Registered Brokers Sales Assistant Job Description

Registered Brokers Sales Assistant Job DescriptionRegistered Brokers Sales Assistant Job DescriptionA broker ausverkauf assistant helps financial advisors, traditionally referred to as brokers, with time management by handling routine client inquiries. Most questions are related to account maintenance matters, allowing financial advisors to devote mora time to their value-added activity, providing investment advice. While the phrase broker sales assistant still is common parlance, fruchtwein wealth management firmsofficially use the title financial advisor sales assistant or something similar. Supporting a busy financial advisor with a large roster of clients means a constant stream of telephone inquiries and time pressure to resolve problems. A sales assistant can have a large influence on client satisfaction. Brokers Sales Assistant Duties Responsibilities This job generally requires the ability to do the following work and meet the following responsibilities Screen telephone calls to financial advisors.Solve operational problems such as issues with statements, deposits, checks, and credit card transactions.Troubleshoot for clients. Registered sales assistants perform these same duties in addition to processing unsolicited trade orders. Theyre typically not permitted to offer investment advice of any sort, however. This job goes well beyond mere clerical duties. Registered brokers sales assistants can be critical to maintaining client rapport and satisfaction, and in easing the workloads of the brokers they work for through organization and record-keeping. This is often an entry-level position to start, but it can rapidly expand due to superior performance. Brokers Sales Assistant Salary Compensation is highly variable depending on the firm and the size and profitability of the financial advisors book of business. Registered sales assistants tend to earn at the higher end of this range. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) doesnt cite salary inf ormation for brokers sales assistants specifically, but it indicates that incomes for brokerage clerks in general in 2018 were Median Annual Salary $51,400 ($24.71/hour)Top 10% Annual Salary More than $76,550 ($36.81/hour)Bottom 10% Annual Salary Less than $34,670 ($16.67/hour) Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2018 In an ongoing drive to cut expenses, many securities brokerage and wealth management firms have moved to a system in which pay for sales assistants is deducted from the financial advisors pay.These assistants are officially employees of the firm, but the firm has effectively relieved itself of much, if not all, of its compensation costs. Education, Training Certification Those looking for careers as brokers sales assistants should ideally have college degrees, and registered assistants are subject to testing requirements. Education This job category was deemed suitable for high school graduates in past years, but a bachelors degree is typically required today. Coursework in finance, accounting, or economics is helpful, although not required.Certification No special certifications are necessary except for registered sales assistants. People in this subcategory can accept and process unsolicited securities trade orders that are placed by clients entirely on their own initiative.Testing At a minimum, registered sales assistants must pass the Series 11 exam offered by FINRA and meet continuing education requirements. Larger securities firms can require much mora rigorous qualifications, however, such as passing the same Series 7 and Series 66 exams that are part offinancial advisor certification and training. Brokers Sales Assistant Skills Competencies Those looking for careers as brokers sales assistants should have several qualities and skills for success Interpersonal skills Youll regularly deal with clients and firm personnel. Youll have to interact well with them, sometimes under pressure.Multitasking skills You wont be able to pu t the phone and clients on hold while you take care of other pressing tasks.Discernment This job can involve troubleshooting, knowing when to act and when not to act in the best interests of the firm and clients.Writing skills Youll probably be called upon to convey information to your financial advisor in a clear, concise written form. Job Outlook The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates that job growth for administrative assistants, in general, will drop by about 7% through 2026. This is far below average for all occupations, and the trend is due, at least in part, to technology taking over many of the tasks that assistants have historically performed. This might not be the case with brokers sales assistants, however, because much of their work involves hands-on interaction with clients. The practice of paying assistants from financial advisors pay can have a negative effect on this occupation, however. Its bound to diminish job openings and pay potential for sales ass istants. Only the most successful financial advisors earn enough to take on a sales assistant or to pay a competitive salary. Work Environment This is a desk job for the most part, but sales assistants often are expected to attend events in which clients are being entertained. Work Schedule A40-hour workweek or something close to it is typical for a sales assistant. Nonetheless, there are busy periods when work extends beyond these hours, such as during turbulent markets. How to Get the Job STUDY HARD AND STUDY WELL American Investment Training provides a variety of practice exams to help you ace testing.BE PREPARED FOR YOUR INTERVIEW Job Interview Questions offers a list of interview questions that are likely to be asked when youre seeking a job in this field. Comparing Similar Jobs Some similar jobs and their median annual pay include Financial Clerk $39,570Paralegal $50,940Accounting Clerk $40,240 Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2018