High School
In high school, take classes in business, economics, statistics, accounting, mathematics, software programming (if you want to work in electronic trading), database management, English, and speech.
Postsecondary Education
A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in business, mathematics, finance, quantitative finance, accounting, or economics from a top-tier college is often required to work as a trader, but these rules aren’t hard and fast. Some traders are financial whizzes, but lack college degrees. Others may be highly-skilled and successful, but did not attend a prestigious college. Some traders have degrees in the humanities.
Many quantitative traders have master’s degrees in financial engineering, financial mathematics, or computational finance. The International Association for Quantitative Finance offers a list of colleges and universities that offer degree in these areas at https://www.iaqf.org/academic-programs. Others have graduate degrees in computer science, statistics, physics, computer programming, or electrical engineering.
Some banks such as Goldman Sachs and UBS provide extensive on-the-job training, which is delivered in a variety of ways: classroom instruction, webinars, or self-paced individual learning.
Other Education or Training
The Algorithmic Trader’s Association offers webinars such as Introduction to Systematic Trading, Simulated Trading, Optimization, and Performance and Robustness. The CFA Institute, Futures Industry Association, International Association for Quantitative Finance, CMT Association, and Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association also provide continuing education classes, webinars, and workshops. Contact these organizations for more information.
Certification
Colleges and universities provide certificates in investment banking, trading, and related areas. For example, the University of Pittsburgh offers an Investments and Trading Certificate Program. Certificate-seekers must complete four required classes (Investments and Capital Markets, Markets and Trading, Fixed Income, and Forecasting) and elective courses. The University of Houston, New York University School of Professional Studies, Johns Hopkins University, and other colleges offer related programs. Contact schools in your area to learn about what types of educational opportunities are available. Additionally, Fitch Learning (which offers continuing education opportunities to individuals and corporations) offers a certificate in quantitative finance. Visit http://www.cqf.com for more information.
- Accountants
- Auditors
- Chief Executive Officers
- Chief Financial Officers
- Commodities Brokers
- Compliance Managers
- Financial Analysts
- Financial Consultants
- Financial Institution Officers and Managers
- Financial Institution Tellers, Clerks, and Related Workers
- Financial Quantitative Analysts
- Financial Services Brokers
- Hedge Fund Investor Relations Specialists
- Hedge Fund Relationship Managers
- Investment Bankers
- Investment Banking Analysts
- Investment Banking Associates
- Investment Banking Sales Brokers
- Investment Fund Managers
- Investment Professionals
- Investment Underwriters
- Mergers and Acquisitions Attorneys
- Mutual Fund Wholesalers
- Private Bankers
- Regulatory Affairs Managers
- Regulatory Affairs Specialists
- Wealth Management Associates
- Wealth Management Investor Relations Specialists
