Business and finance
Personal financial advisor
Advise clients on financial plans using knowledge of tax and investment strategies, securities, insurance, pension plans, and real estate. Duties include assessing clients' assets, liabilities, cash flow, insurance coverage, tax status, and financial objectives. May also buy and sell financial assets for clients.
Median pay
$105,070
Growth to 2035
+1%
little or no change
Openings a year
17,100
Time to qualify*
12 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Personal financial advisor
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Personal financial advisor: 54% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Interview clients to determine their current income, expenses, insurance coverage, tax status, financial objectives, risk tolerance, or other information needed to develop a financial plan.
- Analyze financial information obtained from clients to determine strategies for meeting clients' financial objectives.
- Answer clients' questions about the purposes and details of financial plans and strategies.
- Review clients' accounts and plans regularly to determine whether life changes, economic changes, environmental concerns, or financial performance indicate a need for plan reassessment.
- Manage client portfolios, keeping client plans up-to-date.
- Recommend to clients strategies in cash management, insurance coverage, investment planning, or other areas to help them achieve their financial goals.
- Recommend financial products, such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or insurance.
- Implement financial planning recommendations, or refer clients to someone who can assist them with plan implementation.
Also called: Certified Financial Planner (CFP) · Financial Advisor · Financial Consultant · Financial Counselor · Financial Life Planner · Financial Planner · Investment Advisor · Portfolio Manager
Outlook and AI
Personal financial advisors held 299,400 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 303,500 by 2035 (+1%, little or no change; all jobs: +3.5%).
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