Financial advisors help identify the clients' financial needs and make investment recommendations, continuously adapting them to these needs. They make recommendations to individuals and companies regarding small financial products (mortgages, pension plans, investment funds, etc.) and work mainly in the banking sector.

Depending on the size of the organization in which these professionals work or the demands made by the clients, they also carry out wealth management tasks, advising and managing assets of individuals or companies, and/or commercial advice in the field of insurance.

• Analyse the profile of the clients, individuals or companies, considering the following factors:
  If the client is an individual, their age, wealth, as well as their professional and family situation.
  If the client is a company, the capital, balance sheet, future business prospects and sales volume.
• Advise clients in financial matters and provide them with a vision of the functioning of financial markets and their products. If necessary, identify their needs and advise them on the best insurance option, by analysing their financial situation and personal interests.
• Advise on the most appropriate investment according to the client's objectives and determine the capital that must be invested in order to achieve them. Inform about the risk factors in the investments (interest rates, possibility of losses, etc.).
• Identify the risk factors of the transactions (investments, credit applications, etc.) that the client wants to assume. To do this, an analysis must be carried out of the external resources necessary to finance the transaction.
• Prepare long-term investment plans evaluating the clients' profitability objectives, the available resources, and the time and risks that the client is willing to assume.
• Inform about the legal aspects of investments.
• Commercialize products such as life, health, home, transport, credit insurances, etc.
• Manage the client portfolio: analyse their characteristics (available capital, risk to be assumed, investments made, etc.), identify the time to be spent on each one and resolve any doubts and/or main problems that may arise. Prepare reports on the status of the client portfolio.

Regulated training and graduates

• Grau: Administració d'empreses i gestió de la innovació
• Grau: Administració i direcció d'empreses
• Grau: Economia
• Grau: Economia i gestió
• Grau: Ciències empresarials-management
• Grau: Comptabilitat i finances
• Grau: Dret
• Certificat de Professionalitat de la Família Administració i gestió: Mediació d'assegurances i reassegurances privades i activitats auxiliars (Nivell 3)
• Certificat de Professionalitat de la Família Administració i gestió: Gestió comercial i tècnica d'assegurances i reassegurances privades (Nivell 3)
• Certificat de Professionalitat de la Família Administració i gestió: Assistència documental i de gestió en despatxos i oficines (Nivell 3)
• Professional Training Course(s) in the field of Trade and Marketing - Intermediate Level: Trade activities
• Professional Training Course(s) in the field of Administration and Management - Advanced Level: Administration and Finance

Complementary training

European Financial Advisor (EFA) Certificate.
Financial Agent Diploma (FAD).
European Financial Planner (EFP) Certificate.
Insurance and wealth agent and broker course.
Course of credit and surety policies.
Civil liability course.
Sales management and sales techniques course.
Sales argument course.
Negotiation techniques course.
Driving licence.
Master¿s degree in finance and wealth management.
Master¿s degree in wealth management and private banking.
Higher program in wealth management.
Courses of investment funds, insurance and pension funds, taxation in wealth management and real estate investment.

Other specific skills

Computer skills at advanced user level: Office, Open Office, Internet browsers and Outlook.
Medium knowledge of English. The level of English required depends on the scope of action of the financial entity, both customers and supplier companies.

In order to serve as a financial advisor, in addition to regulated training, the diploma of financial advisor is required. The entities that hire this professional usually take charge of this complementary training. Usually, the previous commercial experience for one year is valued, preferably in financial or insurance entities. However, there are different categories depending on the volume of the client portfolio and the business generated by each one of them, and therefore, one category or another can be chosen according to the experience available.

Financial advisors assume important risks when advising on wealth management and thus the tasks they perform directly affect the client's assets. For this reason, previous experience is essential: 3 years of demonstrable experience are usually requested.

Analytical thought: Level 3

Learning and use of knowledge: Level 1

Customer orientation: Level 3

Planning and organisation: Level 2

Strategic orientation: Level 2

Management

The organisation, administration and control of a company or entity are the main interests of people related to the management field. Activities included in this field of interest vary from effective resource management, feasibility analyses and solving business problems to the development of skills and fostering of motivation in relation to human resources. Knowledge regarding specific techniques of strategic administration and business management are required to carry out these activities.

Customer service

Direct and personal interaction with people and relating to the public are highly-motivating activities for individuals who have an interest in the field of customer service. A focus on people and on satisfying customers' needs is key in the occupations included in this field. These jobs entail the need to know suitable techniques for attending to the public and being able to give appropriate service that is tailored to their needs and expectations. Good examples are activities which offer assistance and guidance during functions, trips or at facilities, and those which provide advice in relation to products and services.

Financial advisor

Auditor specialised in finance

Treasury manager

Payroll specialist

Stock market trader

• Work hours

  Full-time with flexible hours, since often they must adapt to the clients' schedules.

• Salary

  The renumeration is calculated according to the hours worked, the training level and demonstrable experience, and is between 24,566- and 36,050-euros gross per year. The average salary is around 29,759 euros per year gross. However, a variable part is usually added to the fixed renumeration depending on the objectives achieved.
  
  Source: Report "Observatory of Jobs and Salaries of the Labour Market. Barcelona Activa", elaborated by ICSA Grupo. April 2015.

• Other features

  Having one of the European professional certificates is highly recommended.

• Professional category

  Technician

• Human resources and equipment

  To work as a financial advisor, one must have a computer, Internet connection, mobile phone/agenda and their own vehicle.

• Initial investments

  The initial investment is around 18,000 euros, which is the estimated cost of the necessary material resources.