Certified Financial Planner - Training & Careers

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What Certified Financial Planners Do

Financial analysts and advisors help individuals and businesses make the best financial choices. They can help to gather numbers, look at them and create plans of action or budgets. Many times when a business is looking to make a payroll or employee increase, or move to new quarters, they will hire financial analysts to tell them if it's a good idea. People who are saving or investing sums of money should hire a certified financial planner to advise them. 

Training to Become a Certified Financial Planner

Two certification exams are the hallmarks of becoming a certified financial planner. With three years of work experience and a bachelor's degree, you are eligible to get a Chartered Financial Analyst certificate. Comprehensive essay exams on accounting, economics, securities, finance and portfolio management evaluate your knowledge of financial planning. The Certified Financial Planner credential covers different areas of finances: insurance and risk management, benefits, taxes and investments. If you pass both exams after a few years of studying, you are well on your way to becoming a certified financial planner.

Careers as a Certified Financial Planner

Financial analysts earn between $40,000 and $80,000, with some careers peaking at over $100,000 per year. Financial advisors make about the same, making your training to become a certified financial planner well worth your time. There are job opportunities in this field on salary or as a freelance consultant, advising individuals, banks, businesses or investment firms on their best decisions.