A new advisor in a firm's training program, studying for licenses and building a client list.
You study for the Series 7 exam in the morning, shadow a senior advisor at client meetings and make calls to find your first clients.
Many trainees wash out in the first two years; those who build clients see pay rise fast.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. A bachelor's degree in any major, then the firm's training program while passing the SIE, Series 7 and Series 66 (or 65) exams.
Ways in: 4-year college, Certification. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Finance, Economics, Any major.
Growing slowly (about 1% over 10 years). Tracks personal financial advisors.
Medium risk in 5 years, high in 10. Firms are cutting trainee classes as AI handles prospecting and planning; fewer junior seats, with high washout rates.
Classes: Personal finance, Speech, AP Statistics, Psychology.
Official data: O*NET occupation 13-2052.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.