If you enjoy problem solving and working with numbers, a career in the finance industry may be perfect for you. In this lucrative and rewarding field, you have endless choices of possible career routes to pursue. If you have a business or finance degree as well as strong people and analytical skills, then you can gain entry into a vast array of financial careers, including:
Personal Banking
Banking allows you to work directly with people and have a positive effect on their lives, making it very rewarding. In fact, Money magazine listed bankers as having the second-highest level of job satisfaction in the United States. Unlike other careers in the financial industry, a person can gain entry into the field of banking without a college degree.
Financial Advising
Financial advisors put their money and people skills to work. A financial advisor spends most of their time consulting with clients and helping them plan their financial futures, developing investment strategies, preparing insurance programs, and so on. Many financial advisors gain entry into the field by first working for an investment firm or insurance company, then they earn a professional designation before branching out on their own. However, some choose to turn the tables and become corporate financial advisor recruiters as well.
Investment Banking
The majority of investment bankers primarily work with large corporations, helping them develop new creative instruments for raising capital, such as collateralized debt obligations and mortgage-backed securities. However, they also perform other tasks, such as executing client trades, advising, and other tasks requiring long hours. It is possible to get a foot in the door at many investment banks with a bachelor’s degree, but an MBA opens up more doors and rewarding opportunities.
Corporate Finance
With a career in the lucrative world of corporate finance, you can help corporations plan and accomplish their financial goals by implementing financial programs, designing financial policies, managing resources, and being involved in the greater financial community. In exchange for their expertise, chief financial officers often enjoy lucrative annual salaries of $250,000 or more.
Money Management
Money managers are responsible for analyzing financial trends and determining the future price movements of stocks, bonds, and other securities. Many money managers find themselves working for large mutual funds, responsible for determining the allocation of each fund. Achieving such a powerful position can be difficult, but after gaining a successful investment track record, working with insurance companies, or working for a bank trust department, the doors of opportunity tend to open considerably.
Real Estate
Most people immediately assume careers in real estate are limited to real estate agencies, but there are many opportunities in the world of real estate finance as well. Property management, mortgage banking, property appraising, and many other interesting career paths are available for real estate financial experts. There are many corporate real estate careers available as well, such as working for a bank’s commercial real estate department.
Careers in finance are as diverse as their earnings potential. No other industry provides as many opportunities for those with limited educational or experience backgrounds. With a little hard work and dedication, you can be successful in finance, regardless of the career you choose.
