To become a financial advisor, you'll first want to complete the CFP® Certification Requirements.

CFP® Certification Requirements:

Education - complete a bachelor's degree program and required financial planning coursework

Exam - pass the CFP® exam

Experience - meet the professional experience requirement

Ethics - agree to the high ethical and professional standards of the CFP® board

As you begin researching this career field and scouting positions, keeping in mind that we feel the fiduciary and fee-only financial planning approach is the least-conflicted compensation method available for a financial advisor. We encourage you to learn more about this terminology and look for employment opportunities that ascribe to these practices. 

Many entry-level advisor jobs were commission-based in the past, but the industry is currently seeing a shift away from the transactional/commission business.  Fully independent, registered investment advisory firms are seeing major growth, and these firms are hiring entry-level advisors who have or are working towards their CFP® credential.

Here are some relevant videos to start you on your path to being a financial advisor:

           How to Be a Financial Advisor/Part 1/Before You Get Started (8:24)

           How to Be a Financial Advisor/Part 2/Knowing Where You Fit In (9:09)         

          How to Be a Financial Advisor/Part 3/How to Make Money (9:45)