Have you ever considered a career as a financial advisor? This rapidly growing profession requires no specific degree and provides an excellent salary and benefits package. As a financial advisor, you’d spend your days in an office setting helping families and individuals reach their financial goals. Keep reading to learn about this exciting career opportunity for money-minded professionals.

What Do Financial Advisors Do?

Americans are struggling to manage their personal finances. Many families live paycheck-to-paycheck, carry massive loan burdens and have limited plans in place for retirement. As a financial advisor, you can help people improve their financial health. Although many consumers don’t know what financial advisors can offer, increasing outreach efforts and advertising are educating Americans on how financial advisors like you can help, according to CNBC.

In your career as a financial counselor, you can work independently or for a large organization. Banks, investment firms and non-profit financial literacy agencies hire financial advisors to work with clients. You’ll meet one-on-one with individuals in need of financial advice for big goals like retirement, paying for college or planning a will. Some of your clients will understand their financial health and simply need a few pointers for navigating complex regulations or maximizing tax benefits. Other individuals may have limited financial literacy and need extensive help creating a budget, avoiding overdraft fees and paying off large credit card balances. No matter what level of experience your clients have, you must be able to treat them with compassion and deliver financial education at a level they can understand.

How Can You Become a Financial Advisor?

Because financial advisors are not licensed or credentialed by a regulating agency, you do not need any specific training to get started in this industry. A strong knowledge of personal finance matters, tax codes and basic business principles are required, so you’ll need to demonstrate that background through your college degree or work history. Classes in finance, business, economics and law will help you excel as a financial advisor. Some universities offer undergraduate degrees in financial advising or specific study programs grouped under more general degrees like accounting. To enhance your career in financial advising, you can pursue specialized training for titles like Certified Public Accountant or Certified Financial Planner.

Do Financial Advisors Earn a Good Salary?

The median wage for financial advisors was $89,160 in 2015, and the highest 10 percent of earners pulled in almost $200,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. You can also earn bonuses or commissions to increase your earnings. However, federal regulations make it potentially unethical for some personal advisors to receive commissions because they want you to focus on making the best recommendations for clients, not your pocketbook. As a white-collar professional, you will likely receive benefits like paid vacation and sick leave, funding for professional development and flexible time policies. If you want to pursue further certification or training, your firm will likely support you with paid exam fees, paid time for studying and paid tuition.

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One-on-one counseling sessions are emotionally rewarding, especially when clients being making real progress, and you won’t have to worry about money with the generous salary you’ll be earning in this role. It’s easy to see why work as a financial advisor is growing in popularity.