Career Outlook

Career Opportunities for Finance Majors

Financial analysts help people decide how to invest their money. They work for banks, insurance companies, mutual funds, and securities firms. They often meet with company officials to learn more about the firms in which they want to invest. After the meetings, the analysts write reports and give talks about what they found out. Then, they suggest buying or selling that firm's stock.

Financial analysts may specialize. Those in investment banking help companies that want to sell stock to the public for the first time. They also might study the pros and cons of a merger (when two companies join) or a takeover (when one company buys another). Some financial analysts are ratings analysts. They work for firms that provide ratings of companies in the market.

Financial analysts usually work in fast-paced offices. They recommend to clients when to buy and sell investments, may work long hours staying up to date on economic trends, business news, and news from companies in various sectors of the economy. They also write reports explaining their analysis, share their expertise with colleagues who aren't financial experts, and sometimes communicate their perspectives to the public. Many work for financial companies, including those in the financial services and insurance industries. One in three financial analysts put in between 50 and 70 hours per week, sometimes working on evenings or weekends (reference: https://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/financial-analyst).

According to US News, some of the best jobs to pursue in 2016 are:

#3

Insurance Agent

#4

Financial Adviser

#4

Real Estate Agent

#10

Financial Manager

#11

Market Research Analyst

#13

Financial Analyst

Education and Training

Most financial analysts have a college degree in business, accounting, statistics, or finance. A master's degree in business administration (MBA) is desirable.

Math, computer, and problem-solving skills are vital. Working with clients requires good people skills. Confidence, maturity, and the ability to work on your own are important, too. Analysts also need good communication skills to explain complex financial ideas using simple words.

Financial analysts must be able to look for obscure facts and details about companies.

To get ready for these jobs, it helps to learn how to make presentations and write reports. It also helps to read about business news.

How Much Does This Job Pay?

In May 2015, the median yearly wages of financial analysts were $80,310, with the lowest-paid making $48,170 and the highest-paid making $154,680. Many financial analysts also have the opportunities to earn bonuses, which can add a lot to their earnings.

How Many Jobs Are There?

There were 277,600 financial analysts in 2015. Many work at the head offices of big financial firms. Many of these jobs are in New York City, California, and Texas. Check out the financial analyst jobs by state.

What About the Future?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, financial analyst positions are expected to grow by 23 percent between 2010 and 2020, much faster than the average for all professions. That means approximately another 55,000 positions will open up by 2020. Banks, mutual fund companies, and other investment firms will need more financial analysts in the future. However, competition for these jobs will still be fierce, particularly for new analysts, because they will be in such high demand (reference: https://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/financial-analyst).

Additional Resources

FAU Resources

Contact Us

Dr. Anita Pennathur, Chair

Finance Department

Dr. Anita Pennathur, Chair
Kaye Hall
777 Glades Road
Boca Raton, FL 33431
email: pennathu@fau.edu
p: (561) 297-3995 office: KH(25) 137A

Graduate Advising

Graduate Advising

It is recommended that you contact your academic advisor directly to make an appointment.
cobgradadvising@fau.edu p: (561) 297-2545
office: (FW) 101

Accreditation & Rankings

Logo Financial Times

Executive Education Professional Development Programs

No. 1 in Florida and No. 2 in the U.S.

Logo for Top-10 in the world for MBA in Sport Management Program according to SportBusiness

 

Best MBA in Sport Management

Top-10 in the world according to SportBusiness

AACSB Accredited Logo

AACSB Accreditation

Proud member of AACSB, the premier accreditation agency for business schools

Logo for U.S. News & World Report Business Programs

Best Business Programs

Ranked among the best business programs

Logo for U.S. News & World Report Part-time MBA Programs

Best Graduate Schools in Business

Ranked among the best part-time MBA in business

Logo for Princeton Review Entrepreneur - FAU is Top 50 in Entrepreneurship

Top-50 in Undergrad Entrepreneurship

Fifth consecutive ranking from The Princeton Review

Logo for Princeton Review Entrepreneur - FAU is Top 50 in Entrepreneurship

Top-50 in Graduate Entrepreneurship

Fifth consecutive ranking from The Princeton Review

Best International Business Undergrad Program

Best International Business

No. 22 undergrad. by U.S. News & World Report

Best Online Bachelor's in Business

Best Online Bachelor's in Business

Ranked among the best online bachelor's in business

ACTA Oases of Excellence

ACTA Oases of Excellence

Phil Smith, Adams, and Madden Centers named ACTA Oases of Excellence

Online MBA Program

Best Online MBA Programs

Ranked among the best online MBA program

Best Veteran Online MBA

Best Online Veteran MBA Program

Ranked among the best online veteran MBA program

Best Graduate Online Prrgram for Veterans

Best Online Graduate Program for Veterans in Business

Ranked among the best online graduate program for veterans in business

Rankings Page
©