Financial sales agents sell a wide variety of banking, accounting, securities, insurance, tax preparation, and other related services. They contact potential customers to explain their services and to ascertain customers’ banking and other financial needs. What it involves Financial sales agents normally work 40 hours a week in a comfortable, less stressful office environment. They may spend considerable time outside the office, meeting with current and prospective clients, attending civic functions, and participating in trade association meetings. Most employers provide intensive on-the-job training and have a specialized business model which employees must learn. New employees must also come to know the large number of products and services offered by most firms. Trainees in large firms may receive classroom instruction in securities analysis, effective speaking, and the finer points of selling. Firms often rotate their trainees among various departments, to give them a broad perspective of the securities business. In small firms, sales agents often receive training in outside institutions and on the job.   What's required Most employees have a bachelor’s degree in business, finance, accounting, or economics, although this is not necessarily a requirement. Potential employees must have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, a strong work ethic, the ability to work in a team and to understand and analyze numbers and a desire to succeed. Self-confidence and an ability to handle frequent rejection are also important ingredients for success. Those who are successful can have extremely lucrative careers.