- What It’s Like to Work as a Financial Planner
Entering a career in financial services can offer plenty of opportunities for advancement and high earning potential. Some professionals work as financial advisors while others choose to work as financial planners. While the titles sound the same, there are some differences in what a financial planner job entails. Add new clients and AUM at your… read more…
- Great Books for Professional Stock Traders
Stock trading is something of an art and just like painting or sculpture, it’s open to interpretation. That’s reflected in the sheer variety of investment theories and strategies advisors utilize to navigate the markets. If you’re interested in expanding your knowledge to serve your clients better, there are quite a few books for traders you… read more…
- Average Salary for Financial Paraplanners
Paraplanners are professionals who work with financial advisors and financial planners in a support capacity. A career in paraplanning can be a stepping-stone to becoming a financial advisor or planner, as it can be an opportunity to gain valuable work experience within the financial services industry. If you’re considering this type of role, you may… read more…
- Where to Find Financial Planning Jobs
Financial planning positions offer an opportunity to do work that you enjoy while potentially earning a highly competitive salary. If you’re fresh out of college or making a transition to financial services from another field, you might be wondering how to find openings that look promising. There are several possibilities for finding available financial advisor… read more…
- What Jobs Can You Get After Earning the CFP®?
The Certified Financial Planner™ designation is granted by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board). It indicates proficiency in education, examination, experience and ethical standards. CFP® professionals work in a number of capacities, from financial planners guiding individuals through key life milestones to wealth managers offering specialized services to high-net-worth clients. The… read more…
- Best Online CFP® Education Programs
Becoming a Certified Financial Planner™ can open doors throughout your financial planning career, but first you need to complete the educational requirements. All candidates must finish coursework through a CFP® Board Registered Program before taking the certification exam. Today’s aspiring CFP® professionals have a range of options, with many programs offered online to fit around… read more…
- What Licenses Financial Planners Need to Have
Financial planners help clients manage their money to reach financial goals. While certain professionals may need a financial planning license, others do not. Whether you’ll need a license to work as a financial planner depends largely on the services you offer your clients. Let’s examine how to evaluate this question for yourself. Are you looking… read more…
- What Are CFP® Marks?
Becoming a Certified Financial Planner™ is something you might consider if you’d like to expand your business services and attract new clients. Incorporating CFP® marks into your marketing and promotional materials can lend credibility to your brand. However, there are strict rules that govern when and how you can use them. Are you looking to… read more…
- Differences Between 3(21) and 3(38) Fiduciary Advisors
The Employment Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) outlines the rules for employee benefit plans, including the different types of fiduciaries associated with these plans. ERISA distinguishes between 3(21) fiduciaries, who are investment advisors, and 3(38) fiduciaries, who are investment managers. Each one plays an important, but unique, role in the administration of workplace benefit plans.… read more…
- How Much Can Financial Advisors Make at Morgan Stanley?
Financial advisors at Morgan Stanley earn average salaries ranging from $36,000 to $144,500 annually, according to various sources for data on advisor pay. Morgan Stanley offers compensation packages that are commensurate with experience and include base salary, monthly incentives and annual bonuses. Advisors can also earn commissions; compensation is outlined in more detail in the… read more…
- Important Skills Every Financial Advisor Should Possess
Being a successful financial advisor requires more than just the right certifications, licensing or knowledge of financial planning. There are also certain hard and soft skills that advisors need to master in order to deliver top-tier service to their clients and grow their practices. Developing these financial advisor skills can take time, but the return… read more…
- A Guide to Financial Advisor Development Programs
Embarking on a career as a financial advisor requires the proper education and certification to help ensure you’re qualified to offer advice to clients. Many firms offer development programs that are designed to prepare you for your entry into the financial services industry. Joining a financial advisor development program could help you build a solid… read more…
- Do Financial Advisors Need to Work With a Coach?
