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Understanding how to trade stocks can be a powerful skill for personal investments and can also help prepare you for a job in the financial sector. Discover what stocks are, how you can choose the best program for learning to trade them, and what kinds of careers may be open to professionals with this skill set.

What are stocks?

Stocks are a way for people and institutions to own a fractional piece of a company, with each unit of ownership referred to as a share. When you own stock in a company, you get to benefit when the company does well financially. Stocks are an important part of most investment portfolio strategies.

In addition to the benefits of understanding the stock market for personal investment, building that understanding can also help position you for a job in finance. Popular careers that involve working with stocks include stockbroker, financial analyst, portfolio manager, financial writer, and investment banker.

Many of these careers require at least a bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, economics, or a related field. If you are seeking a more flexible or short-term program, many online courses provide a convenient way to enhance your knowledge of stock market trading.

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Choosing the right program to learn about the stock market

When choosing the right education path to learn about stocks, you should consider what your end goals are. If you're looking to use the skills to manage your own investments, courses and certifications may be a better fit. If you're looking to start a new career in finance, a bachelor's degree or executive education program could be more appropriate.

Here's a deeper look at some of the main options available to you:

Courses

Stock and trading courses are an ideal starting point for anyone looking to learn the industry and the practical strategies needed to succeed.

Certifications

Certifications may be required for some stock market-related jobs, as they help demonstrate your expertise in a particular topic. Popular certifications include certified financial analyst, certified financial planner, and certified risk manager.

Executive education programs

With an executive education program, you can learn about stocks, trading, and related financial topics in a fast-paced environment that works with your schedule. These programs can be especially valuable to working professionals interested in developing specific skills.

Degrees

Finance and finance-related degree programs help build a foundation of knowledge and skills in markets and institutions. A degree program can provide you with the comprehensive knowledge to pursue many entry-level careers in finance.

Jobs in stock trading

You can consider several career pathways when you have a strong knowledge of how the stock market works. Some of the jobs you may be interested in include stock broker, financial analyst, endowment fund manager, investment banker, and investment banking analyst.

Keep in mind that many of these positions require at least a bachelor's degree in a field related to finance. Popular degree programs include business management, finance, accounting, economics, and statistics.

Additionally, some positions may require certifications. Some of the stock-related certifications you may need include: certified financial planner, chartered financial analyst, series 7 license, and series 3 license.

Here are a few positions that professionals with stock-trading expertise may qualify for, with each role's required education as well as salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):

Stockbroker

As a stockbroker, you will be directly responsible for the purchasing and selling of stocks. You may also interface with clients interested in buying and selling.

  • Required education: Bachelor's degree
  • Median annual salary (May 2023): $76,900
Financial analyst

Financial analysts research stocks and financial matters to help advise individuals and businesses to make profitable decisions.

  • Required education: Bachelor's degree
  • Median annual salary (May 2023): $99,890
Personal financial advisor

Personal financial advisors work individually or for a firm advising individual clients on how to best manage their money. This includes budgeting, purchasing stocks, making investments, and advising on tax strategy.

  • Required education: Bachelor's degree
  • Median annual salary (May 2023): $99,580

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    Frequently asked questions about education programs in stocks

    What is the importance of understanding the stock market?

    Learning about the stock market can be beneficial by both helping you develop the skills to build personal wealth through your own investments and potentially positioning you for a job in the financial sector. Examples of job opportunities include stockbroker, financial analyst, financial planner, and foreign exchange trader.

    How long does it take to learn about the stock market?

    Learning the basics of the stock market may only take a few weeks. However, many advanced financial concepts may take significantly longer. Examples of these more advanced concepts include options, margins, futures, and hedging.

    How hard is it to learn about the stock market?

    The difficulty of learning the stock market depends on how deep you go with your education. Learning the basics is rather straightforward and many people often find it relatively easy to learn. However, the more advanced concepts tend to be more math heavy and require deeper analytical thinking. This may make them more challenging to learn.