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Financial Advisor
Working closely with people and organizations to understand their financial situation and tolerance for risk, you assist them in developing a financial plan tailored to their unique needs and goals. You provide advice on investments, life or long-term care insurance, retirement planning, education fund planning, and more. Once the plan is established, you continue to assist them with investments, tax laws, and insurance decisions, helping them identify and make adjustments to their plan as their lives and their goals change.
One of the most important aspects to achieving success as a Financial Advisor is finding clients and building a customer base. You’re likely to spend a lot of time marketing your services by conducting seminars, teaching classes, and business and social networking. Strong interpersonal and communication skills are important, since you’ll need to be able to present financial concepts to clients and potential clients in easy-to-understand language.
Through your studies at Baker, you’ll apply your math and analytical skills to gain an understanding of both financial theory and practice from various perspectives. Through class sizes that are small and taught by experienced professionals, you’ll develop the problem-solving, decision-making, communication skills you need to compete successfully in this challenging field.
Career Facts
- The average annual salary of Personal Financial Advisors is $94,180.
- Personal Financial Advisors who work for a firm are usually paid a salary and bonus. Those who are self-employed usually charge a fee based on the value of the assets they manage for each client. They may also get a commission for the financial products they sell. Other Financial Advisors earn all their income through commissions.
- Growth expectations over the 2008–2018 period are 30 percent —much faster than the average for all occupations.
- Some Financial Advisors choose to consult with clients on a wide range of financial matters. Others specialize in one area such as estate planning or risk management.
- Work is usually done during standard business hours, but classes and seminars you conduct and client meetings may be scheduled in the evening or on weekends.
- Licenses are required for financial advisors who directly buy or sell stocks, bonds, insurance policies, or provide specific types of investment advice.
- Certifications enhance professional standing.
Programs
- Undergraduate
Want to get the ball rolling?
Everything about our college is aimed at getting you the job you want in the shortest time possible — from our affordable tuition, to how we choose our programs, to our small class sizes, and flexible class schedules.
Discover what Baker can do for your future. Schedule a visit or enroll online today.
