Financial adviser

Career path and progression

With experience, you could:

• specialise in one area of work, like pensions
• become a manager to recruit and train new staff
• become a director or partner of your company
• move into compliance, making sure companies follow guidelines and laws

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

• customer service skills for finding out customer needs
• knowledge of economics and accounting for understanding financial markets and products
• maths knowledge for creating financial plans
• the ability to sell products and services
• excellent verbal communication skills
• active listening skills
• business management skills for negotiating product rates
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

• pass enhanced background checks

Related subjects

Most relevant

• Mathematics - Financial advisers use maths constantly – calculating interest rates, mortgage repayments, pension projections, and investment returns. They need to create financial plans that show clients how their money could grow or be affected by different scenarios over time.
• Economics - Financial advisers need to understand how financial markets, inflation, interest rates, and economic cycles affect their clients' investments and savings. This knowledge helps them recommend the right products at the right time and explain market movements to clients.
• Accounting - Financial advisers produce financial reports and need to understand how money flows through accounts, tax obligations, and balance sheets. Being able to read and interpret financial statements helps them assess a client's overall financial position before giving advice.
• Business - Financial advisers negotiate with product providers, meet sales targets, and manage client relationships – all core business skills. Many also run their own advisory firms, so understanding how to manage and grow a business is directly relevant.

Also relevant

• English Language - Financial advisers must explain complex financial products in simple, clear language that clients can understand. They also write detailed financial reports and need strong communication skills when negotiating with providers or presenting options to clients.
• Law - Financial advisers must follow strict regulations set by the Financial Conduct Authority and keep up to date with changes in financial law. Understanding legal frameworks helps them ensure their advice is compliant and protects both themselves and their clients.
• Psychology - Financial advisers need to understand how people think about money, risk, and long-term planning. Active listening and reading a client's concerns and motivations helps them tailor advice that clients will actually feel confident following.