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How to Become a Financial Advisor?

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Recently, we discussed what finance is, and whether or not finance is a good career option. Here we’ll explain how to launch a career in financial services by getting a job as a financial advisor.

Whether you’re looking for an entry-level position as a financial advisor, or you’re more interested in exploring advanced opportunities in management and leadership, this post will help you figure out exactly what you need to do to achieve your career objectives.

We’ll explain whether or not you need a degree in finance, what type of degree is would be best suited to meet your expectations and goals, the difference between a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Finance, and why you should consider getting your finance degree online.

So, if you’re interested in helping people prepare for retirement, understand tax and investment strategies, build wealth and save for their future, then you should definitely consider pursuing a career as a financial advisor.

After you’ve learned about starting a career as a financial advisor, fill out our information request form to get more information about our 100% online Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and online Master’s Degree in Finance. If you’re ready to get started, submit your application today.

Is Financial Advisor a Good Career Choice?

Yes! Financial advising is an excellent career choice, especially since the industry is projected to grow over the next decade according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

As the data from BLS shows, the employment of personal financial advisors is expected to grow 4% from 2019 to 2029. BLS states that the demand for financial advisors will be spurred by an aging population and rising life expectancies.

If you decide to pursue a career as a financial advisor, earning an online Bachelor’s Degree in Finance or an online Master’s Degree in Finance is one of the top ways to gain an edge and improve your marketability as a candidate in this competitive field.

Becoming a financial advisor is an excellent career choice, as this role will allow you to help people make the most of their income by maximizing their financial opportunities.

If you’re interested in getting into the industry, however, earning a degree in finance may play an important role in getting your foot in the door. That’s just a perfect way to gain the technical skills, theoretical expertise, and practical experience needed to start your career with confidence.

What Do Financial Advisors Actually Do?

Financial advisors are concerned with helping individuals and sometimes organizations or corporations plan for their financial future.

Typical financial advisor duties include working with clients on a range of projects and responsibilities, including:

  • Advising clients on tax and investment strategies.
  • Helping clients with their securities investments, insurance, pension plans, and real estate.
  • Assessing clients’ assets, liabilities, cash flow, and financial objectives.
  • Assisting clients with tax preparation.
  • Understanding client’s insurance coverage.
  • Occasionally purchasing or selling financial assets for clients.

Due to the complex and sensitive nature of these responsibilities, anyone who hopes to become a financial advisor must first establish a firm understanding of the foundational knowledge and critical skills necessary to be successful in this role.

That’s why most financial advisor positions will expect you to have earned an advanced degree in this field, and why we recommend pursuing your Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Finance.

Do I Need a Degree to Get a Job as a Financial Advisor?

While there may be roles in the field of finance that do not require an advanced degree, it may be quite difficult to find employment as a financial advisor without a degree.

Earning a Bachelor’s or Master’s in Finance will allow you to pursue this career opportunity far more easily, and provide you with room to explore additional exciting and fulfilling career paths as well.

Furthermore, getting your degree in finance will give you the academic and practical training you need to be successful in your role as a financial advisor from day one. The training you receive there will make you far better prepared to overcome the unique challenges that face financial advisors in their day-to-day work.

In short, earning your Bachelor’s or Master’s in Finance will ensure that you’ve developed an understanding of the critical financial concepts, theories, and practices necessary to be successful in the field, while also improving your marketability for potential jobs.

Which Degree Should I Get?

You’ll need to decide between pursuing a Bachelor’s or a Master’s Degree in Finance, and you should pick the degree that will best help you meet your professional goals.

To help you make this choice, take a look at some roles you’d like to apply for and look at which academic credentials they require. Next, consider your future career goals and aspirations. These considerations can help you understand which degree would be the right choice for you.

If you have little to no experience with finance but are looking to get started in this field and you lack the bachelor’s degree qualification for entry-level roles, then the right fit for you is going to be our online Bachelor’s Degree in Finance. 

Important to note when choosing the CSU Global Bachelor’s in Finance with a Financial Planning specialization: You’ll be in one of just a few programs in the country that is recognized by the CFP Board®. Those who earn a CFP Board-recognized degree are distinguishing themselves among their peers by meeting CFP Board’s education, examination, experience and ethics requirements. Completing this program also means you’ll have met the education requirement for CFP® Certification Examination administered by CFP Board.

However, if you already have some educational or professional experience in financial services and you’re looking to hone your existing skills so that you can pursue more advanced industry roles, or if you have already earned your bachelor’s degree in a related field but want a competitive edge in financial services, then you’re going to want to consider our online Master’s Degree in Finance.

To help make the right decision, take a look at your current experience, academic history, career goals, and objectives, or consider reaching out to one of our enrollment counselors, as they can help guide you to the right program.

