Refit
Career overview · SOC 13-2052

Personal Financial Advisors

Advise clients on financial plans using knowledge of tax and investment strategies, securities, insurance, pension plans, and real estate. Duties include assessing clients' assets, liabilities, cash flow, insurance coverage, tax status, and financial objectives. May also buy and sell financial assets for clients.

Also called: Certified Financial Planner (CFP) · Financial Advisor · Financial Consultant · Financial Counselor · Financial Life Planner · Financial Planner

Median pay (national)
$102,140
$49,990–$239,200+ (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
270,480
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+9.6%
~24,100 openings/yr
Typical entry
Bachelor's degree

What the numbers say

Refit analysis ·Pay for personal financial advisors shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $239,200+ versus $49,990 at the bottom 10% — 4.8x. The median of $102,140 leaves roughly 134% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +9.6% from 2024 to 2034 — much faster than the 3% average for all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 24,100 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 48 states with released data, New York pays the most for this role (median $167,970, +64% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $47,330 — a 255% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft PowerPoint as in-demand technologies for this role.

Tailor your resume to Personal Financial Advisors

Honest tailoring

See how your resume lines up with Personal Financial Advisors

Refit re-angles your real experience toward this role using the skills above — and never invents skills you don't have. A no-fabrication gate checks every change before you see it.

Free. No account needed to see your first re-fit.

Top skills employers ask for

Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.

  • Reading Comprehension
  • Active Listening
  • Speaking
  • Writing
  • Critical Thinking
  • Mathematics
  • Active Learning
  • Monitoring
  • Learning Strategies
  • Science

What they actually do

Core O*NET tasks for this role.

  • Interview clients to determine their current income, expenses, insurance coverage, tax status, financial objectives, risk tolerance, or other information needed to develop a financial plan.
  • Analyze financial information obtained from clients to determine strategies for meeting clients' financial objectives.
  • Answer clients' questions about the purposes and details of financial plans and strategies.
  • Review clients' accounts and plans regularly to determine whether life changes, economic changes, environmental concerns, or financial performance indicate a need for plan reassessment.
  • Manage client portfolios, keeping client plans up-to-date.
  • Recommend to clients strategies in cash management, insurance coverage, investment planning, or other areas to help them achieve their financial goals.
  • Recommend financial products, such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or insurance.
  • Implement financial planning recommendations, or refer clients to someone who can assist them with plan implementation.
  • Contact clients periodically to determine any changes in their financial status.
  • Prepare or interpret for clients information, such as investment performance reports, financial document summaries, or income projections.

Tools & technology

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft SQL Server
  • Microsoft Visual Basic
  • Salesforce software
  • Structured query language SQL
  • Swift
  • ACT! ACT4Advisors
  • Advent Axys
  • AdviceAmerica AdvisorVision
  • Advisory World ICE
  • ASI Client Acquisition Solution
  • Asset allocation software
  • Automatic Data Processing ProxyEdge
  • Brentmark Stock Option Risk Analyzer

Knowledge areas

  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Economics and Accounting
  • English Language
  • Mathematics
  • Psychology
  • Administration and Management
  • Sales and Marketing
  • Computers and Electronics