Financial services are a vital sector of any economy. They advance loans for businesses to expand, provide mortgages for home owners, and issue insurance policies to protect people, companies, and their assets. They also help people build savings and invest for the future. Without a vibrant financial sector, economies would stagnate and business growth would slow.

The global financial services industry is made up of thousands of depository institutions, providers of investment products, insurance companies, credit and financing organizations, and other credit and lending support utilities. There are also many professional services firms that assist with risk management, valuation, accounting, and more. The industry is incredibly complex and involves a lot of moving parts. As such, it’s important for anyone considering a career in financial services to understand the different types of jobs within the sector and how each one might fit into their overall career plan.

This article focuses on three broad categories of jobs in the financial services industry:

Investment services are all about managing money. They include stock and bond trading, facilitating payments, and providing research and advice. In addition, investment services help individuals and companies manage their wealth by investing in a wide range of asset classes, from stocks to real estate. They also offer a variety of products to protect against loss and unforeseen events, such as life insurance, property insurance, and liability coverage. They may also offer tax-efficient strategies for saving and investment.