Skill Sets for Students Seeking Careers as a Financial Adviser

Skill Sets for Students Seeking Careers as a Financial Adviser

College graduates looking for a career in financial planning or for an investment adviser would do well to focus on taking courses and building a skill set that extends beyond investments or analytical skills.  Certainly a passion for investments and the financial markets is something just about everyone that enters this business possesses.  But that’s not all that’s required.  There are many other functional areas advisers need to possess to to add value to their clients and employers.  For instance, you have to be able to confidently and clearly communicate your ideas and solutions to your clients.   Written and verbal skills are tremendously important- developing presentations that can convey complex ideas in easy-to-understand concepts can be invaluable.  Thus, classes in writing, journalism, and marketing should be considered. Social skills are tremendously important and students would do well network and build their professional social circles through student groups/clubs and through social media.  Technology is being increasingly relied upon in all industries – and financial services is no different.  Ability to learn and apply financial planning and other software, database programs, and even advanced knowledge of spreadsheets…all are skills you that will benefit your career as an adviser. Many advisers may eventually become sole practitioners or own their own firm, or, their clients may be small business owners.  Thus, knowledge of or developed business management skills such as strategic planning, human resources, entrepreneurship, accounting, marketing and others may all be applied to further your career.

More on this topic about how colleges are adapting to develop planners can be read in a recent Financial Planning article “Education Shakeup for Future Planners“.