Financial planners are critical to helping individuals and businesses manage their funds to increase their wealth. They use their skills and experience to offer guidance and advice while developing strategies that help meet their clients’ financial goals.

Financial planners work in security firms, banks, insurance companies, and brokerage houses. Most planners establish relationships with individuals or businesses to understand their clients’ goals. They then develop strategies for achieving financial growth.

Their services vary widely depending on the client, but usually include areas such as:

Corporate finance professionals provide financial advice and guidance to medium-sized to large companies. While that may seem straightforward, there are many areas of specialization in this field. Most corporate and publicly traded companies employ finance professionals to manage everything from day-to-day operations to investments, acquisitions, mergers, and scaling.

Because of their wide range of duties, corporate finance professionals tend to be highly educated and experienced, especially those working as a chief financial officer (CFO) or vice president of finance. Leaders in these positions often hold a Master of Finance degree.

The tasks and services they provide usually include:

• Budget establishment and management
• Investment guidance
• Cash management
• Department-specific budget management
• Mergers and acquisition guidance
• Investment strategy development
  

Licensed financial advisors can pursue a path as a wealth manager for high-net-worth clients and corporations. These individuals use a holistic approach to manage their clients’ money and help them wisely plan for the future. They also work to reduce the potential for risk associated with certain investments.

Those who work in wealth management are often some of the most experienced financial graduates. They typically hold a master’s degree and advanced certifications or licensure. Many start out as junior wealth managers, supporting more experienced wealth managers with tasks such as drafting financial plans, reviewing investments, analyzing trends, and maintaining client communications.

Wealth managers need hard skills to perform duties such as:

• Investing funds
• Estimating and managing risk
• Managing portfolios
• Analyzing financial markets
• Working with investment vehicles like stocks, bonds, and mutual funds
• Researching new investment opportunities
• Preparing presentations
  

Financial analysts forecast and understand what happened or what could happen with money. They examine the data from financial transactions and help large organizations and businesses make sound investments based on that data. Instead of being directly involved in the actual process of buying and selling, they develop strategies that guide the decisions of financial managers, CEOs, CFOs, and other key decision-makers.

Financial analysts are responsible for monitoring economic conditions, market trends, and risk management strategies. They also study income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements to create visualizations that help business leaders identify areas of needed change or improvement.

Tasks handled by financial analysts include:

• Data mining and analysis
• Investment planning
• Financial report analysis
• Investment strategy development
• Stock market transaction planning
• Financial model development
• Investment plan creation and management
  

Investment bankers work in some of the largest financial institutions helping to navigate their portfolios. Their job is to advise these companies on how to raise capital, expand operations, acquire companies, or merge with other businesses.

The primary responsibilities of investment bankers include:

• Monitoring financial markets
• Making recommendations on business acquisitions
• Guiding companies in raising capital
• Sharing investment advice
• Preparing reports and presentations
• Helping clients make high-stakes decisions
  

Accountants manage the details and data of finances. They work in virtually all businesses, government organizations, and nonprofits to provide oversee the spending and receiving of company funds. Accountants can specialize in taxation, forensic accounting, auditing, or personal finance. Many accountants work to earn their Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensure, which allows them to move into advanced or advisory roles.

Accountants often complete Bachelor of Finance and Master of Accounting degrees, though it is also possible to start with a Bachelor of Accounting. Those in this field generally love numbers and enjoy analytics. They are problem-solvers but are also heavily focused on statistics and oversight.

• Common duties of accountants include:
• Balancing financial records

• Managing payroll and accounts receivable

• Creating documentation to support financial planning

• Minimizing financial waste

• Federal, state, and local tax reporting

• Preventing criminal threats and fraud
  

Loan officers work within banks and brokerages and provide guidance to both individuals and businesses on borrowing money. They must follow their institution’s specific lending standards and requirements to ensure that their decisions are logical and objective.

Loan officers handle numerous responsibilities, such as:

• Processing loan applications
• Evaluating the risk of loan applications
• Assessing the risk to lenders and their affiliated companies
• Advising small businesses on loan opportunities
• Processing and managing mortgages