Financial Advisor Resume Example & Writing Tips for 2020

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