How to Become a Financial Planner Out of College
If you enjoy working with people, know how to assess financial situations and want a career that allows you help others attain life goals, consider becoming a financial planner. Also called financial advisers, these professionals help their clients plan for short- and long-term financial goals, such as general investments, education, retirement and insurance. Although new financial planners often have professional work experience in other industries, this career path is also open to recent college graduates who are just starting out in the workforce.
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Instructions
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Start preparing for your financial planner career in high school by taking courses in economics, math and business. Find and join a local investment club, which can teach you to compare different investment opportunities, as well as analyze stock and investment results.
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Go to college and earn a bachelor's or graduate degree. Common majors for financial planners include finance, accounting, mathematics, law and economics. Take courses in taxes, investments, risk management and estate planning.
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Join financial planning organizations and associations. Begin to build up a potential client base that may include past co-workers, classmates who graduated with you, old neighbors, church members or family friends.
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Apply at a wide variety of finance and insurance companies, such as banks, insurance agencies, investment firms, and securities and commodity brokerage firms. Give examples of your real-world financial experience, such as figuring out how to finance your entire college tuition on your own or saving up for a new vehicle.
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Pass the General Securities Registered Representative Examination, or Series 7 exam, which is administered by the National Association of Securities Dealers. States often require the Uniform Combined State Law Exam, also known as the Series 66 exam, or both the Uniform Securities Agent State Law Examination --- Series 63 exam --- and the Uniform Investment Advisor Law Exam, or Series 65 exam. You need to pass these exams to register as an Investment Adviser Representative with the North American Securities Administrators Association.
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Begin working on obtaining your Certified Financial Planner credential. You can't actually become certified until you have three years in the industry, but you may start working on the requirements early. You need to complete set educational requirements; pass an extensive, comprehensive two-day exam; and adhere to the financial planner code of ethics.
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