Career Opportunities (2024)

What is Financial Planning?

The U.S. Labor Department reports that jobs in financial planning are expected to grow faster than average, at a rate of 13% through 2032. Even better, Financial Advisor was ranked #6 in Best Business jobs by U.S. News and World Report in 2023.

Career Opportunities (1)

A Range of Opportunities

Financial planning is growing as a profession, and the field offers a wealth of career opportunities. Personal financial advisors guide their clients through comprehensive planning covering all aspects of their financial lives. Whether it’s helping a client invest to pay for college, or build a solid investment portfolio to approach their retirement years with confidence, as a financial advisor you’ll help people reach their financial goals. Financial Advisor ranks in the top ten of best business jobs, and there are also many other career routes you can pursue in the field.

Working in financial planning can mean finding a job at a large bank or credit union, a nationwide wire house, or at a small independent firm. You can develop your own niche focusing on one area of planning, move into the academic field as a professor or researcher, or even start your own company. With so many different opportunities, you can find just the right fit for yourself.

CAREER PATHS

Roles in Financial Services

Job titles and responsibilities may vary from firm to firm, but here are some typical roles in financial planning.

More info on typical positions on the financial planning career path is available in our Guide to Careers in Financial Planning.

DOWNLOAD THE GUIDE TO CAREERS IN FINANCIAL PLANNING

Personal Financial Planner

Creates holistic financial plans to meet the unique financial goals of their clients.

Client Services Advisor

Prepares financial plans for review and implementation, participates in client meetings, and works on follow-ups for clients.

Associate Advisor

Works closely with a team of advisors to prepare financial plans, presentations, and other materials for client meetings.

Wealth Management Advisor

Develops one-on-one relationships with high-net-worth clients and helps to construct investment portfolios.

COMMON JOB ROLES

Investment Advising Roles

Job titles and responsibilities may vary from firm to firm, but here are some typical roles in investment advising.

Financial Analyst

Performs research and analysis and/or manages investment options, making recommendations to advisors.

Investment Manager

Selects and manages investments on behalf of a firm and its clients.

Portfolio manager

Manages client assets and portfolios in accordance with firm's guidelines, and contributes to research and analysis of investment opportunities and firm investment philosophy.

KEY QUESTIONS TO ASK EMPLOYERS

As you start looking at opportunities in financial planning, here are some questions you’ll want to consider asking:

  • What kind of work will you be doing?
  • What’s the scope of the financial planning work at the company? Does the firm have a financial planning philosophy?
  • What is the onboarding process for new hires and what is the career path for a financial planner?
  • What does a typical week look like for someone in the role you’re interested in?
  • How does the company communicate their value to clients?
  • Will you be part of a team or expected to function on your own? What opportunities are available to learn from or work side-by-side with other advisors?
  • How is the salary structured—a base salary, commission, or combination of both?
  • Will you be working directly with clients, or behind the scenes? What percentage of your role involves direct work with clients? How much time will be spent developing and presenting financial plans?
  • What professional development opportunities will be available? Does the organization offer support while you work towards (or reimbursem*nt for) CFP® certification?

Asking key questions is the first step in determining whether an opportunity is a good fit and if it’s on the path to your career goals.

You can find more information about the financial planning field and even start applying for jobs today at the CFP Board Career Center.

Check out our comprehensive Guide to Careers in Financial Planning that provides students, recent graduates and career changers with information on starting and sustaining successful financial planning careers.

Download the Guide

Career Opportunities (2024)

FAQs

How do you answer what are your opportunities? ›

Answer example:

“To sum it up, I'd love a position where I can use my skills to make an impact that I can see with my own eyes. Of course, the position is only part of the equation. Being at a company where I can grow and work toward something I care about matters, too.

