Crafting a CV that effectively showcases your extensive knowledge in wealth management and client advising can be a daunting task. Our guide offers tailored strategies to help you highlight your financial expertise and successes, ensuring your application stands out to potential employers.
- Applying best practices from real-world examples to ensure your profile always meets recruiters' expectations;
- What to include in your work experience section, apart from your past roles and responsibilities?
- Why are both hard and soft skills important for your application?
- How do you need to format your CV to pass the Applicant Tracker Software (ATS) assessment?
If you're writing your CV for a niche financial advisor role, make sure to get some inspiration from professionals:
Structuring your financial advisor CV layout: four factors to keep in mind
There are plenty of best practices out there for your CV layout and design. At the end of the day, a clear format and concise CV message should be your top priority. Use your CV design to enhance separate sections, bringing them to the forefront of recruiters' attention. At the same time, you can write content that:- Follows the reverse chronological order in the experience section by first listing your most recent jobs;
- Incorporates your contact information in the header, but do skip out on the CV photo for roles in the UK;
- Is spotlighted in the most important sections of your CV, e.g. the summary or objective, experience, education, etc. to show just how you meet the job requirements;
- Is no longer than two-pages. Often, the one-page format can be optimal for your financial advisor CV.
Before submitting your CV, you may wonder whether to export it in Doc or PDF. With the PDF format, your information and layout stay intact. This is quite useful when your CV is assessed by the Applicant Tracker System (or the ATS) . The ATS is a software that scans your profile for all relevant information and can easily understand latest study on the ATS , which looks at your CV columns, design, and so much more.
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For certain fields, consider including infographics or visual elements to represent skills or achievements, but ensure they are simple, professional, and enhance rather than clutter the information.
The top sections on a financial advisor CV
- Objective statement showcasing the candidate’s career goal, it engages the recruiter.
- Relevant financial certifications, essential for establishing credibility in the field.
- Professional experience with detailed achievements, demonstrating skills and successes.
- Education background with relevant finance degrees, proving theoretical knowledge.
- Key skills section featuring financial analysis and client management, tailored to the role.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Highlight your certifications such as CFA, CFP, or other relevant financial planning qualifications to immediately establish credibility and professional expertise.
- Emphasise your client management skills, showcasing your ability to build and maintain relationships, as well as tailor financial advice to diverse client needs.
- Detail your proficiency with financial planning software and tools, including any experience with CRM systems, investment analysis, and portfolio management platforms specific to a financial advisor’s role.
- Quantify your achievements, such as assets under management or growth percentages, to provide concrete evidence of your financial acumen and success in advising clients.
- Include any specialised knowledge or expertise in areas such as retirement planning, estate planning, tax strategies or specific market segments, to stand out and demonstrate depth in financial advisory services.
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How to present your contact details and job keywords in your financial advisor CV header
Located at the top of your financial advisor CV, the header presents recruiters with your key personal information, headline, and professional photo. When creating your CV header, include your:
- Contact details - avoid listing your work email or telephone number and, also, email addresses that sound unprofessional (e.g. koolKittyCat$3@gmail.com is definitely a big no);
- Headline - it should be relevant, concise, and specific to the role you're applying for, integrating keywords and action verbs;
- Photo - instead of including a photograph from your family reunion, select one that shows you in a more professional light. It's also good to note that in some countries (e.g. the UK and US), it's best to avoid photos on your CV as they may serve as bias.
What do other industry professionals include in their CV header? Make sure to check out the next bit of your guide to see real-life examples:
Examples of good CV headlines for financial advisor:
- Chartered Financial Planner | Wealth Management Specialist | CFPCM with 10+ Years' Experience
- Senior Investment Advisor | Portfolio Strategy Expert | CFA Level III Candidate | 15 Years' Experience
- Financial Consultant | Pensions & Retirement Planning | FCA Compliant | 8 Years in Finance
- Junior Financial Analyst | Data-Driven Investment Insights | MSc Finance | Recently Qualified
- Wealth Management Associate | High-Net-Worth Client Focus | CertPFS | 5 Years' Experience
- Lead Financial Strategist | Global Markets & Asset Allocation | MBA | 20+ Years' Industry Expertise
Your financial advisor CV introduction: selecting between a summary and an objective
financial advisor candidates often wonder how to start writing their resumes. More specifically, how exactly can they use their opening statements to build a connection with recruiters, showcase their relevant skills, and spotlight job alignment. A tricky situation, we know. When crafting you financial advisor CV select between:
- A summary - to show an overview of your career so far, including your most significant achievements.
