Last Updated on July 30, 2023 by Vishnu Nambiar
Have you passed 12th standard? Do you want to become a mutual fund agent? If yes, this post will be of help to you. Here, we will have an in-depth analysis of Mutual Fund Agent certification course.
Table of Contents
Mutual fund agent training: An Introduction
As the name suggests, this training program deals with the world of mutual funds. It falls under the category of financial and investment services. What is a mutual fund, you may ask. In simple terms, a mutual fund is a professionally managed investment fund that pools money from many investors to purchase security. Like other investment schemes, mutual funds too bring with them few pros and cons. Here are some of the main advantages offered by mutual funds –
- Access to economies of scale
- Provide higher level of diversification
- Professionally managed by experts
- Provide liquidity
Mutual funds are managed by professional investors. For laymen, mutual funds offer a decent chance to invest their money and get it managed by the professionals! But this comes at a cost though! Investors in a mutual fund have to pay different types of fees and expenses such as –
- Management fees
- Fund service charges
- Transaction fees
- And more…
Investment and finance savvy individuals may explore the world of direct investing with ease! They are capable of wading through the world of individual securities. They are capable of conducting market research, analysis, market trends etc. For a layman, investment and financial management world is full of risks. Under such circumstances, mutual funds help them invest their hard-earned money in a systematic and professional manner. But mutual funds too are subjected to market risks. Who is a mutual fund agent, you may ask. He/she is an individual or entity that facilitates buying and selling of units of mutual fund by investors. Mutual fund agents may work for investment/finance management/mutual fund firms. They may also work independently, earning commissions per referral from the above mentioned firms. A mutual fund agent performs tasks such as –
- Educating his/her client about mutual funds
- Helping clients identify the ideal scheme/plan
- Initiating purchase of mutual funds
- Collecting payments at regular intervals
- Customer service
- And more…
In order to thrive in this profession, one must possess knowledge about areas such as – mutual fund market, investment strategy, market research, application process, industry standards, legal aspects, customer service etc. Mutual fund agent training program will train you in the above mentioned areas. This is a vocational training program. It means that the course will impart relevant skills among students. After completing this course, you will be able to perform tasks such as –
- Conduct market research
- Find what’s trending in mutual fund market
- Approaching clients with plan/scheme/proposal
- Educating clients (about mutual fund policies)
- Helping clients choose the right scheme/policy/fund
- Initiating application process
- Complete purchase process
- Collect payment
- Conduct follow-up sessions
- Continue client education (if necessary)
- Customer service
- And more…
Let us take a closer look at the course details. In the next section, you will find details such as – duration, eligibility, fees, training centers and more.
Course Details
Type of course
It is a vocational training program.
Eligibility Criteria
Minimum educational qualification required is – completed 12th class from a recognized board/school.
Duration
Duration of this training program may vary from one institute to another. Minimum duration is around 350 hours of training.
Syllabus
Here are some of the core subjects present in Mutual fund agent training curriculum –
- Mutual fund market
- Market research
- Purchase of mutual funds
- Selling mutual funds
- Customer service
- Client education
- Communication skills
- Customer service
- After-sales activities
Training Centers
Many private training centers are known to offer this training course. State Governments across India are also known to offer this training program under skill development missions and schemes. Some telecom service providers are also known to give formal training to applicants/candidates.
You may also check –
Career Prospects
After completing this course, you may find work at establishments such as – mutual fund firms, investment firms/consultancies, finance management firms etc. You may also work as an independent agent and earn commissions for each referral you make.
Salary
Starting salary could range between 12-25K INR per month. It depends upon factors such as – job location, profile of the employer, educational qualification of the applicant etc. You may also check – insurance courses in India.
I am Vishnu Nambiar a career and educational blogger from India. I am also a full time educational consultant having more than 12 years of experience in the educational sector.
I share articles related to courses, colleges, careers, exam tips and more here.