Financial Planner
Role lens
Financial planners assist people dealing with various personal financial issues. They are specialised in financial planning, such as retirement planning, investment planning, risk management and insurance planning, and tax planning. They advise a strategy tailored to the client's needs. They ensure the accuracy of bank and other financial records while maintaining a customer-orientated approach and following ethical standards.
Financial planners work closely with clients to understand their current financial situation, future aspirations, and risk tolerance. They analyze financial records, research investment options, and develop comprehensive plans covering areas like retirement, investments, insurance, and tax management. A strong focus is placed on building trust and maintaining ethical standards while ensuring accuracy in all financial documentation.
- • Developing personalized financial plans based on client needs and goals.
- • Providing advice on investment strategies, risk management, and insurance options.
- • Analyzing financial data and ensuring the accuracy of records.
Where this occupation is in demand
Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
Figures cover Business and administration professionals — 134 jobs including this one.
In shortage: Belgium, Netherlands, Romania.
Longest-running shortage: Belgium, 4 years.
Select a place on the map to see its figures.
About this source›
Source: ELA/EURES labour shortages and surpluses. Readings are published at occupation-group level, and cover Europe. Editions differ in annex layout and country coverage, so a change between years does not always mean the labour market changed. Countries in grey were not reported, which is not the same as being in balance.
What these words mean
The four things this section reports
- Reported demand
- Whether employers report needing people in this job — a judgement published by a national or EU body, not a count.
- Where it is heading
- Which way employment in this job is expected to move over the coming years, from an official projection.
- Openings
- Roughly how many openings arise — from growth and from people leaving the job.
- Typical pay
- What people in this job typically earn where the source publishes it. Blank does not mean unpaid; it means nobody publishes it for that place.
A measure is left out when nobody publishes it for that place, rather than shown as zero.
Which way the market leans for you
- In your favour
- More openings than people looking — employers are competing for candidates.
- Balanced
- Openings and candidates are roughly matched.
- Competitive
- More people looking than openings — expect to compete.
- Mixed evidence
- Sources disagree, or the same occupation group is short in one part and oversupplied in another.
Every source resolves to one of these four, so there is a single vocabulary to learn. What differs is the evidence behind it, which is printed underneath each verdict — a measured ratio of openings to jobseekers, or an assessment published by a national body.
How this job compares with other jobs in the same country
- Strong
- Among the strongest in that country
- Good
- Stronger than most jobs in that country
- Mixed
- About typical for that country
- Weak
- Weaker than most jobs in that country
This is a rank within one country, not a score you can carry across borders — the registers behind two countries count different people, so the same number means different things in each. It is also why a job can be among the strongest in a country and still show as Competitive: it leads the field in a market that is crowded overall.
Where these come from
Every figure is published by a national statistics office, a public employment service or an EU body, and each card names its source and the period it covers. Some places are counted monthly, others assessed once or twice a year, so two places on the same map can be describing different moments — the date is always shown.
None of this predicts one person’s chances. It describes a market.
Reported demand · Typical pay · Where it is heading (United States, Ireland, Australia, Malta, United Kingdom)
| Reported demand | Typical pay | Where it is heading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Not reported | $105,070 2025-05 | +9.6% 2024–2034 · BLS 2024-2034 |
| Ireland | Not reported | — | +28.4% 2023–2035 · Cedefop 2026 * |
| Australia | Assessed as balanced Jobs and Skills Australia 2025 * | — | — |
| Malta | Shortage reported ELA/EURES 2024 * | — | +75.6% 2023–2035 · Cedefop 2026 * |
| United Kingdom | Not reported | £47,776 2025-provisional | — |
* Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS)
Source: Office for National Statistics, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Open Government Licence v3.0
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Future Outlook for financial planner
The outlook for financial planner reflects a balanced mix of automation exposure and durable, human-led work.
How are these scores calculated?
The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.
How could financial planner change as AI adoption grows?
Several task areas may shift toward AI-assisted workflows, so reskilling becomes more important.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
Several task areas may shift toward AI-assisted workflows, so reskilling becomes more important.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
Model-based estimate. Use it as a planning signal, not a guarantee.
Compare this to your profile
How AI may change this role
Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.
What still depends on people
- review investment portfolios
- advise on financial matters
- offer financial services
Where AI may become a co-pilot
- assess risks of clients' assets
- synthesise financial information
- interpret financial statements
Tasks most exposed to automation
- obtain financial information
- maintain credit history of clients
- provide support in financial calculation
Vital Signs & AI Vectors
AI Exposure Vectors
0-100%Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation
Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks
Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools
Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement
Technical Details
NexFuture v3.0 estimates automation exposure natively from ESCO essential-skill groups, weighted by skill mass and calibrated against expert anchors. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture Methodology White Paper for full details.
