Choosing a Career as a Financial Advisor

Many college students today choose to major in accounting, finance, or other business-related fields. Before they emerge from the halls of higher education, they begin to explore the career options that are open to them. Many are attracted to the field of financial advising due to the different opportunities the career provides. Employment can be found in large financial institutions, small advising firms, or even as an independent.

But how much can a financial advisor make? The simple answer is that it depends. Larger institutions normally pay their employees a salary sometimes offers bonuses. Smaller firms tend to offer a small base salary that is supplemented by earning commissions. Independent advisors typically charge an hourly rate and take a small percentage of the money earned by the investments.

The amount of money that a financial advisor also depends on his or her level of education and experience. A person with a bachelor's degree cannot expect to earn as much as someone holding a MBA. Also, a new college graduate will not earn as much as someone with several years of experience. However, experience can be gained while still in college by taking an internship at with a financial advising firm. These opportunities can often be found by checking with the academic department.

A career in financial advising can be a very lucrative one, but a new advisor must be willing to put in some time and gain experience before he or she can expect to fulfill the earning potential of the career.

Links