Ways to Advance a Career in Personal Finance
- Get Certified
- Gain Expertise
- Invest Money
- Keep an Updated Resume
- Offer Consulting Services
Pursuing a career in personal finance takes:
- focus
- ambition
- determination
Professionals in the field of finance can give their resumes a boost by following a few simple steps. Financial professionals can impress potential employers and attract new clients with:
- hard work
- intensive study
- the proper credentials
From freelance consulting to the world of corporate finance, the opportunities available for qualified professionals are exciting and highly lucrative. By following the recommendations on this list, anyone can improve their employment prospects in a relatively short time.
Related Resource: 50 Best Online Master of Finance Degree Programs
Get Certified
One of the best ways to get ahead in the world of personal financial advising is to become certified at the state or national level. Obtaining certification can take a few weeks or up to a year, depending on the program and the type of certificate being pursued. The Certified Financial Education Instructor certificate qualifies financial advisors to educate their clients about:
- money management
- financial investment
- planning
Another option is to become a Certified Financial Planner by training to take the CFP exam at a registered location. Financial professionals with extensive work experience can take the CFP exam without undergoing preliminary training.
Gain Expertise
Before performing financial trades for clients or providing advice, personal financial professionals must have the proper licenses and on-the-job training. This is according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. While most employers allow newly hired advisors to train under the supervision of senior advisors for up to one year, many positions require previous work experience and specialized education credentials. The types of licenses required for advising clients and performing financial trades vary depending on the location and the work being performed. College finance majors can get a head start by enrolling in any specialized certification courses offered by their university. It’s also important to take specialized elective courses as a finance major.
Invest Money
Professional financial advisors should be able to show their clients that they know what they are doing. Making sound personal investments is one way for advisors to reassure their clients. Recent graduates typically don’t begin advising clients until after about a year of training. No one is expected to be financially successful one year after graduating from college. In finance, money management is an important skill to master. Financial planners and advisors should eventually be able to demonstrate that they are wise investors and financially successful.
Keep an Updated Resume
In the modern economy, workers can be at a disadvantage if they remain in one position or at one company until retirement. It’s important to keep an up-to-date version of a resume handy at all times to assist in job seeking when the opportunity arises. If your current position seems like a dead end or isn’t advancing as quickly as it should, looking for a similar job at another company may open new opportunities.
Offer Consulting Services
After several years of advising clients and obtaining professional certification, financial advisors are usually qualified to offer consulting services directly to clients through a private practice. Freelance consulting work can be challenging and stressful, but it can also be very high-paying and full of exciting opportunities.
Conclusion
Personal financial advising, investing and tax planning are highly relevant skills in today’s economy. When it comes to advancing a career in personal finance, the we cannot overstate the importance of:
- education
- training
- experience
- certification.
Related Resources:
