To qualify for this designation, applicants need a bachelor's degree and four years of related work experience, and they must pass three exams, which require several hundred hours of self-study. Exams cover subjects in accounting, economics, securities analysis, financial markets and instruments, corporate finance, asset valuation and portfolio management, and applicants can take the exams while they are obtaining the required work experience.