Choose a career in financial advice

Join the financial advice community – become an FAAA Student Member today.

When you become a financial adviser, you have a unique opportunity to establish meaningful relationships with your clients. You will guide them in recognising and understanding their financial needs and how they can achieve their goals. By doing so, you can assist them in making well-informed financial decisions.

A career in financial advice offers attractive earning potential, with competitive salaries offered across the profession. What’s more, being a financial adviser provides the freedom and flexibility to shape your career according to your preferences. Whether you envision yourself working with a small or large business or even starting your own practice, there are many ways you can take forward your professional development.

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By pursuing a career in financial advice, not only will you be instrumental in securing the future of others, but you will also be embarking on a journey of personal and professional growth, tailored to your aspirations and ambitions.

The pathway to becoming a financial planner

To become a successful financial planner, there are several key steps you need to take.

Join

Consider becoming a student member of the Financial Advice Association of Australia (FAAA) to gain access to valuable resources and networking opportunities. It’s quick, easy and free to join.

Qualify

It is important to complete an approved degree or an equivalent qualification listed on the Treasury’s website. These qualifications provide the necessary foundation for a career in financial planning.

Train

Following graduation, it is common to start your career in an client service or paraplanning role. These are vital support roles within any practice and represent fulfilling career pathways in their own right. Many professionals find this is a valuable step allowing them to gain practical experience in the field while developing essential technical skills and product knowledge that will be vital for future client-facing work.

Before you can call yourself a financial adviser you will need to undergo a Professional Year. The Professional Year entails one year of supervised full-time work (equivalent to 1600 hours) within an Australian Financial Services (AFS) licensee. This period must also include 100 hours of structured training to further enhance your expertise.

Prior to commencing the third quarter of your professional year, you must successfully pass the Financial Adviser Exam. Once you have passed this exam, you will be authorised by your AFS licensee as a provisional financial planner or provisional financial adviser, allowing you to practice under supervision.

Develop

Further along your career path, studying for and obtaining the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® designation will mark you out as being at the pinnacle of your profession. The CFP designation is widely recognised as the standard of excellence in financial advice. demonstrating your expertise and commitment to excellence.

By following these steps, you can lay a solid foundation for a successful career as a financial planner, gaining the necessary skills, knowledge, and certifications to excel in the field.

Join us – it’s free!

Registering for membership is a simple and straightforward process. For students it is free to join.

To get started, click the button below and sign up using your preferred email address. After completing the registration, you will receive an email with instructions to verify your membership details. Simply follow these instructions to finalise the registration process.*

All you need to know:

FAQs

*See the FAAA Member Regulation for full details of membership eligibility.

The united voice for financial advice professionals