High School
In high school, take a college-preparatory curriculum that includes classes in economics, computer science, business, English, speech, mathematics, statistics, accounting, psychology, history, social studies, and foreign language.
Postsecondary Education
A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in finance, mathematics, business, financial engineering, quantitative finance, accounting, or economics—plus several years of experience—are required to enter the field. Some banks require their private bankers to have master’s degrees in business, finance, or related areas. During college, be sure to take course work in communications, psychology, taxation, insurance, real estate, financial planning, investment strategy, and risk management.
Certification
Many colleges and universities offer undergraduate and graduate certificates in financial investing, banking practices, business management, alternative investments, real estate, taxation, communications, and accounting that will be useful to aspiring or current private bankers.
The Investments & Wealth Institute offers a variety of certificate programs such as Private Wealth Essentials; Global Financial Planning Essentials; Private Markets for Advisors; Investment Management Essentials; Applied Behavioral Finance; and College and Student Loan Planning Essentials. Visit https://investmentsandwealth.org/online-learning-financial-advisor-ce/certificate-programs for more information.
Other Education or Training
The American Bankers Association offers a wealth of in-person and online wealth management and trust continuing education opportunities. Recent offerings included Guide to Ethics for Trust Professionals, Investment Products, Asset Allocation and Portfolio Management, and Planning for Estate Tax. Other opportunities are provided by the Association of International Wealth Management, Investments & Wealth Institute, Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education, Association for Financial Professionals, Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, CFA Institute, Chartered Alternate Investment Analyst Association, Fi360, Institute for Private Investors, Institute of Business and Finance, International Association of Registered Financial Consultants, and the Investments & Wealth Institute.
- Accountants
- Auditors
- Automatic Teller Machine Servicers
- Bank Branch Managers
- Bank Examiners
- Billing Clerks
- Bookkeeping and Accounting Clerks
- Business Managers
- Chief Executive Officers
- Chief Financial Officers
- Compliance Managers
- Credit Analysts
- Economists
- Financial Analysts
- Financial Institution Officers and Managers
- Financial Institution Tellers, Clerks, and Related Workers
- Financial Planners
- Financial Quantitative Analysts
- Financial Services Brokers
- Forensic Accountants and Auditors
- Fraud Examiners, Investigators, and Analysts
- Investment Bankers
- Investment Banking Analysts
- Investment Banking Associates
- Investment Banking Sales Brokers
- Investment Banking Traders
- Investment Fund Managers
- Investment Professionals
- Investment Underwriters
- Loan Processors
- Loan Underwriters
- Mergers and Acquisitions Attorneys
- Mortgage Bankers
- Regulatory Affairs Managers
- Regulatory Affairs Specialists
