A large number of Americans are not interested to know how banks perform. I discussed with them the reasons behind the 2008-recession, and how it hit our banking sector. And they showed little interest.

Wannabe private banker?

If you aspire to become a private banker, know everything about banking; why the deposit interest rate in this country has always been abysmally low? What are the differences between a retail bank and an investment bank? Everything.

Acquiring knowledge of banking is not difficult because we live in a digital world, filled with multiple channels to gather info. But preparing for this career is. Making money may be easy, but private bankers deal with rigorous financial matters; the job can be very stressful at times.

Basic responsibilities

Who is a private banker? Someone with financial expertise and knowledge in banking, who works for individuals with high net worth, sort of a financial advisor, whose areas of operation are investment-centric. A private banker has clients, who are extremely wealthy, and whom he helps with investment, tax planning and wealth management advice.

Educational qualification

The minimum qualification is an undergraduate degree. A finance degree is not necessary but recommended. Unlike other finance professionals, private bankers don’t get to work as interns while they are still studying. It’s best if you could amass some experience by working in a bank or a financial institute because that’d increase your odds of qualifying for an internship.

Certifications required

An aspiring private banker can choose from a range of certifications. Employers prefer a candidate with two or more certificates than another candidate, who has only one. The Chartered Financial Analyst or CFA is a certification, offered by the CFA Institute. It is widely recognized, but hard to obtain because the pursuer needs a minimum of four years of working experience as a banking professional.

The American Bankers Association (ABA) offers an initiation called The Certified Trust and Financial Advisor (CTFA). To qualify for this certification, you need to have at least three years of experience in wealth management. The Association of International Wealth Management, a non-profit organization, issues the Certified International Wealth Manager (CIWM) certification.

You need license

To start your career as a private banker, you need to get licensed. An aspirant can obtain the required licenses only from Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), an organization that monitors the activities of the US security firms. The licenses required by private bankers are series 6, 7 and 63.

• Here’s a brief description of the licenses:

Series 6: To obtain this license, you need to crack an exam, which will last for more than 2 hours. The topics are investment, regulations and relevant moral codes. A sponsorship from a FINRA accredited firm is necessary. The holders of this license provide mutual fund related advice.

Series 7: It’s hardcore finance. If you hold this license, you could offer your clients stock market and bond market advice. You need to pass an exam to qualify for this license, which will last for six hours.

Series 63: The North American Securities Administrators Association or NASAA issues the series 63 license, not FINRA. This license is required by the individual states for professionals, who offer their clients advice on investment.

Having all three of these licenses increases your acceptance to a potential employer. So try to obtain as many licenses as you could. To charge your clients for hours, obtain a series 65 license (offered by NASAA). Here’s everything you need to know about this license.

Success depends on networking

That’s right. An extended network can fetch you excellent deals. On the other hand, if you limit your network, the odds of getting opportunities will reduce. Remember, you’ll be working for high-net-worth-individuals and maybe sometimes with ultra-high-net-worth-individuals.

Don’t get surprised if you meet a billionaire one day, whose face routinely appears on the cover page of a tabloid. Such people need private bankers. It’s an art to land a client among them. Try meeting them in informal settings because that’s when they are in a relaxing mood. Add subtlety when pursuing them, but don’t be pushy.

Challenges

Not everything is rosy about the career that private bankers select. The investment decisions are not easy, more so because any such decision backfires, client would have to bear the brunt. Most investors prefer big returns, which is impossible without rigorous risk management initiatives. And managing risk is no child’s play, even for a seasoned private banker.

Moreover, as the market has become more volatile than before, investors on a row seem to prefer low-cost investment options, which preserve capital. Such options translates to lower fees for the banker.

Think again

As you have all the information now, take time and decide whether you want to be a private banker. If you don’t like taking risks, and prefer to unwind yourself after little stress, the job is not for you. So think twice, three times or maybe more than that, and only then go ahead.

Tina Roth is a personal finance blogger and author. Her passion for helping people to make solid financial decisions motivated her to start her own personal finance blog, where she writes about money management tips and frugality. She is also the community manager at the finance guest post community.

As the New Year begins, expectations in the M&A are high. There was an overall decline in activity in 2016 as compared to 2015. To most of the deal makers, it is due to the uncertainties that come with political environment. However, as the year unveils, stabilization in the new administration will dictate the market, with predictions of favors in the Mergers and Acquisition markets.

2017 Expectations in the Merger market.

2016 showed a drop in activity by a 25% decline in activity and reduction in deals. According to M. Bolsinger from Dechert; there are a lot of expectations from the new administration; running from changes in tax policies, interest rates, to other macroeconomic drivers. It is until the changes stabilize that great deals in M&A will crop. Bolsinger is also optimistic on the available opportunities in the financial sector based on the president’s elect promise to replace Dodd-Frank. From his perspective, there is uncertainty of performance in the environment and healthcare sectors.

