How to Write a Financial Advisor Resume: Latest Examples, Templates and Formats

The financial industry holds great promise for job seekers, offering high salaries and challenging work. Among the various career paths available, one particularly enticing option is that of a financial advisor.

A financial advisor plays a crucial role in assisting clients with their financial matters. This may include helping them plan their household finances, retirement plans, or even strategies for purchasing luxury goods.

Before creating a financial advisor resume, it’s useful to consider data from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. According to their projections, the industry is expected to see an influx of 51,000 new professionals. The average annual salary for financial advisors is estimated to be around $94,170.

However, it’s important to note that actual earnings can vary significantly based on factors such as the hiring organization and the minimum wage in your specific locations. Despite this, many individuals recognize the immense potential of a career as a financial advisor.

This article discusses the important elements in compiling a financial advisor resume. You can also use the financial advisor resume examples and templates below.

Understanding a Financial Advisor’s Works

Becoming a financial advisor offers a career path that can span a lifetime. Even if you are retired but still interested in working, you have the opportunity to embark on a career as a financial advisor by obtaining a special license. The reason being is that the scope of work for financial advisors is very extensive and diverse.

It is the middle and upper classes of society who often seek the services of financial advisors; hence, financial advisors provide a range of services, including:

• Investment advice
• Debt management
• Budget assistance
• College saving planning
• Retirement planning
• Estate planning
• Long-term healthcare and insurance guidance
• Tax planning

As a financial advisor, your role involves posing a series of questions to assess and manage finances effectively. This step allows you to gain insights into the client’s financial situation and determine the most suitable strategies.

Examples of questions you may ask as a financial advisor:

• Financial resources
• Amount of debt
• Types of investments held
• Ownership of valuable assets
• Status of health insurance and pension plans
• Family lifestyle

Guidelines for Writing a Financial Advisor Resume

Understanding the important parts of a resume will help you efficiently organize and present essential information. The guide below is not a standard; you can add or delete sections as you see fit without losing the essence of the resume.

Personal Information

The first section of your resume is dedicated to your personal information. Including relevant personal details makes it easier for recruiters to contact you and gain insights into your background.

However, not all personal information is appropriate to include in a financial advisor's resume. Certain details should be safeguarded to prevent potential data breaches.

Financial Advisor Resume Summary

A resume summary serves as a concise overview of your identity, work experience, and accomplishments as a financial advisor.

Crafting a well-written and clear summary is an effective way to impress hiring managers or clients by showcasing your skills and abilities.

Take this note: an assistant financial advisor typically holds the junior-level financial advisor position with approximately 1 to 2 years of experience.

Career Objective

Many job seekers often find themselves confused about the distinction between a resume summary and a career objective, despite their distinct purposes.

Career objectives primarily focus on the goals that candidates aspire to achieve, such as professional growth or career advancement.

Traditionally, career objectives are commonly employed by recent graduates and individuals with limited experience. However, this does not imply that mid-level and senior-level candidates cannot utilize them.

• Seeking a Financial Advisor Development Program to support personal growth as an MBA Student
• A well-organized, seasoned advisor with over 9 years of wealth management experience. Seeking Senior Wealth Management Advisor position
• Certified Financial Planner with 3 years' experience. Seeking to expand knowledge within a financially focused firm

Work Experience

Among all the sections, the work experience section on resume holds the utmost importance. It should not merely outline the job responsibilities, as the employer or hiring manager will already be familiar with those. Instead, focus on highlighting your accomplishments and contributions.

So, what information should you include in the work experience section? Here are three key points to keep in mind:

1) Utilize bullet points to present your information in a concise organized, and easily readable format. Remember, the average client or hiring manager spends no more than 2 minutes reviewing a candidate’s resume, so make the most of this opportunity!

2) Unsure how to make your accomplishments stand out? This is where action verbs come into play. Incorporating these dynamic words can make your statements appear strong and compelling. Here are some examples of action verbs you can use: 

3) Lastly, pay attention to small details such as the name of your previous client or company, location, duration of employment, and your job title.

Here are a few examples to guide you:

Financial Advisor Skills

Technical skills and industry knowledge (hard skills) and non-technical skills (soft skills) are what set your resume apart from those of other candidates. The skills section on your resume can also be a determining factor for clients when establishing appropriate salaries.

