According to the O*Net website, the education of a financial analyst must have at least a bachelor's degree in accounting, finance or a business-related specialization ("Analysts financial"). A master's degree is not required for this job, but for advanced positions in the field, a master's degree in business-related fields will be required. Courses such as accounting, finance, statistics, and mathematics provide useful preparation for this career. I need to take these courses in order to fulfill the requirements for a degree in accounting and finance, which will benefit me in the future. “Financial analysts can become CFA certified if they have a bachelor's degree, 4 years of qualified work experience, and pass three exams” (“How to Become a Financial Analyst”). Financial analysts typically start out in the investment field, but "as they gain experience, they may become portfolio managers, who select the mix of investments for a company's portfolio." They may also become fund managers, who manage large investment portfolios for individual investors” (“How to Become a Financial Analyst”). Certification is not required for a financial analyst, but it is often recommended by employers, and having a certification can also increase salary and the possibility of pursuing a more advanced degree.