Financial Advisors
Personal financial advisors provide advice on investments, insurance, mortgages, college savings, estate planning, taxes, and retirement to help individuals manage their finances.
How to Write a Summary for a Financial Advisor
- Mention your previous experience. What industries did you work for? Where did you intern?
- Describe your greatest strength. Are you thorough? Do you excel at incorporating risk management into your plans?
- Quantify your experience. By how much have you grown your firm’s client base? How many clients do you work with?
How to List Your Work Experience as a Financial Advisor
- Use reverse chronological format. List your most recent jobs first, as this shows managers how you’ve gained experience in the industry.
- Use action verbs related to being a Financial Advisor. Verbs are critical to demonstrating what you can do for the company. Review the following list for some powerful examples.
- Assisted
- Conducted
- Constructed
- Maintained
- Managed
- Monitored
- Processed
- Provided
- Reviewed
- Served
See our list of over 350 action verbs to find more.
Senior Level Work Experience as a Financial Advisor
- Served as a Relationship Manager for an existing group of 13 clients by providing advice and guidance to help clients achieve their financial goals
- Grew the firm by 15% by increasing Assets Under Management (AUM) and through organic growth by acquiring new clients
- Identified financial planning needs and discussed the benefits of comprehensive financial planning with clients
- Reviewed investment performance of overall portfolios, identified rebalancing needs and provided suitable recommendations aligning with client’s risk tolerance, time frame and goals
- Provided client relationship support through managing, gathering and analyzing client data, helping prepare financial plans and other client deliverables, and working with clients to resolve issues and other practice management tasks
- Managed existing client accounts to the standard of a fiduciary and provided professional financial advice
- Constructed thoughtful financial plans in the core areas of financial planning – retirement, estate planning, insurance, tax, college planning, and investments
- Monitored client accounts, and met with clients periodically to ensure consistency with financial goals
- Exercised discretion and professional judgment in resolving ongoing client requests
- Maintained complete records of client communications to firm and industry standards in the firm’s CRM and archival software
Junior Level Work Experience as a Financial Advisor
- Coordinated sales appointments, drafted presentations and completed all necessary paperwork on successful sales, including the deposits into the designated broker/dealer sweep account
- Initiated paperwork involving cancellations, surrenders and/or partial withdrawals
- Maintained effective relationships with financial institution branch personnel in assigned territory, including facilitating meetings, answering questions and leading training efforts with branch personnel as needed
- Improved business referral relationships by 17%
- Provided a broad range of investment solutions and products to help meet customer goals and offer in-depth guidance through financial planning services
- Complied with all the rules, regulations and policies of the designated broker/dealer, all state and federal securities regulators and self-regulatory organizations
- Assisted in the development of an annual sales plan
- Collaborated with clients to review personal financial goals and provided consultation on investment portfolios
- Processed security transactions through the designated broker/dealer as requested by clients
- Maintained proper documentation, paperwork and files as required. Complied with applicable laws and regulations and maintained various compliance files, including advertising, complaints and correspondences
- Designed and implement asset allocation strategies in investment portfolios in keeping with client goals, risk tolerance, time horizon, and liquidity requirements
How to List Your Skills as a Financial Advisor
Financial Advisors not only need to be good with numbers, but also with their clients. Therefore, skills like communication and persistence are vital.
- Analytical Skills
- Math Skills
- Interpersonal Skills
- Communication
- Sales Skills
- Speaking and Presentation Skills
- Detail-Oriented
- Organization Skills
How to List Your Education as a Financial Advisor
Financial Advisors require a bachelor’s degree in finance, economics, accounting, business, mathematics, or law. Certifications or even a master’s degree can greatly improve your chances of being hired and for attracting wealthier clientele.
Some certifications include the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) certification by The Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards
Personal Advisors who directly buy or sell stocks, bonds, or insurance policies, or who provide specific investment advice require licensure. Some licenses include:
- Series 6 License enables financial advisors to sell packaged securities, such as mutual funds and variable annuities. However, this license does not permit the Financial Advisor to sell individual stocks or bonds.
- Series 7 License is the most difficult license, but allows Financial Advisors to sell stocks, bonds, options, futures, and packaged securities.
- Every state requires a Series 63 license for financial advisors to conduct business within its borders.
- States also require the Series 65 for financial advisors who are compensated with fees, as opposed to commissions.
Requirements for licensure vary by state but generally involve the following:
- Bachelor’s Degree
- Apply for a Series 63 license in the state you’re located in
- Complete a background check
Financial Advisor Career Overview
Job Outlook
The job outlook for Financial Advisor is growing at 7% per year, which is considered to be faster than average. In 2018 there were 271,700 jobs available.
Average Salary
Financial Advisors make $87,850 per year on average. However, salaries could be as high as $208,000 depending on experience, clientele, and location.
Top Paying Salaries by State
- $166,790 -- New York
- $150,310 -- District of Columbia
- $142,440 -- Illinois
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