Financial Planner
Comprehensive Sites
Bureau of Labor Statistics: Financial Analysts and Personal Financial AdvisorsFrom this site of the U.S. Department of Labor, you can gather some basic information on what it’s like to be a personal financial planner and also find details on wages and related occupations. Reading the work description might help you decide if being a financial planner is right for you. Related occupations and sources of additional information on the industry are available from this site.
CareerOneStop: Financial ManagerClick on financial manager in the box at the center of the page to view the occupational information for this profession. When you view the occupation result, you will find a video describing the life of a financial manager. National salary data, an occupational profile, and the recommended education and training needed to be successful in the profession are provided for students interested in this career.
Princeton Review: Financial PlannerFind out what a day in the life a financial planner could be like at this page, which provides a comprehensive overview to the career. You can also access information on what kinds of college majors could be right for you, or find out what to expect in terms of income after two, five, or 10 years of work in the field. Facts and figures about being a financial analyst include lists of what professionals read and some potential employers to consider. Click on the career search tool, or find internships and information on graduate programs.
Occupational Titles
Financial Planner
Certified Financial Planner
Financial Manager
Personal Financial Planner
Accredited Academic Programs
CFA Institute: University ResourcesThe CFA Institute offers a well-known credential in the field of finance. At this page, you will learn about the related curriculum that may be offered at university programs. Scholarship programs for the CFA exams and links to sample syllabi at some university partners are found online.
Princeton Review: Financial Planner, College MajorsIf you are interested in becoming a financial planner, check out the majors listed at this page, such as managerial economics or finance. You can then click on your selection to be taken to a list of colleges in the U.S. that offer your major in the area you are looking to study in. Complete contact information on web sites for these colleges can be easily accessed to find out more about the academic program.
Start Here, Go Places: Top Business SchoolsThis site is very valuable if you are looking for top business schools in the U.S. Access business school programs by major or connect to information on useful high school coursework to consider and several majors that are valuable for a career in financial management or business. There are also special resources for students specifically interested in finance and accounting.
Salary Levels
Indeed.com: Financial Planner SalariesYou will see charts depicting the average salary of a financial planner across the U.S. at this page, as well as the average salary of several jobs with related titles.
PayScale: Certified Financial PlannerFind salary information at this page, which combines details on median salary for a certified financial planner with information according to years of experience. The median salary by employer type is also displayed, with connections to further information on salary by city, by certification, industry, gender, degree, or major.
Professional Organizations
American Academy of Financial ManagementFuture financial leaders will find this site to have an assortment of online certification information, publications, and articles. You can learn about several important certifications and designations, such as “registered business analyst” or stay on top of the latest financial headlines.
CFA InstituteThis is a global non-profit organization dedicated to developing financial investment professionals. It awards the CFA and CIPM designations and offers a wide range of educational opportunities to people interested in a financial management career, particularly as a financial analyst. Online learning, career opportunities, and publications are all found at this site.
Financial Executives InstituteA networking location, this organization offers financial management and reporting information, as well as a good source of career information. Access the topics library to go directly to discussions of the financial industry.
Financial Planning AssociationIf you are interested in learning all you can about financial planning, check out this site, with links to educational resources, publications, an online store, upcoming events.
Licensing & Certification
American Academy of Financial ManagementThis organization is active in about 140 countries. Find out about several financial management certification programs that are offered by the academy, or access the professional association’s publications and articles. You can learn about several important designations, including registered business analyst or learn about chartered portfolio management.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc.The Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation is sponsored by this organization. Here, you can learn about financial planning as a career, or access details on what it takes to become a CFP. Quick links to information for high school and colleges program partnerships are found at the menu at the left side of the page.
ISeek: Certifications for Financial AnalystsMore than 50 certifications related to a career in the financial field are compiled at this page, including the certification names, their certifying organizations, and links to detailed information on what’s entailed to earn them.
Personal Financial SpecialistThis certification is a specialty designation for accountants who choose to also become certified financial planners. If you want to learn about CPA financial planning, this is the site to go to.
Job Opportunity Sources
Indeed.com: Financial PlannerThousands of job postings are available at this location, where opportunities are sourced from nationwide career databases. Private financial institutions also provide individualized listings of job descriptions and salary information, so that you can even locate entry-level positions as a financial planner.
Wall Street Journal: Career JournalFind a job by keyword, state, or city at this site, after a free registration process. Your account will lead you to online resume management tools, the ability to create and store cover letters and resumes, and a personal job agent to keep track of your job search in the financial industry.
Publications
CFA Institute: PublicationsA large variety of investment management research publications are available from this site, including journals, magazines, books, and other publications. You can browse this collection online by topic or access selected webcasts and publications that are very important in the financial industry. You can also look at free online samples of the Financial Analysts Journal, FA Digest, CFA Institute Conference Proceedings, and CFA Magazine.
Journal of Financial PlanningA free sample of this journal is available from the site. The publication is the journal of the Financial Planning Association, and its goal is to enhance the knowledge and understanding of the industry, including issues like asset management, the needs of the elderly, and many other aspects of financial planning. Even though a subscription is required for the journal, you can easily access a good portion of past issues right from the site.
MoneyThe writers at CNN and Money magazine have created this online version to provide top news in the financial industry. Current issue highlights are found, as well as departments for business news, personal finance, real estate, tech, luxury, and fortune.
Wall Street JournalLeading business financial news is provided at the Wall Street Journal online edition, where you will find U.S. business news, as well as news from around the globe. Departments at the site include world news, news by industry, and highlights of the day. My Online Journal offers you the opportunity to customize the site to your personal interests, or find a host of market tools, a classifieds listings, and multimedia online extras.
Online Forums & Blogs
BlogUniverse: Financial BlogsFinancial news and planning are the focus of this collection of blogs, including close to 200 links. You can look at this list alphabetically or sort the discussions by popularity.
Financial Planning Association: Community BuildingThe voice of the financial planning profession is found at this site, which facilitates discussions for members of the Financial Planning Association, non-members, and the general public about financial topics. You can post questions or answer after registering for these forums.
Wall Street Journal BlogsThere are so many blogs to choose from at this page, including market news and analysis, real-time economics, headlines in different markets, and postings about the environment, wealth, and business technology. If you are interested in financial planning, you’re sure to find an interesting current or archived discussion.
Career Videos
American Business Review: Financial PlannerDesignations for those who provide financial advice are discussed at this video, which talks about the job of a financial planner and the proper certification. Although this video talks about financial planning from the perspective of the consumer, you will learn about the education and training necessary to enter the profession and what makes a successful financial planner.
CFA Institute WebcastsThis site lets you try out free videos about the financial industry, with more than 100 video topics. Here, you can access specialty information on investment, financial analysis, investment theory, and portfolio management.
