How to Become a Personal Financial Advisor
Help individuals plan investments, retirement, taxes, and insurance so their money supports the life they want. It typically requires a bachelor's degree, with a median salary of $105,070 per year and much faster than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$105,070/yr
Middle half
$72,440 to $176,790
Job growth
Much faster than average
Openings / yr
24,100
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Financial Planning
- Investment Strategy
- Client Relationships
- Active Listening
- Communication
Helpful certifications
- CFP (Certified Financial Planner)
- Series 7 and 66
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
64/100
Work-life balance
61/100
Stress level
46/100
Related careers
- Financial Manager$166,570 median
- Actuary$130,000 median
- Financial Risk Specialist$117,330 median
- Financial Analyst$102,740 median
- Management Consultant$101,860 median
- Financial Examiner$94,160 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Personal Financial Advisor make?
The median pay for a Personal Financial Advisor is $105,070 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $72,440 and $176,790 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Personal Financial Advisor?
The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree. Common majors are Finance, Economics, Business Administration, and Accounting.
Is Personal Financial Advisor a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is much faster than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 24,100 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Personal Financial Advisor use most?
Common skills for this role are Financial Planning, Investment Strategy, Client Relationships, Active Listening, and Communication.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).