Education · 1 of 5
The path
The degree is quick. Earning a client list is the long part.
- 1
High school
Grades 11 and 12
Math, economics and anything that makes you comfortable talking to adults you do not know.
- 2
Bachelor's degree
4 years
Finance, economics, accounting or business is the usual route, but firms hire from any major. Some schools run financial planning programs registered with the CFP (Certified Financial Planner) Board.
- 3
Get hired and licensed
3 to 9 months
Most exams need a firm to sponsor you. The usual set is the Securities Industry Essentials exam, then the Series 7, then the Series 66 state law exam.
- 4
Build a client list
2 to 5 years
Cold outreach, referrals, seminars, or joining a senior advisor's team and inheriting part of theirs. This is the real job in years one to three.
- 5
Certification
18 to 24 months alongside work
The CFP designation needs a degree, the coursework, a 170-question exam and 6,000 hours of experience.