Careers in finance are varied, but they have one thing in common – money. Finance professionals are almost always good with numbers, and they are well-versed in the many topics surrounding money and the managing of it including stocks, bonds, investing and real estate. Some possible job titles in the world of finance include financial planners, investment bankers, bank managers, stock brokers and accountants. Financial planners are among the most common types of finance careers, and these professionals help their clients grow their money, usually by investing money in stocks, mutual funds and the like. Banking is an area of Finance which will continue to grow, and there is an increasing need for Online Banking Finance professionals who can help their clients manage their accounts and portfolios entirely online. Human Resources and the stock market are two other areas where many Finance professionals work.

A finance school offers students the training necessary to help their future clients make decisions about their money. These clients can be individuals or entire companies, and finance professionals can work for a wide variety of institutions including:

• government agencies
• stockholders
• other financial organizations

A finance career involves understanding a client’s goals and then figuring out the best way to reach them. Although the minimum level of education for a rewarding finance career is a bachelor’s degree, many students pursue a finance MBA program to increase their career opportunities.

The type of coursework and training for a Finance career depends heavily on the type of job the student wants to eventually get. However, some of the most common Finance courses include Accounting, Tax Law, Finance and Trade, Stock Market Principles and International Finance and Trade. Some of the most common professions in this field include Stock Broker, Human Resource Accountant, Financial Planner, Investment Analyst, Auditor, Insurance Broker and even Real Estate Agent.

In general, the job outlook for Finance careers is excellent. As the economy goes up and down, the need for highly skilled Finance professionals increases, and employment for those who pursue a finance career is expected to grow as fast as average through 2014, and those at the managerial level will face the most competition. Additionally, there is a need for Finance professionals who understand online banking.

Financial management jobs in the securities and commodities industry are expected to be most favorable. Some professionals in Finance work on commission, so they either earn a percentage of what their clients earn. Some financial planners are known as fee-only, meaning that they only make money if their clients earn money, and they lose money if their clients lose money.

Average annual earnings of financial managers were $81,880 in 2004, while those who chose to specialize in the local government arena had annual earnings of $67,260 in the same year.