Want a job that combines your business acumen, helping others and desire for a great paycheck? Consider becoming a Financial Advisor.
Financial Advisors are professionals who work closely with their clients to help achieve their monetary goals. The job requires an interest in all things money related and a strong sense of empathy and care for your clients.
The star of our video, Trevor Cummings, is a Financial Advisor at The Bahnsen Group. He received his bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Biola University and his MBA in Finance (Master’s of Business Administration) from California State University Fullerton.
Trevor enjoys the relationships and trust building element of his job and feels the most pride when he sees his clients succeed in their financial dreams.
There is no better time than now to become a Financial Advisor. The U.S. Department of Labor projects 15 percent job growth in the career by 2026, much faster than average. You can work in any state, and the median pay is $90,000.
Here are four steps to become a Financial Advisor:
Understand the Financial Advising Role
No matter the specialization, all financial advisors work to accomplish the same thing — helping clients manage and grow their finances. Effective money management is every client’s priority, so the job comes with a lot of responsibility. Every day will be different, but you always want to make your client happy at the end of the day. When your client sees returns on their investments, so will you.
Get a Degree
A bachelor’s degree is required to be a financial advisor. Majors in finance, economics, and business are common but not necessary. Many financial advisors also obtain an MBA.
Get the Right Experience
There are multiple ways to obtain experience as a financial advisor. The best avenue is through an internship with financial firms. Internships provide training and a better understanding of the job. Another route is in retail banking.
Secure Certificates & Licenses
Not all financial advising services require certificates or licenses. Once you land an entry-level job, the particular field you work in and at what level of service you provide clients is the indicator of what certificates and licenses are required. To obtain these will require time, coursework, exams, and continued education.
Want more information on how to become a financial advisor?
- Check out Learn How To Become’s detailed look into the career. Their report has state-by-state breakdowns and useful salary information.
- U.S. News & World Report and The Street have stories that lay out the steps to take to launch your career.
