Stock Trading and Other Things

Whats the difference between accountants and brokers?

Whats the difference between accountants and brokers?
How many years of school does it take to be a broker? do brokers even go to college or are they just trained people?
Thanks!!

Public Comments

1. There are several types of brokers, and they have NOTHING in common with accountants. Are you referring to mortgage brokers, stock brokers, insurance brokers, or some other type of brokers? If you had asked the deference between plumbers and politicians, the question would be equally answerable.

2. An accountant tracks the things a company owns (assets), tracks its IOUs (liabilities), its income, expenses, net worth--the difference between its posessions and its IOUs. The accountant also prepares report such as tax returns. Accountants have a minimum of a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in accounting.

A broker.buys and sells property. If he is a real estate broker he acts as an agent to buy or sell real estate for a client. If he is an investment broker he buys or sells stocks, municipal bonds, corporate bonds, mutual funds, futures contracts, and so on for a client. He is paid on commission and works for an investment firm. He primary loyalty is to his firm.

A real estate broker has a minimum of 45 college credits in real estate. An investment broker has a minimum of a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance. Many investment brokers have Masters of Business Administration in Finance degrees. In addition they have to pass an exam to sell securities.