What kind of job do you want? A better question is what kind of career do you want? Something that requires work outside or something that is inside an air-conditioned office? There are many different ideas out there for everyone. One such job is in finance. Finance can be a rewarding job for someone, but it can also give you lots of stress and long hours. Let’s take a look at the world of finance and see if this career path is right for you.
How Much Do Finance Jobs Pay?
In finance, one can make good money from it. As of 2021, the median pay for someone in finance, specifically a personal financial adviser, is $94,170 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Meanwhile, for a normal business or financial career, the median pay is about $76,570 in 2021 while the median pay for other jobs is around $45, 760. So, the bureau believes that the number of financial jobs will increase by 8% in the current decade.
Certifications can allow finance professionals to earn even more. According to the CFP Board, CFP professionals earn an average of 40% more than non-certified financial advisors. With the right test prep resources for Series 7 practice exams, such as study guides or practice tests, candidates can increase their chances of success and potentially earn a higher salary in the finance industry.
What Kinds of Careers in Finance Are There?
Finance jobs typically are one of seven types of financial jobs. These types are:
- insurance
- real estate
- personal finance planning
- commercial banking
- asset management
- investment banking
- corporate finance
In order to have a finance job, one must usually have a bachelor’s degree in finance. If you want to advance into more niche or higher-level finance, then you may need something like a master’s degree in finance or a Master’s in Business Administration in Finance.
So if you already have the degree, that’s great! Here are some of the financial jobs you can have:
- Bank manager
- Budget analyst
- Business banker
- Chief financial officer
- Chief investment officer
- Controller
- Analyst
- Financial examiner
- Financial planner
- Hedge fund manager
- Insurance agent
- Insurance underwriter
- Investment banker
- Investor relations manager
- Loan officer
- Real estate agent
- Stockbroker
- Tax examiner
- Treasurer
- Venture capitalist
Now, if you are just getting started out, then you can get an entry-level job in finance, which is about handling administrative jobs for accounts and other related careers. Here are some of the entry-level finance jobs that one can find out in the world:
- Actuary
- Bank teller
- Budget analyst
- Compensation and benefits specialist
- Credit analyst
- Financial analyst
- Insurance claims adjuster
- Insurance underwriter
- Payroll clerk
- Personal banker
- Personal financial adviser
- Tax associate
The Good Part of Finance Careers
Indeed, some of the perks of a financial job include job stability, growth opportunities within the company, and good compensation which includes bonuses and benefits.
The job can feel accomplished as well as feeling independent and it helps solidify one’s reputation. Others have also described it as making positive and direct impacts on people’s lives. Not to mention that with such a high-demand career field, someone who works in it can experience stability for many years to come. These are major perks in deciding whether finance is a good career path for you.
The Bad Part of Finance Careers
Unfortunately, there is always a con to a good gig. One can have a hard time getting a foot in the door or even switching companies as some in the financial sector will require employees to sign something called non-compete agreements. Plus, trying to make a switch in careers while having a family can be very difficult.
With a career as good as finance, a possible con is that sometimes it requires a lot of schooling to certain levels, meaning that it can be challenging for those who are do not have the financial resources to do so.
The job is also affected by the stock market, which according to experts in the field, can make it more difficult as people are very protective of their money and can give them anxiety. Indeed, this will cause them to create snap decisions that can affect their wealth dramatically. Certainly, it is important that the financial employee calms people and to make an informed decision. Also, these decisions can be difficult and is a major part of the career.
Not to mention those who work in finance have to deal with super long hours and a lot of stress. But factors that play into this will be certain times of the year, deadlines, clients, and a lot of work.
Conclusion
Now, if you seek a job in finance here are some things to realize. It has good pay and benefits, but stress, long hours, and certain educational levels are needed for this job. If you think you can handle it, then great! However, you don’t think it is for you, then that is okay! Everyone has a fit somewhere on this planet. You just need to find it. But, if you are somewhere stuck in between, a good idea would be starting out at a bank as a bank teller. That way, you get a very basic idea of how finance works and you could work to advance in the bank as well.
Finally, this job, like any job, has a number of factors for a person seeking a career. Regardless, there will be highs and lows to it depending on your situation, where you live, who you work with and for. All you can do is think it over whether finance is a good career path for you.