Achieving your goals as a financial advisor may be easier when you have someone to guide you along the path. That’s where financial advisor coaching comes in. A coach can help you to fine-tune your strategy for growth and become a better advisor. Considering the potential benefits and return on investment can help you decide… read more…
- Financial Advisor Job Outlook for 2026 and Beyond
Over the next decade, the job outlook for financial advisors looks extremely promising, with abundant opportunities nationwide. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the employment of financial advisors will expand much faster than the average occupation. Growth is concentrated in cities with strong financial services sectors, but jobs can be found almost anywhere. An aging… read more…
- How Long Does It Take to Get Your CFP®?
Earning the Certified Financial Planner™ credential is a multi-step process that combines education, exam preparation and hands-on experience in financial planning. For many aspiring CFP® professionals, the timeline spans roughly one to two years, though individual circumstances can shorten or extend that range. Factors such as prior education, existing industry experience and the pace at… read more…
- How to Become an Independent Financial Advisor
Becoming an independent financial advisor can give you freedom and flexibility to serve the type of clients you’re most equipped to help. By 2027, independent and hybrid RIAs are expected to control nearly one-third of asset market share, growing at a faster rate than any other advisor channel, according to Cerulli Associates.1 Choosing independence opens up… read more…
- How to Find a Financial Advisor Internship
Financial advisors often credit their successful careers to the insights and experience gained during internships, underscoring the significance of such opportunities. A financial advisor internship is a valuable stepping stone into the finance industry, a chance to apply classroom knowledge in real-world situations. Here’s a breakdown of what these internships entail, the types of companies… read more…
- 10 Blogs and Bloggers for Financial Advisors to Read
Staying up to date on the latest industry trends and news is important as an advisor and it’s helpful to have a go-to list of sources for information. That might include reading financial advisor magazines, listening to podcasts, or keeping up with top bloggers in the advisory space. If you’re looking for some new financial… read more…
- How to Start a Hedge Fund in the U.S.
Starting a hedge fund requires more than just an impressive track record of consistently beating the market. There are registration and regulatory requirements that you’re expected to meet to ensure your fund is operating legally. You’ll also need sufficient capital and a strong support team to help pull it all together. If you’re interested in… read more…
- Roundup of the Best Financial Advisor Magazines
The financial services world moves fast, and staying informed can mean the difference between keeping up and falling behind. For financial advisors, access to reliable, insightful publications is not just helpful, it is essential. The right magazine can provide market analysis, regulatory updates, practice management tips and professional development opportunities all in one place. Whether… read more…
- Free CFP® Ethics CE Courses
Certified Financial Planners™ are subject to continuing education requirements in order to maintain their certification. Specifically, they’re required to complete 30 hours of continuing education every two years, which includes two hours of study in the area of ethics. The total number of CE hours required will increase to 40 in 2027. CFP® professionals can… read more…
- CFP Scholarship Requirements
Becoming a CFP® professional is a major career milestone, but the cost of education and certification can feel like a barrier for many aspiring financial planners. CFP® scholarships are designed to ease that burden, yet they’re often overlooked or misunderstood. Knowing how these scholarships work and how to apply can open the door to financial… read more…
- Is It Worth It to Get a PHD in Financial Planning?
If you work in financial planning or want to pursue a career in the field, you may wonder about the value of getting a Ph.D. in financial planning. Earning this diploma can open up unparalleled opportunities for employment in teaching, research and consulting. However, it also requires a significant investment of time and money. And,… read more…
- Guide to Financial Advisor Conferences for 2026
Attending wealth management and investment conferences can be a great opportunity to network and get up to speed on the latest industry trends and news. If you have limited time in your schedule, you may need to pick and choose which ones you attend. Knowing which financial advisor conferences are on the horizon can help… read more…
- How to Fulfill the CFP® Certification Experience Requirement
Obtaining the Certified Financial Planner™ credential can enhance your expertise and credibility as an advisor. To become certified by the CFP Board, you’ll need to complete education, exam, ethics and experience requirements. In doing so, you demonstrate that you have the necessary training to offer financial planning services to clients. When you’re ready to satisfy… read more…