Top Financial Planner Schools: Argosy University Online | DeVry | Strayer University Online

Financial Planner Salaries for Metropolitan Areas with the Highest Employment Levels

Of the five top paying metropolitan areas for personal financial advisors, San Francisco has the highest employment level for that occupation ($139,300). The New York area is a close second at $139,300. The Bridgeport area has a mean annual wage of $122,690. Boca Raton, Florida ($69,880) and Tallahassee, Florida ($40,260) trail behind.

Financial advisors assess the needs of people and organizations and help them manage their money. Some specialize in investment, real estate, or estate planning, but most advise on a range of finance issues. As a financial advisor you may be licensed to buy and sell stocks, bonds, annuities, insurance products, and other financial products directly for your clients. To succeed as a financial analyst you need strong math, analytical, and interpersonal skills. You must also have excellent communication skills in order to understand your clients’ needs and desires and make them feel confident in your ability to manage their money well. In other words, you have to sell yourself before you can sell your products and services.

This chart displays annual mean salaries for Financial Planners in the U.S. The data was collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics OES - May 2008.

While employers do not require a degree in financial advising, they do prefer candidates who have taken college courses in business, math, law, finance, accounting, and economics. A bachelor’s degree in a related field is a must to get hired as a financial advisor. It goes without saying that you need a mastery of computers and spreadsheet software to quality for even an entry-level position in financial advising.

Related Charts for Financial Planner Salaries:

Financial Advisor Pay Scale - Major Metropolitan Areas

Financial Planner Salaries - Popular States

Financial Planner Salary Ranges - Popular Industries

The bar graph above shows the average financial planner salary in cities with the highest employment levels. The data is displayed below in table format: