There are several formal licensing tests from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) that are pre-requisites, including the Series 9, the Series 63, and the Series 79. As noted above, a business degree and an MBA are helpful as educational background. And, there are a number of other skills that don't necessarily come with a degree. Investment bankers are persuasive and tenacious. They have the people skills to build a network, and the negotiating skills to get deals done.