What is a finance advisor and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted Expert
Nate Peach Ph.D.
introduction image

A finance advisor provides financial guidance for individuals, businesses, and organizations. They help clients manage their finances, plan for the future, and achieve their goals. They may also offer investment advice, tax planning, retirement planning, and risk management services. A finance advisor uses analytical skills, communication skills, and in-depth knowledge about financial markets and products. They may work independently or for a financial institution, such as a bank or brokerage firm.

What general advice would you give to a Finance Advisor?

N

Nate Peach Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Economics, George Fox University

Try to stay optimistic. You've invested your time, energy, and money on a precious degree. The pandemic has not changed the value of the skills you've acquired. What it has done is to make it challenging to find a job for the moment. Things are weird right now. Many companies are redesigning their hiring practices, which is bound to cause challenges for job seekers. The skills that you developed as an economist are precious to employers, be diligent in your job search, and you will be rewarded with a great career.
ScoreFinance AdvisorUS Average
Salary
5.1

Avg. Salary $64,993

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
6.6

Growth Rate 15%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
5.0
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.11%

Asian 8.32%

Black or African American 5.64%

Hispanic or Latino 9.46%

Unknown 4.37%

White 72.10%

Gender

female 27.74%

male 72.26%

Age - 44
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 44
Stress Level
6.6

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
8.8

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
5.6

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Finance Advisor?

Pros

  • High earning potential

  • Opportunities for career advancement

  • Challenging and intellectually stimulating work

  • Potential for job stability

  • Opportunity to work with diverse clients

Cons

  • Can be stressful, especially when dealing with client losses or market downturns

  • May require extensive travel or relocation for career advancement opportunities

  • Can be emotionally draining when dealing with clients' financial issues

  • May require working with difficult or demanding clients

  • Limited opportunities for creativity or innovation in financial advice.

Finance Advisor career paths

Key steps to become a finance advisor

  1. Explore finance advisor education requirements

    Most common finance advisor degrees

    Bachelor's

    73.8 %

    Master's

    12.2 %

    Associate

    7.7 %
  2. Start to develop specific finance advisor skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Team Support7.10%
    Wealth Management6.72%
    Securities6.09%
    Strong Computer5.80%
    Financial Services5.71%
  3. Complete relevant finance advisor training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New finance advisors learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a finance advisor based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real finance advisor resumes.
  4. Gain additional finance advisor certifications

    Finance advisor certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific finance advisor certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for finance advisors include Certified Professional, Life and Health Insurance Program (CPLHI) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research finance advisor duties and responsibilities

    • Manage all budget and forecast submissions into Hyperion.
    • Manage $3MM private investment portfolio consisting of mid-cap/large-cap equities.
    • Structure and manage investment portfolios using a range of financial instruments, including equity securities and fix income instruments.
    • Manage and strengthen customer relationships through cross-selling and up-selling to maximize retention and income generation by contacting existing and prospective customers.
  6. Prepare your finance advisor resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your finance advisor resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a finance advisor resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Finance Advisor Resume templates

    Build a professional Finance Advisor resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Finance Advisor resume.
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  7. Apply for finance advisor jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a finance advisor job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Finance Advisor Job

Zippi

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Average finance advisor salary

The average Finance Advisor salary in the United States is $64,993 per year or $31 per hour. Finance advisor salaries range between $34,000 and $121,000 per year.

Average Finance Advisor Salary
$64,993 Yearly
$31.25 hourly

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Finance Advisor reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2024
Pros

Hi pay low pay never know how much you’re gonna get paid

Cons

Never knowing how much you’re gonna get paid


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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