The financial sector includes a wide range of businesses that offer financial services to consumers, businesses, and government agencies. The financial services business has been increasingly prominent in industrialised nations during the last half-century. In 1950, financial services companies accounted for only 10% of all business profits; by 2010, they accounted for nearly half of all business profits. One of the reasons it has so many high-paying positions is because of this.
Commercial and retail banking
The financial industry’s cornerstone is still retail banking. Deposit accounts, credit and debit cards, personal and corporate loans, and mortgages are all available through retail and commercial banks. They can also help with money transfers and foreign currency conversion. The current trend in retail banking is to provide each customer with increasingly customised financial services that are suited to their specific needs. Loan officers and major corporate leaders, such as the chief financial officer (CFO) and chief risk officer, frequently have the highest-paying jobs in retail banking (CRO).
Investments Banking
Investment banks handle stock and bond issuance for their clients, as well as general debt financing, to provide large financing for firms and governments through both equity and debt capital markets. They also handle company purchases and sales through operations like mergers and acquisitions (M&A), representing clients on both the buy and sell sides. In addition, they handle their clients’ investments. Investment banks’ most profitable business is usually mergers and acquisitions. As a result, those who can effectively acquire and manage significant M&A projects tend to have the highest paying roles at investment banks.
Insurance
Insurance firms are a significant part of the financial sector, constituting a subsector of financial services dedicated to providing individuals and businesses with practical risk management solutions. Investment bankers rely on insurance companies to assess and underwrite the risks connected with the capital markets funding they offer for their clients. Reinsurers, or companies that sell insurance to other insurance companies, provide the ultimate line of defence against risk. This sort of insurance is meant to provide financial protection to insurers in the event of a catastrophic loss. Agents who sell insurance products continue to have the highest paying employment in the insurance sector.
Brokerage firms and financial advisors
Brokerage firms, which include well-known brands like Charles Schwab and Fidelity Investments, let its clients purchase and sell stocks as well as provide financial advice and money management. Brokerage firms frequently construct and sell mutual funds and exchange-traded funds of their own (ETFs). Portfolio managers are the highest-paid employees in brokerage firms, as they design and manage such funds.