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Career Paths - Personal Financial Planning


The personal financial planning career path is best suited for professionals who want to make a difference in the lives of others and who enjoy building relationships with others that can last a lifetime. 

Typically, new graduates work as junior advisors for 2-3 years. Entry-level pay can vary. After they gain experience, some personal financial advisors start their own firms, while others climb the ladder to partnership status in existing firms.

Over 200 students are currently enrolled in WKU's Personal Financial Planning Program. We are one of the founding undergraduate CFP Board-registered programs in the United States and have been graduating students eligible to sit for the Certified Financial PlannerTM  exam for over 30 years.    

  

Personal Financial Planning Degree Career Paths 

 

Personal Financial Advisor
Personal Financial Advisor

Personal Financial Advisors are professionals that renders advice on investments, insurance, mortgages, college savings, estate planning, taxes, and retirement to help individuals manage their finances.

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Wealth Manager
Wealth Manager

A wealth manager is a subset of financial advisor that primarily serves high-net-world and ultra-high-net-worth individuals. They provide a suite of services that encompasses all parts of a person's financial life. 

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Investment Analyst
Investment Analyst

Investment Analysts conduct research, create financial models, and produce analytical reports and recommendations concerning specific types of stocks, bonds or other investment securities.

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Risk Management Specialist
Risk Mgmt. Specialist

Risk Mgmt. Specialists identify and analyze areas of potential risk threatening the assets, earning capacity or success of a business. They put strategies in place that will protect a business from changes and trends.  

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Tax Advisor
Tax Advisor

A Tax Advisor is a financial expert with advanced training and knowledge of tax laws and regulations.  The services of a tax advisor are usually retained in order to minimize tax payable while remaining compliant with the law. 

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Estate Planning Specialist
Estate Planning Specialist

Estate Planning Specialists provide legal, financial and accounting advisory services typically aimed at individual investors, investment family offices, business owners and high net-worth individuals.

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Additional Career Awareness Resources

 

Certified Financial Planning Board of Standards, INC. - CFP Board 

The CFP Board is a non-profit organization acting in the public interest by fostering professional standards in personal financial planning through its setting and enforcement of the education, examination, experience, ethics and other requirements for the CFP® certification. 

View the CFP Board's "Becoming a CFP® Professional" site to gain further insight on the profession. 

Financial Planning Association - FPA

The Financial Planning Association® (FPA®) is the principal professional organization for the Certified Financial PlannerTM  (CFP®) professionals, educators, financial services providers, and students who seek advancement in a growing, dynamic profession. The primary aim of FPA is to elevate the profession that transforms lives through the power of financial planning.  

FPA is committed to helping you along your journey to become a CFP® professional. Learn more about FPA member benefits that will help you jumpstart and advance your career in financial planning. 

The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors

The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors  (NAPFA) is the country's leading professional association of Fee-Only financial advisors - highly trained professionals who are committed to working in the best interests of those they serve.

The NAPFA Career Corner provides a platform for fee-only firms with available opportunities to connect with those seeking internships. Take advantage of this valuable resource.   

 

Alumni Highlights -  Look what they have accomplished with a degree in Personal Financial Planning

 

 

Jacequline Rowe
Jacqueline Rowe, Wealth Advisor, CFP®

Class of 2007 

 

 

N. Drew Richey
N. Drew Richey, Sr. Vice President, CFP®

Class of 2007

 

 

Zach Ritchey
Zac Ritchey, Financial Planner, CFP®

Class of 2014

 

 

 

 

 


AACSB Accredited

The Gordon Ford College of business is a top business school with dual AACSB accreditation in both business and accounting programs.


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 Last Modified 7/6/21