Career Development

Career Development

Strategies for career growth may be involve changing direction and expanding your base of expertise. Along the way, you have to become skilled in cultivating and working contacts, and learn the importance of building up your own financial reserves. Lastly, the mercurial nature of the industry means that layoffs are always a possibility. Setting a personal plan for dealing with this eventuality is yet another critical objective for you.

Changing Jobs to Advance a Career

Redefining Your Job

Networking

Personal Wealth = Career Leverage

Surviving Layoffs

Turning Layoffs to Advantage

Continuing Education

Recommended Periodicals

Book Suggestions

What Job Descriptions Do & Don't Say

What Job Descriptions Do & Don't Say

Controllers

Corporate Treasury

Product Management

Information Technology

Brokerage Operations

Branch Office Operations

Compliance, Legal and Tax

Risk Management

Branch Office Compliance

Market Research

Management Science

Public Relations

Support Careers

Support Careers

Here we discuss non-producer, or support, careers that are important within the financial services company, but not unique to it. Accordingly, if you have prior experience in these fields within other industries, you have readily transferable skills. The reverse also holds true, if you work within these areas in the financial services industry then seek to move elsewhere. Note that, while jobs within the producer tracks tend to be the most highly compensated in the company, support functions also can be very well-paid and highly respected.

Career Choice

Career Choice

Task one is deciding which career specialty is most suitable for youself. Here we present some of the most basic job types within the financial services industry, focusing on those that are unique to the industry. Note that there are extensive variations in precise job descriptions and duties from firm to firm. Remember that this is only a selection of the career profiles that we have developed for this guidesite.

Know Yourself

Producer and Support Careers

Financial Advisor

Sales Assistant to Financial Advisor

Financial Planner

Insurance Careers

Investment Banking: Underwriting

Loan Officer

Money Manager

Securities Research Analyst

Securities Trader

Education, Training & Experience

Education, Training & Experience

Here is a survey of the education, training, prior experience and certifications that are most in demand within the financial services industry. We also cover what career paths they help open up for you.

Credentials Overview

Student Internships

Undergraduate Majors

Computer Literacy

MBA Degrees

Law Degrees

Certified Public Accountants (CPAs)

Chartered Financial Analysts (CFAs)

Certified Financial Planners (CFPs)

FINRA Licenses

Leveraging Athletic Backgrounds

Leveraging Military Experience