Conversations for Financial Professionals

Unpacking the Financial Professional Career Path

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Show Notes:

Have you ever thought of a financial services career?

What is the career path of a financial professional? How do you move through the ranks?

When it comes to terms like "analyst", "lead service advisor" or "senior advisor" what do they mean? And even more so, what do those jobs look like?

Although I've talked about my fairly non-linear path as a financial professional, there are career paths that are more linear in nature.

If you're contemplating a career as a financial professional, check it out to see what you might expect.


  • Years 0-3. This job role/description can take on many names but you are basically an analyst. By definition, you will see a lot of data and you will be challenged to synthesize mainly for YOUR sake. There's not a lot of liability on you from a client standpoint because you're still learning. Owners don't want you with that level of responsibility quite yet.
Tasks may include: inputting data into software, running reports, sitting in meetings and having things go over your head.
  • Years 3-5. You might have the title as "associate, lead" advisor but you are basically a service advisor. Having been in the game for some time you may be bumped up in PAY and RESPONSIBILITY for a few reasons. Hopefully, you've deepened your knowledge and invested in yourself to earn a master's degree, designation or both. You've got more experience so you will likely have migrated from synthesizing data for YOUR sake to OTHER stakeholders like firm owners and clients.
    • Tasks may include: running joint or solo in client meetings, managing client relationships within the business, finding new business for the firm, etc.
  • Beyond year 5. You have a lot of flexibility. This is where some advisors with a less certain upside decide to go on their own. If you have a good opportunity you may start down a partnership track which could present you with some interesting opportunities beyond just compensation--like ownership during a succession event.
    • Tasks will likely include a fair amount of business development for (finding and retaining client relationships), you may also wind up portfolio management responsibilities depending on your expertise, or other high-level responsibilities like operations, compliance, marketing, etc.

    Thanks for listening, reading and watching.

    Are you a current or aspiring financial professional? Click here to learn more about how I'm helping you jumpstart your career!

    Want to connect with me? Send me a DM on Linkedin (@dhendersonsr) or Instagram (@dominiquehendersonsr).

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    Conversations for Financial ProfessionalsBy Dominique Henderson, CFP®
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