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Financial Planner — A Career That Makes a Difference

As baby boomers start their migration to the necessary next stage of life – i.e. retirement – their well-documented lack of preparation and financial savvy puts a whole new meaning to the words "financial planning." Providing expert financial help is increasingly a task that's not just about making money, but about helping people be ready to live the rest of their lives.

This has led to some dramatic changes in the financial services industry, and the careers surrounding it have changed, with many people being drawn to work as financial planners as much to help others as to earn a good living. Gone are the days of stockbrokers racing the clock to time individual trades for clients. Instead, financial services professionals now are groomed to take a full service approach to their clients’ finances – helping them in all aspects of their financial life. What that means to those considering a career in financial planning is new opportunities.

“What can be more rewarding than knowing you’ve helped a client have their dream retirement?” asks Tyler Teske, a financial associate for Minneapolis-based Thrivent Financial for Lutherans in Ames, Iowa.

Those choosing a career as a financial services professional often enter the industry after spending 20, 30 or even 40 years doing something else. People from all walks of life, such as teachers, doctors and lawyers have started second careers as financial planners.

A number of factors, including the current economic recovery, have turned the financial services industry into a highly competitive marketplace. What’s more, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that “faster-than-average” employment growth is expected in the industry through 2012. To prepare for the growth, many firms are relying on their own niche to attract candidates who fit their culture to serve their clients.

For example, many of Thrivent Financial’s representatives are drawn by Thrivent Financial’s multimillion dollar charitable giving and the ability to volunteer side-by-side with members from its nearly 1,400 volunteer chapters that do community service every day.

“Because we have a community orientation, people who have made volunteerism part of their life tend to be drawn to us. Fortunately, their volunteer efforts tend to support their career goals – and that’s often why they stay with us. It turns out to be a win-win for them and the communities they serve,” says Jackie Hintz, Thrivent Financial’s director of career entry.

Those who have entered the financial services profession are happy with their choice. According to the College for Financial Planning’s 2005 Survey of Trends in the Financial Planning Industry, 99 percent of respondents reported that they were either satisfied or very satisfied with their profession.

Related Online Resources

U.S. Department of Labor Statistics - Financial Analysts and Personal Financial Advisors

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards

The Society of Financial Service Professionals (FSP)