National
| Median wages (2008) |
$35.17 hourly, $73,150 annual |
| Employment (2006) |
221,000 employees |
| Projected growth (2006-2016) |
Much faster than average (21% or higher)
|
| Projected need (2006-2016) |
87,000 additional employees |
13-2051.00 - Financial Analysts
Conduct quantitative analyses of information affecting investment programs of public or private institutions.
Sample of reported job titles:
Financial Analyst, Securities Analyst, Investment Analyst, Equity Research Analyst, Credit Products Officer, Operational Risk Analyst, Planning Analyst, Research Analyst, Real Estate Analyst
Tasks
- Assemble spreadsheets and draw charts and graphs used to illustrate technical reports, using computer.
- Analyze financial information to produce forecasts of business, industry, and economic conditions for use in making investment decisions.
- Maintain knowledge and stay abreast of developments in the fields of industrial technology, business, finance, and economic theory.
- Interpret data affecting investment programs, such as price, yield, stability, future trends in investment risks, and economic influences.
- Monitor fundamental economic, industrial, and corporate developments through the analysis of information obtained from financial publications and services, investment banking firms, government agencies, trade publications, company sources, and personal interviews.
- Recommend investments and investment timing to companies, investment firm staff, or the investing public.
- Determine the prices at which securities should be syndicated and offered to the public.
- Prepare plans of action for investment based on financial analyses.
- Evaluate and compare the relative quality of various securities in a given industry.
- Present oral and written reports on general economic trends, individual corporations, and entire industries.
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Tools & Technology
Tools used in this occupation:
| Desktop computers |
| Notebook computers |
| Personal computers |
| Personal digital assistant PDAs or organizers — Personal digital assistants PDA |
| Tablet computers |
Technology used in this occupation:
| Analytical or scientific software — Keypoint DataDesk; The Mathworks MATLAB; Ward Systems Group GeneHunter; Wolfram Research Mathematica |
| Expert system software — Ivorix Neurostrategy Finance; Matheny Pattern Forecaster Plus; NeuroSolutions for MatLab |
| Financial analysis software — Advanced Portfolio Technologies Report Builder; AnalyzerXL software; Experian Credinomics; Wolfram Research Mathematica Finance Essentials |
| Information retrieval or search software — dailyVest Investment Personalization Platform; TradeTools Financial Market Databases; TradeTools Monthly U.S. Economic Database; Ward Systems Group NeuroShell Trader |
| Spreadsheet software — Apple AppleWorks; Corel QuattroPro; IBM Lotus 1-2-3; Microsoft Excel |
