What will I be doing?

Are your credit cards paid off? Do you have a good start on your retirement fund? If so, you're ahead of most of us! Consider getting certified to become a financial advisor to help others get ahead. Guide clients in making informed decisions about the risks and rewards of specific financial investments and opportunities. You can offer a wide range of financial services, including estate planning, investing, setting up trusts, either by working with businesses and small business owners or with individuals.

What will I need to start?

There are more than 30,000 financial services and consultants in the U.S., but there's always room for more good ones. Many financial advisors have extensive training and experience working in the finance industry, but many others help us common folk manage our money better.

Depending on your knowledge, skills and experience you may decide to consult businesses on pension plan investments or you may help home managers reconcile their bank statements. To give advice on financial matters you must have success in doing so. Maybe you've built a successful business or done well in the stock market or found other ways of increasing your net worth. Share your experience with others for profit.

Depending on the type of financial advice you offer, you may require licensing or bonding. It not only helps protect your clients from less-than-qualified advisors, it also helps protect you from fly-by-night competitors.

Who will my customers be?

Your customers will be defined by the type of financial advice you are most qualified to offer. If you have experience managing stock purchases, your customers will be those who typically invest in stocks and need some help. If you advise people of alternatives to bankruptcy, your customers are those who are now considering bankruptcy as their only option. Identify the best way to reach these customers: ads in the local newspaper or regional business papers, telephone marketing, association mailing lists, seminars or other methods. Of course, as in most occupations, word-of-mouth referrals from satisfied customers are the best advertising of all.