Measures automation exposure. It does not measure pay, demand, or how many jobs exist near you.
What people in this role usually do
Financial Services
A typical day as a financial planner
09 09:00 · Morning assess risks of clients' assets
10 10:30 · Mid-morning identify customer's needs
12 12:00 · Midday offer financial services
14 14:00 · Afternoon advise on financial matters
15 15:30 · Late afternoon analyse the credit history of potential customers
17 17:00 · Wrap-up apply technical communication skills
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
What you need to do this work
The skills, knowledge and tools this role calls for — and the traits and rewards that come with it.
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review investment portfolios
Meet with clients to review or update an investment portfolio and provide financial advice on investments.
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advise on financial matters
Consult, advise, and propose solutions with regards to financial management such as acquiring new assets, incurring in investments, and tax efficiency methods.
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offer financial services
Provide a broad range of financial services to clients such as assistance with financial products, financial planning, insurances, money and investment management.
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provide financial product information
Give the customer or client information about financial products, the financial market, insurances, loans or other types of financial data.
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synthesise financial information
Collect, revise and put together financial information coming from different sources or departments in order to create a document with unified financial accounts or plans.
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interpret financial statements
Read, understand, and interpret the key lines and indicators in financial statements. Extract the most important information from financial statements depending on the needs and integrate this information in the development of the department's plans.
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analyse the credit history of potential customers
Analyse the payment capacity and credit history of potential customers or business partners.
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assess risks of clients' assets
Identify, evaluate and determine the actual and potential risks of your clients’ assets, considering confidentiality standards.
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create a financial plan
Develop a financial plan according to financial and client regulations, including an investor profile, financial advice, and negotiation and transaction plans.
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identify customer's needs
Use appropriate questions and active listening in order to identify customer expectations, desires and requirements according to product and services.
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provide support in financial calculation
Provide colleagues, clients or other parties with financial support for complex files or calculations.
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obtain financial information
Gather information on securities, market conditions, governmental regulations and the financial situation, goals and needs of clients or companies.
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maintain credit history of clients
Create and maintain the credit history of clients with relevant transactions, supporting documents, and details of their financial activities. Keep these documents updated in case of analysis and disclosure.
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apply technical communication skills
Explain technical details to non-technical customers, stakeholders, or any other interested parties in a clear and concise manner.
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budget for financial needs
Observe the status and availability of funds for the smooth running of projects or operations in order to foresee and estimate the quantity of future financial resources.
customer service
Processes and principles related to the customer, client, service user and to personal services; these may include procedures to evaluate customer's or service user's satisfaction.
investment analysis
The methods and tools for analysis of an investment compared to its potential return. Identification and calculation of profitability ratio and financial indicators in relation to associated risks to guide decision on investment.
foreign valuta
The currencies of different countries such as the euro, dollar or yen including their exchange rate and the methods of currency conversion.
principles of insurance
The understanding of the principles of insurance, including third party liability, stock and facilities.
- banking activities
- economics
- financial forecasting
- financial markets
- modern portfolio theory
- accounting techniques
- business loans
- debt systems
Path to become a financial planner
What it typically takes to qualify: education level, where it is a regulated profession, and where to study.
Bachelor's or equivalent level
1,366 programmes in 29 countries teach the core skills of this job. Plus 294 short courses that build single skills.
A few examples, taught in the language of this page:
Honours Bachelor of Arts in Business and Financial Economics
University College Cork · Ireland
Professional Certificate (Financial Advice)
Institute of Banking · Ireland
Bachelor of Business in Finance
Atlantic Technological University · Ireland
Professional Diploma (Finance Planning)
Institute of Banking · Ireland
Graduate Diploma (Financial Planning)
Institute of Banking · Ireland
These are 6 of 1,660.
Sources
- 1. Source: Europass Qualification Dataset Register (European Commission)
- 2. Source: Malta Qualifications Registry, Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (qualifications.mfhea.gov.mt).
Growth Pathways & Similar Roles
Explore typical career progression paths, adjacent skills, and similar roles to plan your next transition.
Where does financial planner fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
For organisations
The data on this page, working for your students, clients and staff.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of qualifications do I need to become a financial planner?
Can I work as a financial planner if I'm just starting my career?
Is it common to be self-employed as a financial planner?
How much does Financial Planner pay in the United States?
Sources: ESCO O*NET ELA/EURES Cedefop BLS Data updated October 3, 2026 About our data