Financial Analysts

Written By Keandra Wilson

 1. OVERVIEW

Financial analysts guide businesses and individuals in making investment decisions that maximize profit. They interpret financial data, evaluate market trends, and develop strategies for managing assets and minimizing risk.

  • 2024 Median Pay: $101,910/year ($48.99/hour)

  • Job Growth (2023–2033): +9% (Much faster than average)

  • Typical Education: Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, economics, or a related field

2. ROLE BREAKDOWN BY LEVEL

ENTRY LEVEL

  • Job Titles: Junior Financial Analyst, Investment Analyst, Equity Research Assistant

  • Education: Bachelor’s degree in finance, economics, or accounting

  • Experience: Internships or entry-level finance roles preferred

  • Certifications (Recommended): CFA Level I, Bloomberg Market Concepts (BMC)

  • Core Duties:

    • Analyze financial statements and industry trends

    • Prepare investment reports

    • Support senior analysts with data collection and financial modeling

    • Assist in maintaining financial databases and tools

  • Salary Range: $62,000–$85,000

MID LEVEL

  • Job Titles: Financial Analyst, Risk Analyst, Portfolio Analyst

  • Education: Bachelor’s degree (Master’s in Finance or MBA preferred)

  • Experience: 3–5 years in financial services or investment analysis

  • Certifications (Preferred): CFA Level II or full CFA, FRM (Financial Risk Manager)

  • Core Duties:

    • Evaluate and recommend investment opportunities

    • Create financial models to support investment strategies

    • Present findings to stakeholders or clients

    • Collaborate with traders, fund managers, and executives

  • Salary Range: $85,000–$120,000

SENIOR LEVEL

  • Job Titles: Senior Financial Analyst, Portfolio Manager, Fund Manager, Director of Research

  • Education: Master’s in Finance, Economics, or MBA

  • Experience: 6+ years, including leadership or strategic roles

  • Certifications (Preferred): CFA Charterholder, CAIA, PMP (for management roles)

  • Core Duties:

    • Oversee large investment portfolios

    • Lead teams and manage junior analysts

    • Liaise with C-suite, board members, or institutional clients

    • Develop high-level investment strategies

  • Salary Range: $120,000–$200,000+

3. HOW TO BECOME ONE

  • Minimum Education: Bachelor’s in Finance, Economics, or related field

  • Training: On-the-job training, internships

  • Licensure: May require FINRA Series 7 or Series 63 (with employer sponsorship)

  • Certifications: CFA, FRM, BMC, CAIA

  • Soft Skills: Analytical thinking, attention to detail, communication, decision-making, time management

4. SKILLS & TOOLS Core Skills:

  • Financial modeling and valuation

  • Risk assessment and portfolio analysis

  • Economic trend analysis

  • Data visualization and reporting

Technical Tools:

  • Excel (Advanced), Bloomberg Terminal, Morningstar Direct

  • Python/R (for quantitative roles)

  • Power BI, Tableau, SAS

5. WORK ENVIRONMENT

  • Industries: Investment firms, banks, insurance companies, consulting firms, government agencies

  • Locations: Predominantly in urban financial centers (e.g., NYC, Chicago, SF)

  • Schedules: Full-time; may require long hours and travel

  • Team Structure: Collaborative; often includes interaction with sales, trading, research, and executive teams

6. JOB OUTLOOK

  • Annual Openings: ~30,700

  • Growth Drivers:

    • Globalization of markets

    • Increasing data complexity

    • Retirement of current workforce

    • Expanding financial services sector

7. RELATED OCCUPATIONS

  • Role: Financial Managers | Salary: $161,700 | Education Level: Bachelor’s Degree

  • Role: Personal Financial Advisors | Salary: $102,140 | Education Level: Bachelor’s Degree

  • Role: Budget Analysts | Salary: $87,930 | Education Level: Bachelor’s Degree

  • Role: Data Scientists | Salary: $112,590 | Education Level: Bachelor’s Degree

  • Role: Insurance Underwriters | Salary: $79,880 | Education Level: Bachelor’s Degree

8. RESOURCES FOR LEARNING & ADVANCEMENT Certifications & Courses:

  • CFA Program (CFA Institute)

  • Bloomberg Market Concepts

  • Coursera: Investment Management Specialization

  • edX: Financial Modeling & Analysis

Books:

  • "The Intelligent Investor" by Benjamin Graham

  • "Security Analysis" by Graham and Dodd

  • "Valuation: Measuring and Managing the Value of Companies" by McKinsey & Company

Videos & Channels:

  • CNBC, Bloomberg Markets, Morningstar YouTube

  • Mergers & Inquisitions (YouTube)

  • CFA Institute Learning Portal

Communities:

  • r/FinancialCareers (Reddit)

  • Wall Street Oasis (forums)

  • AnalystForum (for CFA prep)

9. REGIONAL DATA & EMPLOYMENT TRENDS

10. VIDEO INTRODUCTION Watch the BLS career overview: Financial Analysts - YouTube

 

Keandra Wilson
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Financial Advisors