Securities and commodities sales agents play an important part in the process of business management. Security agents are also called stock brokers or brokers. People who sell securities everyday are known as retail investors. These investors, usually, work through brokers.
The most crucial part of a security agent or broker is to find clients and form a customer base. Therefore, commodity and security sales agents spend ample amount of time in searching customers. They use telephone and internet to communicate with customers. These agents also meet clients through social contacts and business.
Nature of Work
Some security and commodity agents join civic organizations and social groups to enlarge their networks of prospective clients. Some of the agents find it useful to contact possible clients by employing adult education investment courses, organizing lecture sessions at social clubs and libraries.
Some brokerage firms may have list of sales agents with whom the firms have worked somewhere in the past. Some agents get clients from other agents who are retired. An established agent should get referrals from satisfied clients as it is an important source of starting new enterprise.
Investment bankers are also sales agents who relate businesses, which need finance to execute their operations with investors. These investors are involved in providing funds in exchange for equity or debt. This process is known as underwriting. It is the major function of the investment bank.
Investment banking sales traders and agents sell bonds and stocks to investors. The work of security and commodity sales agents is to sell securities and services to customers for commissions. Usually, these agents communicate with clients through telephone. They discuss with customers and their agents bond issues and new stock.
The order of purchase by investor goes to the trading floor. Traders make purchase and sell orders from clients and make trades in support of the bank. A group of sales agents have to work on the floor of commodities or a stock exchange. When an investor or firm wishes to purchase or sell a commodity or security, sales agents make the order by way of firm's computer to the floor of exchange.
Subsequently, floor brokers negotiate the price with other brokers, make a sale and then move the purchase price to the sales agents. Some brokers work independently. They may purchase or sell stocks for their own accounts, corporate accounts, and sell services to floor brokers.
Market makers or specialists work on the exchange floor. They help the trading process by deciding price and selling or buying shares. Financial service sales agents sell various accounting, banking, insurance, securities, tax preparation, and other allied services. Their work is to contact prospective customers and provide details about their services. Financial sales agents interact with customers to understand their banking and other financial needs. They also request businesses to participate in customer credit card programs.
Work Environment
Many commodities and securities sales agents work in comfortable and spacious offices. They work actively and tend to be demanding as both advancement and commissions are tied to sales. Investment advisors and stock brokers, usually, work over forty hours a week. However, they may or may not work at traditional times.
These agents have to work on weekends and evenings. Many sales agents are hired by online or discount brokerage firms. These sales agents spend their time discussing with customers on the telephone. They take orders from clients, offer them advice and provide information about different securities. Commodities and securities sales agents need to work in shifts.
Investment bankers in corporate finance, acquisitions or mergers, usually, work long hours. Sometimes, they need to work under severe stress. Sales agents, at times, need to travel to their offices across the world. After gaining some experience, sales agents may become more familiar with their work and they deal with customers easily. A commodity or security sales agent has to carry out following responsibilities.
Responsibilities
Educational Qualification
Candidates who wish to make a career in the field of sales need to have completed a bachelor's degree. Some larger firms offering positions as securities and commodities sales agents require candidates who possess an MBA degree. There are many colleges offering well build courses in sales management.
Candidates who completed master's degree in Business Administration may get higher position in sales. Some colleges offer students internship programs, which help them to get work experience. Upon completing a bachelor's degree, candidates get into the realm of sales. Career in securities and commodities sales is lucrative and highly paying job option.