How do i get into the job "financial advisor"?
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You can get a job with a large, multi service insurance agency (or company, even better); a full service bank; an accountant or a investment brokerage. This is a licensed position so you will most likely have to accept a clerical/support position until you have more experience and get licensed yourself. Good luck.
I used to recruit financial advisers, also known as "stock brokers". Most had their degree in Finance or Political Science (I don't know why).
Then they got hired by Merrill Lynch or some other large firm like that. They get walked through a process of getting clients, and taking tests for what is called their Series 7. There is lots of Series... and each one has to do with a different aspect of financial planning. But the people always seemed to start with their 7 or 6.
In general, most, but not all, "Financial Advisers" will have at least a 4-year college degree. The major is not particularly important. I've known many financial advisers that have been liberal arts, engineering, or even science majors.
A key thing to know is that in most investment firms, a financial adviser is primarily a sales position. You would not be given any clients, but would have to "bring in" your own. At the start, 90%+ of your time would be spent prospecting and developing your business. The other 10% of your time would likely be spent training and studying for the necessary licenses.
In order to get hired, you would need to have a good plan for just how you were going to go about getting those clients. It should be something more than cold calling or pounding the pavement.
One strategy I've seen people use is that they developed a network of potential clients in one job (i.e. being a loan officer at a bank), and then later become financial advisors and used that network to bring in clients.
I would advise you to get your college degree, even if you have to do it part time. Furthermore, if you must work, try getting a job in some area of financial services, whether it be banking, lending, real estate, insurance, investments, etc. And lastly, start thinking about developing a plan for how you will eventually get those clients when you do become a financial advisor.
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