How do you answer career expectations? ›

Exercise: What are MY career aspirations?
  1. Reflect on past work and school experiences.
  2. Consider your interests and passions.
  3. Decide whether you will answer with an aspiration of skill, leadership, or industry.
  4. Think about how this job role and company supports your aspiration.
  5. Practice.
Jan 5, 2024

How do I answer the question Tell me about my career? ›

  1. Use Storytelling and Practice Your Answer.
  2. Follow a Structured Five-Step Approach.
  3. Align Personal Journey with Company's Needs.
  4. Highlight Relevant Strengths and Experience.
  5. Share a Professional Story and Relevant Anecdotes.
  6. Exercise Research-Based Empathy in Your Response.
  7. Provide a Brief Highlight-Summary of Your Experience.
Oct 30, 2023

Will you leave this organization if you get a better opportunity answer? ›

Leaving an employer because you got a better offer from a different company is a perfectly valid reason to quit your job. Whether they offered you a better salary, benefits, or just a working arrangement, you can use this as a reason when the hiring manager asks, “Why did you leave that job?” during your job interview.

What are 3 examples of opportunities? ›

What are some examples of opportunities?
  • Get help on projects.
  • Propose working groups.
  • Get testers for new ideas or products.
  • Create a team to work on an idea you have.
  • Share your expertise or best practices in a particular field.

What is opportunities in answer? ›

a good position, chance, or prospect, as for advancement or success.

What are the three 3 areas that the applicant should improve? ›

Planning and organization, leadership and management, and communication and interpersonal skills are the three top areas to focus on in your journey to improve in the workplace.

What do you say when asked about career goals? ›

Near-Term Career Goals
  • Introduction: "Thank you for asking. ...
  • Specific Goals: "I'm dedicated to mastering the role of [Open Job Title] and further developing my skills in [Specific Skills]. ...
  • Growth and Learning: "I'm passionate about continuous learning and development.
Dec 7, 2023

What 3 expectations do you have about a professional career? ›

Security: having a job that provides a steady employment. Company: working for a company that has a good reputation, that one can be proud of working for. Advancement: being able to progress in one's job or career, having the chance to advance in the company.

Why did you choose this career short answer? ›

When answering “Why did you choose this career?” you can point out factors like growth prospects, job security, scope, etc to help make a valid explanation. A possible answer to this HR interview question can be, “I have always found a certain satisfaction in writing and knew I wanted to make a career in content.

Why do you want this career sample answer? ›

'This opportunity is really exciting for me as I will be able to…' 'I see the role as a way of developing my career in a forward-thinking/well-established company/industry as…' 'I feel I will succeed in the role because I have experience in/softs skills that demonstrate/ I've taken this course…'

How do you describe your career in an interview? ›

Share relevant job qualifications and experiences

Only mention qualifications that support your job application. By firstly outlining your relevant education and career history, you're setting the scene for the interviewer by describing how you got to the position you are in today.

What is your salary expectations best answer? ›

You can try to skirt the question with a broad answer, such as, “My salary expectations are in line with my experience and qualifications.” Or, “If this is the right job for me, I'm sure we can come to an agreement on salary.” This will show that you're willing to negotiate. Offer a range.

How do I explain leaving a job for better opportunity? ›

I'm looking for career growth.”

The desire to move to a new level in your caree r is a common reason for leaving a job. Here's an example of how someone in this situation might explain why they're leaving:“I love my role and coworkers, but I've come to a point where there are no longer growth opportunities on my team.

How do you say I got a better job opportunity? ›

5 tips for effectively communicating that you have another offer
  1. Choose the right time. Timing is crucial when discussing other job offers. ...
  2. Be courteous and grateful. ...
  3. Emphasize your interest. ...
  4. Keep it positive. ...
  5. Express flexibility.
Aug 16, 2023

What is opportunities with example? ›

an occasion or situation that makes it possible to do something that you want to do or have to do, or the possibility of doing something: Everyone will have an opportunity to comment.

How do I write about my opportunities? ›

Write your opportunities in plain language—use simple words and phrases. Use full office names instead of acronyms, and avoid using office-specific slang. Include links to relevant resources that will help participants understand what they will be doing.

What are your personal opportunities? ›

Personal opportunities: The things you want to achieve, or the things you'd like to change about yourself. Our personal opportunities for learning, growing and improving are endless. But sometimes we get stuck in our comfort zone and fail to recognize the opportunities that are right in front of us.

What are opportunities in a job interview? ›

Opportunities. This refers to positive external conditions you can take advantage of. Start off with opportunities you see in the job you are interviewing for; this will show your interest and positive attitude.

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