Financial sales representatives sell basic deposit, investment and loan products and services to individuals and businesses. They work in banks, credit unions, trust companies and similar financial institutions.

• consumer credit officer
• credit analyst
• debt counsellor
• financial services representative
• loan officer
• mortgage consultant
• mortgage loans officer
• personal banker
• personal banking representative
• personal loans officer

To work in this field, you should have excellent organizational, analytical, and communication skills, both oral and written. Good judgement, integrity, and persistence are important. You must have an aptitude for mathematics and be capable of detailed and precise work. Business skills are essential.

• Completion of secondary school and extensive general banking experience is usually required.
• A bachelor's degree or college diploma related to commerce or economics may be required.
• A mutual funds licence is usually required.
• Registration with the securities regulatory authority in the province or territory of employment is usually required.
• Completion of a loan or credit training program, ranging from six to twelve months, is usually required.
• Various training programs and courses are offered by the Institute of Canadian Bankers and may be required by employers.
• Financial services officers who sell regulated financial products and investments are required to be licensed by the appropriate governing body.

Progression to higher levels of financial planning and wealth management is possible with experience. Progression to credit and loan management positions is possible with experience.

The employment outlook over the next few years for this occupational group is “average”, which indicates the chances of a qualified individual finding work is comparable to the average for all occupations in Nova Scotia. This is a fairly large occupation in Nova Scotia so job opportunities occur fairly regularly. The number employed in this occupation is expected to grow moderately over the next few years, which will likely provide some additional opportunities for employment. With a large percent of workers being 55 years of age and older, retirements are expected to be a key contributor to employment opportunities over the coming years. Financial Sales Representatives most commonly work full-time hours. Furthermore, the jobs are typically permanent positions.

The median employment income for 70% of Financial Sales Representatives who worked full-time, year-round in 2015 was $46,006. Across all occupations in Nova Scotia, 59% of those who worked full-time year round had a median employment income of $43,600.
(Source: 2016 Census)

Hourly earnings data are from the Labour Force Survey by Statistics Canada. Data are not available for all occupations. Hourly earnings are calculated based on usual hours worked per week. This is how an annual salary, for instance, gets converted to an hourly rate. The data include full and part-time workers along with new and experienced workers. Self-employed workers are excluded.

Annual employment income data reported in the Work Prospects section, are from the 2011 National Household Survey by Statistics Canada. Much of the data (around 70%) came directly from tax records. The data relates to the year 2010 and includes total wages and salaries and net income from self-employment.

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