> How can I start my own investing firm?

How can I start my own investing firm?

Posted at: 2014-12-05 
You can very easily start your own investing firmm and NO you do not need to go to college.

To start you own firm, you need to be registered with SEC as to what type of firm you want to be. (Broker, Dealer, Broker/dealer, RIA,) For these registrations you will need capital - at least $25,000 or up to $250,000 - which must be subject to annual certified audits.

If you want to be a broker/dealer you will need clearing agreements with a major firm that provides such service, this could incur a basic deposit of at least $50,000

Depending on your registrations you will also need membership in FINRA.

You will have to pass several qualification test - Series 7, Series 63.

In addition you will have to be registered with your state of domicile, and possibly other local municipalities.

Experience in "talking with people" is not a criteria for getting you qualified for registrations and/or membership with any regulatory agency.

Depending on how you're registered you may be able to work from home.

Based on the wording of your question you're not ready to go off with a securities investment business, Talk to some of your local RIA or smaller brokerage firms

I wouldn't invest a dime, much less my life savings, with someone who's experience encompasses having 'talked to people on the phone'. Even if you had a college degree in finance and was a Certified Financial Planner, I wouldn't go with a one-person firm.

Go to college, get a degree in finance, get your CFP, and then go work for an established firm. If you're really good at it, then break out on your own.

You have to have several licenses, up to and including whats called a "Series 7". Look up the qualifications for your state on the State Gov't Website.

As for the specifics of your office, depending on what type of transactions you are doing, you could work from a home office and assist in stock & bond trading, up to requiring a PCI complient facility to do advanced global options trading.

you'd need to go to college for finance. no one is going to trust you with their money otherwise.

Do I have to go to college? I have some experience from talking to ppl on the phone and trying to get them to invest. But can I do it on my own? What all do I need? Can I just lease a place or work from my home and make an office?