The more advanced skills you possess, the higher your salary potential as a financial advisor. This directly impacts your credibility and reputation in the field.

Educational Background

When it comes to financial advisor resumes, it is crucial to include your recent education history as evidence of your background. Cake offers several tips on how to list your educational background on your resume:

• You can include one to two recent degrees, particularly Master’s and Ph.D. degrees.
• If you have relevant experience as a financial advisor listed on your resume, or if you have been out of college for more than three years, you may choose not to include your complete education history.
• A reputable degree undoubtedly adds value and enhances your credibility with clients. If you graduated magna cum laude or summa cum laude, listing your GPA is no longer necessary.

An example:

Other Information

Other information worth including in your resume is your language skills.

Mastering a second language opens up opportunities to work abroad with higher salary standards. English is the most commonly required language by companies. Japanese, Mandarin, Spanish and French are also gaining prominence. To enhance your professionalism, taking a proficiency test to determine your level of proficiency in a foreign language is essential.

If you want to include your language skills to your resume, here's an example:

You can also include your certificates and licenses. Remember that these certificates and licenses should be different from the language section.

If you want to have any relevant certificates or licenses to showcase, here some examples:

Note that you can merge these two sections into one! Read more of how to include certificates and licenses section on your resume.

Tips for Writing a Good Financial Advisor Resume

Do Your Research

Companies or clients often ask questions like “What do you know about our company?” or “Do you have an understanding of the financial advice I need?” If your response feels vague or unclear, it naturally decreases your chances of receiving a job offer.

Research serves as a crucial tool in understanding the company you are targeting. It helps you grasp the work culture, the types of clients you will be working with, the track record of the company, offered salaries, and more.

The knowledge you gain through research will boost your confidence during the interview process. Hiring managers will recognize your seriousness and commitment.

Know the Difference Between CV and Resume and Choose the Correct One

Are you frequently confused about the distinction between a CV and a resume? Don’t worry, this is common, especially among recent graduates. Moreover, in some countries, the terms CV and resume are used interchangeably. Here's a simple CV and resume definition for you:

A CV, short for Curriculum Vitae, is a comprehensive record of your professional activities. It can include any experience, even if it is not directly relevant to the position. For example, you can mention your work experience as a bartender or a bookseller before transitioning to being a financial advisor. Therefore, it’s not uncommon for a CV to exceed 10 pages. CVs are primarily used for academic purposes, such as applying for scholarships, registering as a researcher, or seeking funding. It is less common to use a CV for job applications.

On the other hand, a resume typically consists of a maximum of three pages. Its focus is on work, internship, or organizational experience that is directly relevant to the position you are applying for.

Use the Right Format Based on Your Experience and Background

There are three common resume formats, each suited to different needs and levels of work experience. Let’s break them down:

• Chronological Resume: This is the most commonly used format, where each section is written in chronological order, with the most recent and relevant experience listed first. It is suitable for candidates with a consistent career path or those aiming for career advancement.

• Functional Resume: If you are a recent graduate or have limited experience, the functional resume format is ideal. Instead of emphasizing work experience, it highlights the skills that make you suitable for a financial advisor role. Functional resumes often incorporate career objectives to showcase future career goals.

• Combination Resume: The combination resume format combines elements of both chronological and functional resumes. It is rare but suitable for individuals with diverse work experiences, such as job hoppers or freelancers. In this format, candidates typically list their skills in the work experience section, followed by descriptions of projects completed using those skills.

Once you have decided which financial advisor resume format you want to use, make sure you follow the writing standards. You can review this article of choosing the best fonts for resume article.

Incorporate Keywords and Customize Your Financial Advisor’s Resume

Of course, you are not the only candidate applying for the job. A single job posting can attract hundreds or even thousands of candidates. Choosing the right resume is undoubtedly a challenging task for recruiters.

Companies often utilize AI engines or Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to expedite the selection process. This means that the initial stage of the selection process relies on how well your resume aligns with the keywords entered by the hiring manager.

So, how can you navigate the ATS machine selection? The key lies in carefully analyzing the requirements and job descriptions in the job advertisements.

