Mutual Fund Wholesalers

Certification or Licensing

Some wholesalers earn financial-related certifications such as the chartered financial analyst credential, which is offered by the CFA Institute, and the certified investment management analyst credential, which is available from the Investments & Wealth Institute. Additionally, some wholesalers earn sales- and marketing-related certifications, including:

• certified Internet marketer (Internet Marketing Association)
• certified professional sales leader, certified professional sales leader, certified master sales professional, and other credentials (Sales Management Association)
• professional certified marketer, with sub-credentials in content marketing, digital marketing, and marketing management (American Marketing Association)

Wholesalers are typically required to obtain their Series 6 (Investment Company and Variable Contracts Products Representative) and Series 7 (General Securities Representative) and often their Series 63 (Uniform Securities Agent State Law) or Series 65 (Uniform Investment Adviser Law) credentials from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the self-regulatory arm of the investment industry. Wholesalers must also be licensed by securities regulators in each state where they do business.

Other Requirements

Mutual fund wholesalers must undergo a criminal background check and a credit check.