Students considering a career in investing should check out these insights from the experts at Schaeffer’s Investment Research.
Considering a career in investing? Ultimately, working in finance and investing, in particular, requires a lot of hard work, education, and knowledge. That said, successful investors can enjoy an extremely lucrative career. Schaeffer’s Investment Research gurus share some vital insights.
“First off, education is important,” a spokesperson for Schaeffer’s Investment Research notes. “That said, many people come into investing with non-traditional degrees and experiences. Likewise, education should never stop. A degree is just the beginning.”
Many investors have undergraduate and graduate degrees in finance, business, economics, and similar fields. Studying these subjects and taking the right classes can help you understand how financial markets work and also how the business world at large operates.
The right background can also make it easier to analyze companies operating in industries you’re familiar with. Someone with a background in chemical engineering, for example, might excel with investments in oil & gas, industrial chemicals, or whatever else.
Ultimately, knowledge can be valuable and with the right investing approach, you may be able to put your knowledge to work. Still, no matter your degree(s), education never stops. Markets change all the time, and realities studied during your undergraduate courses may look vastly different in ten or fifteen years.
“All of our investing and options experts continue to pick up new skills and to brush up on their knowledge,” a spokesperson for Schaeffer’s Investment Research says. “This helps our company stay at the forefront of options trading and other fields too. No matter your degrees and career, it’s wise to continue to brush up on your skills.”
Hands-on training is also important. If you want to get into investing, signing up for internships or investing some of your own money offers a way to get started. Remember too, if you don’t have the money, you can often use stock simulators that allow you to simulate markets without having to risk real money.
“Hands-on experience is ultimately vital,” a spokesperson from Schaeffer’s argues. “That’s true for people considering investing as a career, and also people who want to manage their own finances.”
Schaeffer’s Investment Research Talks People Skills
So far, we’ve focused mostly on the knowledge of investing itself, including brushing up your knowledge of financial markets and various industries. While these topics certainly are important, it’s also vital that you remember the human factor. People skills can go a long way in any industry, including finance and investing.
“Working with people is vital in finance,” a spokesperson for Schaeffer’s Investment Research expert says. “You need to be able to gain and build trust with your clients, for example. And no lone person is an army. If you can work with other investors and gain insights, you can often deliver better results.”
Often, people skills aren’t taught in the classroom. That said, you can frequently pick up insights through internships, practice, mentoring, and learning outside of the class. The first step is recognizing how vital people skills are.