Due to the importance of correct keyword placement, a one-size-fits-all resume may not suffice. This is because different companies have distinct criteria and requirements. For example:

In these examples of job postings, you will find several keywords such as "communication skills", "insurance sales", "planning and promoting insurance products", and "banking and insurance". These keywords are placed not only in the work experience section but also in the cover letter and resume summary.

Financial Advisor Resume Examples and Templates

Financial Advisor Resume for Junior-Level

Financial Advisor Resume Fresh Graduate

Financial Advisor Resume for Mid-Level

Financial Advisor Resume for Senior-Level

How to Write a Financial Advisor Cover Letter

When applying in a competitive job market, one of the easiest ways to make your financial advisor's resume stand out is by writing a cover letter. Consider your financial advisor's cover letter as an introduction that effectively explains who you are. A well-written cover letter not only showcases your dedication and strong desire to be hired, but also provides additional information that cannot be fully conveyed in a resume. Nevertheless, it’s important to note that if your cover letter is not strong or clear enough, it may hinder the hiring manager from advancing your application to the next stage.

To address this, this article provides a comprehensive guide on the essential components that should be included in a cover letter, along with examples. Here are the key points to consider:

1. Start by filling out the header section with your personal information, including your full name, email, phone number, LinkedIn account, and city of residence.
2. Next, include the date in the format mm/dd/yy when the cover letter is written.
3. Begin the cover letter with a salutation, which can be in one of two formats:  “Dear Hiring Manager” or “Dear Mr./Ms./Mrs/ [insert name]”.
4. The first paragraph serves as an introduction to yourself. Mention your name, your most recent experience, and your position at your previous company (for recent graduates, you may want to include your most recent educational history), briefly highlight your accomplishments and contributions in the professional world and state the position you are seeking.
5. The second paragraph should explain your qualifications, including measurable achievements and the skills you possess. You can share relevant stories within a maximum of two paragraphs.
6. In the third paragraph, express the values and career goals you aspire to achieve. You can also include your motivation and reasons for applying to the specific target company.
7. The fourth paragraph acts as a call to action, allowing the hiring manager to contact you for further discussion regarding your qualifications and work experience.

FAQs

1. Do I need to have a specific degree to become a financial advisor?

While financial knowledge can be gained through various courses and training, individuals who aspire to pursue a career as a financial advisor should obtain a specialized degree in fields such as finance, business, law, or economics.

Moreover, obtaining a professional license is essential for financial advisors to practice their expertise. There are several internationally recognized financial advisor licenses, including:

• Series 3: National Commodities Futures Exam
• Series 6: Investment Company Products Representative
• Series 7: General Securities Representative
• Series 63: Uniform Securities Agent State Law Exam
• Series 65: Uniform Investment Advisor State Law Exam

2. What are the main challenges of being a financial advisor?

While a high income is an attractive aspect of a career as a financial advisor, it is important to acknowledge that this industry can be highly stressful. Additionally, building a client base and establishing strong networks and relationships can often take years of dedicated effort.

3. What is the average salary for a financial advisor?

As mentioned earlier, the average annual salary for financial advisors can reach up to $94,170. According to data from Investopedia, financial advisors in Alaska and New York, on average, earn $229,730 and & 203, 070 per year, respectively.

4. Can I work remotely as a financial advisor?

The opportunity to work remotely as a financial advisor is widely available. However, due to the nature of the jobs, which involves extensive discussions with clients about their financial plans, meeting face-to-face can provide a more comfortable and effective experience.

Key Takeaways

It is important to feel confident in your abilities before writing a financial advisor resume. A high level of confidence will be reflected in the way you write your resume. Here are three key takeaways for you to keep in mind:

• Being a financial advisor offers fantastic salaries and flexible hours. However, it is important to note that the workload can be quite heavy and filled with pressure.
• When crafting a strong financial advisor resume, conducting thorough research about the company you are applying to is key.
• The financial advisor cover letter serves as an introduction, allowing you to express who you are and showcase your motivation and aspirations for your career’s future.

Hopefully, this Cake article can help you get through and get a decent job. Have a good fight!

Cake is the best free resume builder that allows users to create professional online resumes and portfolios with ease. With a vast library of more than 60+ resume templates and snippets, you can effectively showcase your skills and accomplishments. Give it a try today!

--- Originally written by Erika Rizqi ---