What Can I Do With a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance?

Completing your Bachelor’s Degree in Finance will open many doors into entry-level and mid-level roles in finance across a broad range of industries. With this degree, you’ll be prepared to start your career and begin building your expertise as a financial advisor.

Here are some of the most exciting job titles for finance majors:

These are just a few examples of the many jobs you may be able to find with a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance.

But remember, while earning a bachelor’s degree will qualify you for a variety of entry-level jobs, if you’re eager for leadership or advanced positions, then you may want to consider a Master’s Degree in Finance.

What Can I Do With a Master’s Degree in Finance?

Earning your Master’s Degree in Finance enables you to take on specialized, managerial, or leadership level roles in financial services.

Here are a few examples of job titles you could obtain with a master’s degree:

Earning your Master’s Degree in Finance will give you a solid grounding in the advanced analytical and theoretical financial concepts so that you can bring more value to the organizations you work for.

Is a Degree in Finance Really Worth It?

Yes, a finance degree is definitely worth getting.

Earning your Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Finance is an important investment in yourself and your future.

Getting your degree in finance is one of the best ways you can develop the skills, knowledge, and credentials you need to achieve the career you want.

Earning a degree is hard work and requires commitment and dedication, but ultimately, earning a bachelor’s or master’s degree in finance will open doors to new career paths and help you remain on the cutting edge of the financial services industry.

Completing your degree will prepare you for the rigors of the financial advising career path, and give you the confidence and know-how to drive success for clients and organizations.

Can I Get My Degree in Finance Online?

Yes, you can get your finance degree online from a regionally accredited and widely respected school, like CSU Global.

Our accelerated online degree programs provide more flexibility and freedom than a traditional on-campus, in-person program, without compromising on quality or academic rigor.

Besides, our 100% online Bachelor’s and Master’s in Finance Degree programs are designed to offer as much flexibility as possible, including:

  • No requirements to show up at set times or in physical locations.
  • Monthly class starts.
  • Accelerated courses.

If you have family and work responsibilities, and you need to balance them with educational pursuits, then getting your degree online from CSU Global may be the ideal option.

Why Should I Study Finance at CSU Global?

CSU Global’s online Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and Master’s Degree in Finance will prepare you to meet the challenges you’ll face while working in global financial services, allowing you to contribute meaningfully to clients and organizations from day one.

Our Finance programs are both regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and our Master’s Degree in Finance is also accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).

These programs were designed to be completed 100% online, offering you the flexibility needed to complete your educational pursuits without sacrificing existing family and career responsibilities.

Reasons to Choose our B.S. in Finance Degree

Our Bachelor’s Degree in Finance helps lay a solid foundation in essential financial skills and concepts, including:

  • Foundations of financial management.
  • Fiscal decision-making skills.
  • Technological approaches to business challenges.
  • Understanding financial risk.

Also, when choosing the CSU Global Bachelor’s in Finance with a Financial Planning specialization, you’ll be in one of just a few programs in the country that is recognized by the CFP Board®. Those who earn a CFP Board-recognized degree are distinguishing themselves among their peers by meeting CFP Board’s education, examination, experience and ethics requirements. Completing this program also means you’ll have met the education requirement for CFP® Certification Examination administered by CFP Board.

With our accelerated schedules, monthly class starts, no set class times, and 100% online degree formats, this B.S. in Finance program lets you earn your degree on your schedule.

Reasons to Choose our M.S. in Finance Degree

Our Master’s Degree in Finance is a top-ranked, exceptional online program that will help hone your analytical skills and develop your leadership potential as you prepare for an advanced role in this exciting industry.

Our M.S. in Finance Degree also ranks exceptionally well, having recently earned several top rankings, including:

Graduates from our top-ranked online Master’s Degree in Finance also report finding great success in their careers, with alumni one year after graduation earning an average median salary that is 6% higher than the national average for all master’s degree holders (BLS).

CSU Global itself has also recently won several important awards as well, including:

  • A #3 ranking for Best Value Online Graduate School from Value Colleges.
  • A #3 ranking for Best Colleges in Colorado from Best Value Schools.
  • A Gold School of Distinction award from Best Colleges, making us one of only 15 schools to receive gold rankings, out of more than 2,000 online degree programs.

Finally, CSU Global offers competitive tuition rates, a Tuition Guarantee to ensure your rate won’t increase, and for undergraduate programs, Alternative Credit Options like Credit By Exam, Self Study Assessment (SSA), and Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) to help save you time and money.

To get additional details about our fully accredited, 100% online Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, or our top-ranked online Master’s Program in Finance, please give us a call at (800) 462-7845, or fill out our Information Request Form.

Ready to get started today? Apply now!