financier

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Financier (pronounced /fɪnənˈsɪər/; French pronunciation: [finãˈsje]) is a term for a person who handles large sums of money, usually involving money lending, financing projects, large-scale investing, or large-scale money management. The term is French, and derives from finance or payment. The term financier has upscale and haughty connotations, and the stereotype portrayed by the term is typically of a wealthy and powerful person.

A financier today can be someone who makes their living from investments, particularly in investing in up and coming companies and businesses. A financier makes money through this process when his or her investment is paid back with interest or from a certain percentage of the company awarded to them as specified by the business deal. The word financier also is synonymous with someone who handles money in any form, noted especially for his or her skill in doing so. By today's standards both a personal accountant and a stockbroker could then be considered financiers.

Job prerequisites

Officially, there are no degrees or schooling needed to be called a financier as it is a term to describe someone who handles money. Certain financier avenues do require degrees and licenses including venture capitalists, stockbrokers, public treasurers, trust fund managers, and accountants. Investing, on the other hand, has no requirements and is open to all by means of the stock market or by word of mouth requests for money.

The term financier can also refer to a member of the Italian Guardia di Finanza.

Types of financiers

• Accountants
• Stockbroker
• Treasurer
• Trust Fund Manager
• Venture Capitalist

Notable financiers

• Warren Buffett
• Anthony J. Drexel
• Carl Icahn
• Edward Lampert
• Michael Milken
• J. P. Morgan
• T. Boone Pickens
• Nathan Mayer Rothschild
• Rothschild banking family of France
• Jacob Schiff
• Haym Solomon
• George Soros

See also

• Business magnate
• Philanthropy
• Usury

Further reading

• Josephson, Matthew, The Money Lords; the great finance capitalists, 1925-1950, New York, Weybright and Talley, 1972.

References