Did you go into the stock market industry as a broker hoping to make a good deal of money? If you did, you might be in for a shock. To start a career as a stockbroker, you first have to go through a grueling set of exams and training. Though you are not required to even have a college degree, having an educational background that deals with the economy and financing helps you gain an analytical understanding of how the stock market works. Before you can start brokering any transactions, you have to first gain your license. To do so, you must first look for a brokerage firm that will take you under their wing.

It is only after four months of on-the-job training with the firm that you are allowed to take the General Securities Registered Representative Examination. After you acquire your license by passing this exam, most states require you to take another test in the form of the Uniform Securities Agents State Law Examination. In this exam, it is determined whether you have a wide knowledge in the stock market as a whole. After passing these two exams, you are simply branded as a trainee. Most firms put you through a number of classes and training programs for as long as two years. It is only then that you can start looking for a pool of clients you can call your own. It is after that entire process that you will start reaping the benefits. The average starting salary of a stockbroker in the U.S. is around $17,000. The average salary throughout the U.S. after five years of working would be around $30,000 to $49,000. The upper percentile may earn around $60,000 and higher.

Investors who wish to save on commission fees can use a ‘discount broker’. These brokers charge much lower commissions but don’t offer advice or analysis. Investors who like to make their own trading decisions and those who make many trades often use discount brokers for their transactions. Some traders may use both types – there is no reason why you can’t have two brokers.

No matter what type of broker you choose, you must first open an account. Each broker sets their own requirements for maintaining an account balance but it is usually between $500 and $1000. When choosing a broker look at the fine print and find out about the fees involved. Some brokers charge an annual maintenance fee while other charge fees whenever your account balance falls below the minimum. There are two basic types of brokerage accounts. A ‘cash account’ offers no credit – when you buy you pay the full amount of the stock price. A ‘margin’ account, on the other hand, allows you to buy stock ‘on margin’ – the brokerage will carry some of the cost of the stock. The amount of margin varies from broker to broker but the margin must be protected by the value of the client’s portfolio. If the portfolio falls below a specified amount the investor will have to add more funds or sell some stock. Margin accounts allow investors to buy more stock with less cash thereby realizing greater gains (and losses). Because they involve more risk than cash accounts, margin accounts are not recommended for inexperienced traders. Before choosing a particular broker the investor should carefully consider his needs. Does he wish to receive advice about which stocks to buy? Is he uncomfortable making trades on the Internet? If so, he should go with a full-service broker. Technology savvy investors who have the knowledge and confidence to make their own trading decisions are better off with a discount broker.