Occupation

Personal Financial Advisors

Human Advantage 75%

Significant human skills needed

AI Automation Risk Low Risk
2.8 / 10

This occupation requires complex human judgment, social interaction, and creative problem-solving that are difficult to automate.

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.

Also Known As: Account Manager, Asset Analyst, Asset Manager, Budget Counselor, Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Client Advisor, Credit Counselor +47 more

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Core Tasks

  1. 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.
  2. Analyze financial information obtained from clients to determine strategies for meeting clients' financial objectives.
  3. Answer clients' questions about the purposes and details of financial plans and strategies.
  4. Review clients' accounts and plans regularly to determine whether life changes, economic changes, environmental concerns, or financial performance indicate a need for plan reassessment.
  5. Manage client portfolios, keeping client plans up-to-date.
  6. Recommend to clients strategies in cash management, insurance coverage, investment planning, or other areas to help them achieve their financial goals.
  7. Recommend financial products, such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or insurance.
  8. Implement financial planning recommendations, or refer clients to someone who can assist them with plan implementation.
  9. Contact clients periodically to determine any changes in their financial status.
  10. Prepare or interpret for clients information, such as investment performance reports, financial document summaries, or income projections.
  11. Explain to clients the personal financial advisor's responsibilities and the types of services to be provided.
  12. Investigate available investment opportunities to determine compatibility with client financial plans.
  13. Guide clients in the gathering of information, such as bank account records, income tax returns, life and disability insurance records, pension plans, or wills.
  14. Monitor financial market trends to ensure that client plans are responsive.
  15. Recruit and maintain client bases.
  16. Meet with clients' other advisors, such as attorneys, accountants, trust officers, or investment bankers, to fully understand clients' financial goals and circumstances.
  17. Devise debt liquidation plans that include payoff priorities and timelines.

Supplemental Tasks (4)

  1. Open accounts for clients, and disburse funds from accounts to creditors as agent for clients.
  2. Inform clients about tax benefits, government rebates, or other financial benefits of alternative-fuel vehicle purchases or energy-efficient home construction, improvements, or remodeling.
  3. Recommend environmentally responsible investments, such as cleantech, alternative energy, or conservation technologies, companies, or funds.
  4. Conduct seminars or workshops on financial planning topics, such as retirement planning, estate planning, or the evaluation of severance packages.

Education & Training

Job Zone 4 Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Education: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Experience: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
On-the-Job Training: Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.

Bachelor's Degree
58%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master.
23%
Master's Degree
12%
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
8%

Technology & Tools

Hot Technologies

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Software (102)

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  • Education planning software
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  • Estate planning software
  • ExpenseWatch
  • FileMaker Pro
  • Finance Logix Education Planner
  • Finance Logix Insurance Planner
  • Finance Logix Retirement Planner
  • Financeware AASim
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  • Financeware WealthSimulator
  • Financial Planning Consultants Practice Builder
  • Financial Profiles Profiles+ Professional
  • Financial planning presentation software
  • Financial planning software
  • Financial report generation software
  • Fund accounting software
  • Getting Things Done GTD software
  • Host Analytics Host Budget
  • IBM Domino
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  • IMPACT Wealth Distribution Analysis
  • Ibbotson Analyst
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  • Impact PlanLabX3
  • Investigo
  • Investment and business valuation template software
  • Investment tracking software
  • J&L Financial Planner
  • Junxure CRM Software
  • MasterPlan
  • Microsoft Business Contact Manager
  • Microsoft Money
  • MoneyTree Silver Financial Planner (financial analysis feature)
  • MoneyTree Silver Financial Planner (presentation feature)
  • Monte Carlo simulation software
  • Morningstar Principia
  • Needs analysis software
  • Net Worth Strategies Stock Opter Pro
  • Optima IAS
  • Oracle E-Business Suite Financials
  • Oracle Hyperion
  • Oracle PeopleSoft Financials
  • PIE Technologies MoneyGuidePro
  • Pimlico Software DateBk
  • PlanPlus Pro
  • PlanScan Portfolio Pathfinder
  • Portfolio management software
  • Practice management software PMS
  • ProTracker Advantage
  • Quicken
  • Redtail Technology Our Business Online
  • Retirement planning software
  • Sage 50 Accounting
  • Sawhney ExecPlan
  • ScanSoft PaperPort Pro
  • ScenarioNow RetireNow
  • SunGard Frontier
  • SunGard LockBox
  • SunGard PlanningStation
  • SunGard WebPlaid
  • Tax planning software
  • The Omni Group OmniPlan
  • Thomson ONE Advisor
  • Torrid Retirement Planner
  • Unger Software Methusaleh
  • WealthTec AllocationPro
  • WealthTec Foundations
  • WealthTec WealthMaster
  • Web Information Solutions Pocket Informant
  • Web browser software
  • World Software Corporation Worldox
  • eMoneyAdvisor AdvisorPlatform

Tools & Equipment (6)

  • 10-key calculators
  • Desktop computers
  • Notebook computers
  • Personal computers
  • Personal digital assistants PDA
  • Tablet computers

Where This Career Leads

Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.

Financial Strategy & Investments Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 2
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Personal Financial Advisors You are here

Accounting Financial Services

Zone 4
Personal Financial Advisors You are here

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