What to expect from a career as a Financial Planner, Financial Advisor or Investment Advisor
Financial planning is a difficult process for many people – learning to juggle their money and plan for retirement is not only challenging, it can also be overwhelming. Many people rely on financial planning professionals with their knowledge on investments, trust management, taxation and retirement for counsel on financial decisions to help put their minds at ease on their present and future financial situations.
If you’re interested in becoming one of these people, and want to start your career with one of the many financial planning and financial services programs at Ontario colleges, here’s what you need to know.
Financial Planning and Financial Services Courses
On top of the subjects financial planners ordinarily deal with, such as investing, estate planning, retirement saving and more, financial planning and services courses also cover a number of other areas of study, such as mathematics and statistics, ethics and law, and risk management.
The numbers side is just half of the equation, however. Much of a financial services career involves dealing directly with people, so courses that emphasize people skills are also part of the curriculum. These include everything from communication and leadership to organization and written and oral presentation.
Students in financial programs may also be eligible to take licensing exams, such as the Canadian Investment Fund Course (CIFC), the Canadian Securities Course (CSC) and more.
General Financial Planning and Financial Services Program Requirements
Ontario college financial planning and financial services programs require an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent. Grade 12 English and Math credits will also be required. Computer skills, such as word processing and spreadsheet analysis, are seen as beneficial.
Financial Planning and Financial Services Jobs and Salaries
An education from financial planning and services programs opens the door for work in a variety of positions at a variety of financial institutions. You could work as a financial planner, financial advisor or investment advisor in a bank, financial planning or investment company, insurance company, or any business needing financial services. Another career option is to start your own business or hire yourself out as a consultant.
Starting salaries for new financial planners are typically in the high-$30,000 to low-$40,000 range, but will increase with experience and levels of licensing.
Ontario Colleges Offering Financial Planning and Financial Services Programs
Use the left-column navigation to refine your search by College, Program Availability, Program Start Date and more, or see the table below for a complete list of financial planning and financial services programs at Ontario colleges.
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