Careers

    Learn everything you need to know about careers in business, corporate finance, money management, and financial planning here. Discover how to chart your path to success.

    Everything You Need to Know About Careers

    Top 10 Cities for a Career in Finance
    Top 10 Cities for a Career in Finance

    Frequently Asked Questions

    • How many careers will the average person have?

      Some experts may claim people change careers between three and seven times in a lifetime. And according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a person between the ages of 18 to 54 will have more than 12 jobs in a lifetime. According to one study from Prudential, 20% of Americans changed jobs since early 2020, and the BLS estimates there are 6.43 million jobs in the finance sector.

      Learn More: Top Financial Career Options
    • What careers make the most money?

      According to government data, healthcare jobs tops the list of highest-paying occupations. The sector is projected to grow 16% from 2020 to 2030—adding about 2.6 million new jobs. Corporate chief executives, airline pilots, and computer and information systems managers are the next title on the list. Financial managers are among the top 25 professions and have a mean annual salary of $151,510.

      Learn More: What Do Certified Financial Planners Earn?
    • How to change careers

      If you have spent years in an industry, it can seem daunting to pursue a new career path. But your skills and knowledge may transfer to a new field. It still may mean you need to go back to school, take courses, earn a professional designation or certification, or take a more entry-level job than you have held previously. But with online education, you may be able to get started before leaving your current job. Keep in mind that a career switch may offer a more rewarding challenge, better perks, and, ultimately, a better paycheck. 

      Learn More: How to Change Careers to a Financial Sector Job
    • What do most jobs in finance deal with?

      Finance sector jobs offer financial services to consumers, businesses, and governments. Most of these careers require advanced degrees in business, math, economics, and statistics. Some jobs, such as analysts, collect data to assess risk and reward using math and financial strategies. Financial jobs often involve raising funds, managing employees, assisting clients, and developing mathematical models to help businesses chart a path to growth.

      Learn More: Portfolio Analyst Job Description
    • What careers can I get with a finance degree?

      A bachelor's degree in finance will qualify you for entry-level work, but an advanced degree will make you better suited for management. Financial careers come with stiff competition and lots of stress, but offer perks such as excellent pay shortly after college, a challenging work environment, and highly motivated and intelligent colleagues. The career paths are vast when you have at least a bachelor's degree in finance and include investment banking, actuaries, financial planning, insurance agents, analysts, accountants, portfolio managers, traders, and chief executives.

      Learn More: What Do Investment Bankers Really Do?

    Key Terms

    • Hard Skills

      Hard skills are learned abilities that you acquire through education and repetition. The mastery of those skills is essential for job satisfaction, productivity, and efficiency. They are learned on the job and through training programs, courses, and certifications.

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    • Revenue Officer

      A revenue officer is an individual who collects revenues such as taxes and duties on behalf of the government or some other agency. The specific responsibilities vary based on the particular organization, and should not be confused with revenue agents. Some companies hire chief revenue officers to monitor a company's revenue generation.

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    • Market Strategist

      A market strategist is a financial professional who uses factors like investor sentiment analysis, technical analysis, and company fundamentals to predict the movement of asset classes. Those assets might include stocks, mutual funds, bonds, and ETFs, among others.

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    • Head Trader

      A head trader is a manager of a trading business, responsible for the positions, risk, and profitability. In a registered securities firm, the head trader supervises other traders and related personnel. This job is charged with ensuring regulatory and internal compliance for employees who are part of the trading operation.

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    • Terms of Employment

      Terms of employment, also called conditions of employment, are the responsibilities and benefits associated with a job as agreed upon by an employer and employee at the time of hiring. These terms often include job responsibilities, work hours, starting salary, and benefits such as health insurance.

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    • Furlough

      A furlough is an unpaid temporary layoff, involuntary leave, or other modification of normal working hours for a specified duration. Employees face furloughs for a variety of reasons, such as plant shutdowns or business reorganizations. Military service members use furloughs to leave their post for a preset time period or when new assignments have not been announced.

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    • Promotion

      A promotion means different things in different settings. It can refer to an employee’s career title and salary advancement, creating awareness around product deals, or creating buzz around little-known stocks. For example, companies often use product promotion as a marketing strategy.

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    • Chief Investment Officer

      A chief investment officer is an executive who sets the investment style and strategy of a firm's investments. They manage a team of internal and external portfolio managers, analysts, and investors. Ultimately, they are responsible for activities such as sourcing, managing, monitoring investments, and establishing a firm's investment policy statement.

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    Page Sources
    Investopedia requires writers to use primary sources to support their work. These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts. We also reference original research from other reputable publishers where appropriate. You can learn more about the standards we follow in producing accurate, unbiased content in our editorial policy.

    1. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Number of Jobs, Labor Market Experience, Marital Status, and Health: Results from a National Longitudianl Survey."

    2. Prudential. "Increasingly, Workers expect pandemic workplace adaptations to stick."