Financial advisers help people and organisations choose investments, savings, pensions, mortgages and insurance products.


Typical Salary

£23,000 – £60,000

per year

Working Hours

35–38

hours per week

Career Area

Finance and investment analysts and advisers

View related courses

Day-to-day tasks

As a financial adviser, you could:

  • talk to clients about their finances and plans
  •  research financial products and explain them simply and clearly
  •  negotiate with providers of financial products
  •  produce financial reports
  •  update clients about their pensions and investments
  •  meet performance and sales targets
  •  keep up to date with new products and law changes

Skills needed

  • customer service skills
  • knowledge of economics and accounting
  • maths knowledge
  • the ability to sell products and services
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • active listening skills
  • business management skills 
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

How to get into this role

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role

Career progression

With experience, you could:

  • specialise in one area of work, like pensions
  •  become a manager to recruit and train new staff
  •  become a director or partner of your company
  •  move into compliance, making sure companies follow guidelines and laws