The person who acts as a middleman between the buyers and sellers of the stocks is a Stock broker. A stock broker can either be a person or a company. They are the experts who are well versed in the markets and can advise you on the best time for buying and selling.
A stock broker receives commission in the form of a flat fee or percentage of the value of the transaction for executing the trade and offering the advice. In this fast growth of online trading, the demand for human stock brokers has decreased.
They are considered to be the important people in any market. They are the ones to create liquidity and efficiency in the market by bringing buyers and sellers together. Usually affiliated with the brokerage firm and handle transactions, brokerage firms and broker-dealers are referred to as stock brokers themselves.
Technology has now opened the doors for small investors to trade the stock markets at a small fee via the internet. Individuals based overseas can now afford to invest in the stock market with the help of discount brokers.
Educational Qualifications required:
Since there are no specific qualifications listed, one can consider of pursuing an undergraduate degree in business. One can also have a degree of Masters in Business Administration or Masters in Finance. Having some education in mathematics, statistics, and quantitative analysis proves to be an add-on benefit.
How they gain:
It takes a minimum of 5 to 10 years for successful brokers to reach that level. The first few years can prove to be arduous, as their most of the time is used in finding new clients with assets to invest.