It is also expected that M&A importance will be of significance in 2017. The US$1.7tn is the amount of money reported to be lying idle in the financial sectors, which is expected to be put in the M&A market for a significant whopping change. Also, there is the need to invest in the organic growth around the world. According to J, Packee, Baird, most investors concentrate on the inorganic investment. It is reported that dry powder stood at US$800bn in Q3 which would have been invested in the sector.

The first quarter of 2017 is expected to show an increasing trend in the deal activity due to the sudden drop of uncertainties from the pre-election period. According to Eurazzo, who works for an international investment company in Paris, the drop in uncertainties can be seen from the trends in the US stock market.

In addition, higher expectations in the M&A deal sector is linked to the emphasis on quality of deals in 2016 which slowed down activities. It is however expected to be different in the first and second quarters of 2017, since there is more confidence in the inventory deal as high quality deals venture the market.

Expectations in the private equity activity in 2017

It is reported that private equity activity in 2016 in North America remained strong, which is in contrast with the drop in the corporate M&A. In the first, second and third quarters of 2016, there were 781 private equity deals valued at US1bn, which is just five fewer from 786 deals in 2015. The technology, industrial and chemicals, and the business services sectors are the top three sectors that largely contributed to the private equity deals in 2016.

According to West Monroe, the last seven years have recorded such a high competition in the private equity deals. This is due to the emphasis in quality deals, speed and valuation, and availability of active strategic buyers. Also, the financial sponsors have made the private equity business easy and convenient. This is because, private equity firms assemble portfolio companies and then roll up add-ons to those companies.

However, according to Bolsinger, the high competition is due to: fewer and fewer large-cap deals; and availability of very acquisitive strategies that sit on a lot of cash while still fostering big threats to the private equities.

Eurazzo sees the long term deals between a business owner and a private equity firm much more sufficient than the short term deals. This is due to the fact that businesses take long to be more productive.

The driving force of the increase in the inbound deal value by 21% in mid-market M&A.

The inbound deal value went up by 21% to US$22.9bn in Q1-Q3 in 2016 especially from the Asia based acquirers. The Asian countries engage in M&A for various reasons such as acquiring better technology or to expand their market share.

The success of great deals in M&A is the buying of beneficial brands and investing back to the countries’ businesses to enhance them. Also, a strict state control helps in improving M&A deals as evident from the China State Council.

The challenges facing the M&A deals.

Cultural differences makes it difficult for some investors to invest and succeed in foreign areas. This is due to political and cultural differences, as well as communication barriers. However, buying a well-established business can conquer the challenges.

The expansion of private debt for M&A activity.

In 2016, the closed end private debt fund had more than US$131bn, which is the highest amount recorded ever. The increased debts according to Monroe is due to the low interest rates. Also, investors have turned up in large numbers to seek for direct lending, which proves to be more convenient rather than the traditional way of banking market.

Source: Firmex.com

In today’s finance world, many business owners still have difficulties in getting approved for small business loans for working capital with little or no business assets and not much profit. It is very difficult to get working capital in today’s economy. This working capital is lifeline for many small business owners to survive through any financial crunch that comes up for alternative financing. Read this article for some helpful tips for easy business funding for working capital for critical daily cash flow needed.

It is getting difficult day by day for business owners to get approved for business loans. Credit unions and traditional banks are also of not much help for them. Many banks and credit unions have ceased lending business loans altogether. In such situation, your best option is to reach out to lenders who offer fast and easy working capital funds.

Working capital is very necessary for every business owner to have operating cash flow for day to day operations. They need these funds for expanding, competing and succeeding in their business. The key rule is to generate a decent gross profit and work environment to get maximum output from your employers.

Business owners must do their research before visiting any private lender and applying for short term funds. Use the internet and search for a reliable and responsible lender for business cash advances. Check with your state authorities if there are any complaints lodged against that lender. Ultimately, you don’t want to end up getting into any sort of scam especially when you are already in a financial crunch.

Working capital cash funds will help your business to handle any future financial troubles. Business bank statement funding is fast and easy business funding that has opened gates for small businesses to get easy working capital funding. Easy repayment options, 100 percent funding approval and quick processing of business cash are some of the benefits business owners are looking for.

Lenders will offer different programs to fit to your specific needs. They can convert your future credit card receivables into immediate cash that can be used for any business purpose. Repayment is based on small fixed percentage of your future credit card receivables. Payments will be applied to the remaining balance until paid off.

With the help of cash flow working capital, many small business owners are now able to breathe freely. But you must do your own research before choosing a lender to work with. There are so many lenders in the market that it often gets difficult to differentiate between a reliable one and an online scam. Market Invoice is one of the best in the business with their great articles and offerings.