CMPP Role Skill Reckoner — Find Your Capital Markets Career Path

Client-Facing

5 core

Retail RM / Sales Trainee

Lightest load. Goal is confident client conversations — not deep analysis. Foundation, products, and communication are everything.

Capital Markets Foundation Mutual Fund Foundation Behavioral Finance Communication Skills Technical Analysis for Market Decisions Global Macro for Investors Investment Products & Alternatives Portfolio Construction & Risk Management

9 core

HNI Relationship Manager

Significantly more depth needed — HNI clients ask harder questions and expect holistic advice across asset classes.

Capital Markets Foundation Fundamental Analysis for Investment Decisions Options & Derivatives Global Macro for Investors Portfolio Construction & Risk Management Investment Products & Alternatives Mutual Fund Foundation Communication Skills Behavioral Finance Global Macro & Cross-Asset Analysis Portfolio Analytics & Performance Reporting

9 core

Wealth Manager / Financial Planner

Planning-oriented, not trading-oriented. Lighter on TA and derivatives, heavier on products and reporting.

Capital Markets Foundation Mutual Fund Foundation Investment Products & Alternatives Global Macro for Investors Portfolio Construction & Risk Management Portfolio Analytics & Performance Reporting Communication Skills Fundamental Analysis for Investment Decisions Behavioral Finance Global Macro & Cross-Asset Analysis Technical Analysis for Market Decisions

3 core

Mutual Fund Distributor (MFD)

Intentionally the leanest role. Mutual funds, regulatory basics, and communication essentially cover the entire job scope.

Capital Markets Foundation Mutual Fund Foundation Communication Skills Behavioral Finance Investment Products & Alternatives

Analysis & Research

7 core

Technical Analyst

Chart-driven. Core job is reading price, identifying setups, and generating trade ideas with structured rule-based thinking.

Capital Markets Foundation Technical Analysis for Market Decisions Options & Derivatives Market Screening & Idea Generation Data Handling & Excel Behavioral Finance Case Studies & End-to-End Implementation Trading Strategy Development Global Macro for Investors Portfolio Construction & Risk Management Portfolio Analytics & Performance Reporting

14 core

Senior Technical Analyst

Separates practitioner from researcher. Strategy systems, volatility analysis, and statistical thinking mark the upgrade from TA.

Capital Markets Foundation Technical Analysis for Market Decisions Trading Strategy Development Options & Derivatives Global Macro & Cross-Asset Analysis Global Macro for Investors Market Screening & Idea Generation Portfolio Construction & Risk Management Statistical Thinking & Rule-Based Frameworks Data Handling & Excel Portfolio Analytics & Performance Reporting AI Applications in Financial Markets Behavioral Finance Case Studies & End-to-End Implementation Creating Advanced Custom Screeners Backtesting & Strategy Validation Strategy Development & Trading Systems Python for Market Analysis

12 core

Equity Research Analyst

Deepest FA footprint of any role. Thesis-building, earnings models, and sector work is the entire job — TA and derivatives are mostly optional.

Capital Markets Foundation Fundamental Analysis for Investment Decisions Investment Research & Equity Thesis Global Macro for Investors Market Screening & Idea Generation Creating Advanced Custom Screeners Portfolio Analytics & Performance Reporting Communication Skills AI Applications in Financial Markets Behavioral Finance Data Handling & Excel Case Studies & End-to-End Implementation Technical Analysis for Market Decisions Global Macro & Cross-Asset Analysis Options & Derivatives Statistical Thinking & Rule-Based Frameworks

14 core

Portfolio Manager

Broadest core footprint — touches FA, TA, derivatives, macro, portfolio construction, and reporting. The generalist at the top of the analysis track.

Capital Markets Foundation Fundamental Analysis for Investment Decisions Investment Research & Equity Thesis Options & Derivatives Global Macro for Investors Global Macro & Cross-Asset Analysis Portfolio Construction & Risk Management Market Screening & Idea Generation Mutual Fund Foundation Investment Products & Alternatives Portfolio Analytics & Performance Reporting Communication Skills Behavioral Finance Case Studies & End-to-End Implementation Technical Analysis for Market Decisions Trading Strategy Development Statistical Thinking & Rule-Based Frameworks Backtesting & Strategy Validation AI Applications in Financial Markets

Trading Desk

8 core

Execution Specialist

Execution-first. FA is largely irrelevant. Behavioral finance is Core because discipline under pressure is the actual job.

Capital Markets Foundation Technical Analysis for Market Decisions Trading Strategy Development Options & Derivatives Portfolio Construction & Risk Management Global Macro & Cross-Asset Analysis Behavioral Finance Case Studies & End-to-End Implementation Global Macro for Investors Market Screening & Idea Generation Backtesting & Strategy Validation Algorithmic Trading Foundations Strategy Development & Trading Systems

9 core

Options Strategist

Most specialized role. The only non-quant track where statistical thinking and backtesting are mandatory. Greeks and volatility are the core language.

Capital Markets Foundation Technical Analysis for Market Decisions Trading Strategy Development Options & Derivatives Portfolio Construction & Risk Management Statistical Thinking & Rule-Based Frameworks Backtesting & Strategy Validation Behavioral Finance Case Studies & End-to-End Implementation Strategy Development & Trading Systems Global Macro & Cross-Asset Analysis Global Macro for Investors Algorithmic Trading Foundations

15 core

Algo / Quant / Python

Most distinct track. Python, backtesting, strategy systems, and algo foundations are all Core. Many modules others treat as optional become mandatory here.

Capital Markets Foundation Technical Analysis for Market Decisions Trading Strategy Development Options & Derivatives Portfolio Construction & Risk Management Market Screening & Idea Generation Statistical Thinking & Rule-Based Frameworks Data Handling & Excel Python for Market Analysis Backtesting & Strategy Validation Strategy Development & Trading Systems Algorithmic Trading Foundations AI Applications in Financial Markets Behavioral Finance Case Studies & End-to-End Implementation Creating Advanced Custom Screeners Global Macro for Investors Fundamental Analysis for Investment Decisions

Content, Tech & Support

8 core

Market Analyst / Content Writer

Broad market literacy needed across FA, macro, TA, and commodities — but zero execution or quant modules. Writing and structure are the primary output.

Capital Markets Foundation Fundamental Analysis for Investment Decisions Technical Analysis for Market Decisions Global Macro for Investors Global Macro & Cross-Asset Analysis Market Screening & Idea Generation Communication Skills AI Applications in Financial Markets Mutual Fund Foundation Behavioral Finance Trading Strategy Development Investment Products & Alternatives Portfolio Analytics & Performance Reporting

4 core

Fintech Product Manager

Unique profile — needs market structure, Python, algo foundations, and AI applications to build financial products intelligently. Skips deep analysis entirely.

Capital Markets Foundation Python for Market Analysis Algorithmic Trading Foundations AI Applications in Financial Markets Global Macro for Investors Mutual Fund Foundation Investment Products & Alternatives Data Handling & Excel Statistical Thinking & Rule-Based Frameworks Communication Skills

3 core

Compliance / Operations

Lean and purposeful. Regulatory knowledge, reporting, and communication cover the core job. Market literacy is awareness-level only.

Capital Markets Foundation Portfolio Analytics & Performance Reporting Communication Skills Mutual Fund Foundation Behavioral Finance Data Handling & Excel AI Applications in Financial Markets