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Personal Financial Advisors

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeLower pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

Advise clients on financial plans using knowledge of tax and investment strategies, securities, insurance, pension plans, and real estate. Duties include assessing clients' assets, liabilities, cash flow, insurance coverage, tax status, and financial objectives. May also buy and sell financial assets for clients.

Kinds of work

  • Enterprising: Leading, persuading, selling and starting new projects or businesses.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $105,070 Median per year · $50.51/hr Most earn $50,190–$357,020

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Conduct seminars or workshops on financial planning topics, such as retirement planning, estate planning, or the evaluation of severance packages.
  • Devise debt liquidation plans that include payoff priorities and timelines.
  • Contact clients periodically to determine any changes in their financial status.
  • Recommend to clients strategies in cash management, insurance coverage, investment planning, or other areas to help them achieve their financial goals.
  • Recommend financial products, such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or insurance.
  • Meet with clients' other advisors, such as attorneys, accountants, trust officers, or investment bankers, to fully understand clients' financial goals and circumstances.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Rapid Growth

United States
1% more jobs by 2035, slower than average · about 17,100 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Securities, commodity contracts, and other financial investments and related activities64.6%
  • Credit intermediation and related activities15.5%
  • Self-employed (their own business)9.7%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeExperience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Personal Financial Advisor is not usually an entry-level job. Most people earn a bachelor's degree and then spend about 2 to 4 years in a related role, such as financial services sales, before advising clients on their own.

  1. Bachelor's degree in finance, economics, or business

    4 years

    You build the core knowledge of investing, taxes, and money management that clients will rely on.

  2. Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agent

    2-4 years

    You learn to explain financial products, build client relationships, and meet the licensing requirements the industry sets for selling investments. This experience is what most advisor jobs look for.

  3. Personal Financial Advisor

    Ongoing

    You review clients' assets, debts, cash flow, insurance, and goals, then create and manage plans for them.

Where it can lead

  1. Financial Manager

    4-6 years of experience first

    You move from advising individual clients to overseeing financial planning, budgets, or a team, usually for a company or larger firm.

  2. Investment Fund Manager

    8-10 years of experience first

    You make investment decisions for a fund that pools money from many investors. This level usually calls for a master's degree and a long record of investing experience.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take math and economics classesStrong math and an introduction to economics give you a solid base for a degree in finance or business.
  • Join a business, finance, or investing clubClub activities such as stock-market games or case discussions show you how money decisions work and look good on applications.
  • Get a starter jobA part-time job that handles money, like a cashier or retail job with cash duties, builds responsibility and comfort with numbers.
  • Learn to use spreadsheetsBasic spreadsheet skills help you track budgets and understand the numbers advisors work with every day.
  • Volunteer with a tax-prep or money-skills programHelping people with taxes or budgeting, if your community offers it, gives you real practice talking about money with others.

In college

  • Major in finance, economics, or businessA bachelor's degree in one of these fields is the usual starting point for this career.
  • Pursue an internship at a financial firmInternships at banks, brokerages, or wealth-management firms give you hands-on experience and often lead to job offers.
  • Join a finance or investment club on campusCampus investment groups and case competitions build practical skills and professional networks.
  • Explore industry licensing requirements earlyLearning which licenses are needed to sell investments helps you plan your coursework and first job search.
  • Take a public speaking or communication courseAdvisors spend much of their time explaining complex ideas and earning client trust, so these skills matter a lot.

Tips for getting started

  • Take courses in accounting, statistics, and personal finance, and learn to use spreadsheets well, since these skills show up in almost every advisor job.
  • Look for part-time or summer work at a bank, credit union, or brokerage, even as a teller or office assistant, to learn how financial firms operate.
  • Practice explaining money topics to friends or family in plain language. Clear communication is one of the most important skills for building client trust.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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