- An objective - to show a conscise overview of your career dreams and aspirations.
Find out more examples and ultimately, decide which type of opening statement will fit your profile in the next section of our guide:
CV summaries for a financial advisor job:
- With over a decade of experience in the financial sector, I have honed my expertise in portfolio management, achieving a 20% average client ROI. My specialisation in behavioural finance has allowed me to tailor strategies to individual client needs, resulting in a proven track record of client retention and satisfaction.
- Certified Financial Planner with 15 years of experience in wealth management and estate planning for high-net-worth individuals. Possessing advanced knowledge in tax strategies and investments, I successfully grew a client base by 150% through diligent financial advisory and personalised service offerings.
- Former senior accountant with 8 years of comprehensive experience in corporate finance, transitioning into financial advising. My strong analytical skills and meticulous attention to detail have driven successful budget overhauls saving firms upwards of £1M annually, showcasing my capability to provide valuable financial insights and advice.
- As a seasoned real estate agent with a 7-year record of exceeding sales quotas by up to 30%, I aim to leverage my extensive client-facing experience and sales acumen to transition into the financial advising sector. My adeptness at building relationships and nuanced understanding of market dynamics inform my client-centric advisory approach.
- Eager to embark upon a new professional journey in financial advisement, I bring a fresh perspective complemented by a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and an unwavering commitment to continuous learning. I bring passion for helping individuals achieve their financial goals through evidence-based advice and strategic planning.
- A recent finance graduate with honours, I am enthusiastic about starting my career in financial advising. With internship experience at a leading investment firm, I gained practical knowledge of market trends and portfolio management, and I am eager to apply my strong analytical and communication skills to help clients navigate their financial futures.
The best formula for your financial advisor CV experience section
The CV experience section is the space where many candidates go wrong by merely listing their work history and duties. Don't do that. Instead, use the job description to better understand what matters most for the role and integrate these keywords across your CV. Thus, you should focus on:
- showcasing your accomplishments to hint that you're results-oriented;
- highlighting your skill set by integrating job keywords, technologies, and transferrable skills in your experience bullets;
- listing your roles in reverse chronological order, starting with the latest and most senior, to hint at how you have grown your career;
- featuring metrics, in the form of percentage, numbers, etc. to make your success more tangible.
When writing each experience bullet, start with a strong, actionable verb, then follow it up with a skill, accomplishment, or metric. Use these professional examples to perfect your CV experience section:
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Developed personalised investment strategies for over 100 clients, considering their financial goals and risk tolerance, leading to a 25% average client portfolio growth over 3 years.
- Conducted comprehensive market analysis to inform asset allocation for client portfolios, resulting in outperformance of benchmark indices by an average of 8% annually.
- Successfully grew the client base by 40% through networking and referral incentives, demonstrating strong client relationship management and sales skills.
- Provided regular, detailed financial planning reports and investment performance updates to clients, ensuring high satisfaction levels and retention rates.
- Implemented tax-efficient investment solutions, saving clients an average of 15% in tax liabilities and boosting their net investment returns.
- Regularly attended professional development seminars and completed a certified course on ethical investing, staying ahead in industry trends and regulatory compliance.
- Utilised advanced financial planning software to create simulations and forecasts, helping clients visualise potential outcomes and make informed decisions.
- Maintained a deep understanding of securities regulation and compliance, successfully navigating audits with zero compliance breaches over a 5-year period.
- Collaborated with estate lawyers and tax professionals to offer integrated wealth management services, which increased client assets under management by 30% due to enhanced service offerings.
- Developed tailored financial strategies for over 100 high-net-worth individuals, leading to a 20% increase in client investment performance.
- Initiated a risk assessment protocol that reduced client portfolio risks by 25% while optimizing for tax efficiency and compliance standards.
- Managed and grew a £50 million investment portfolio that consistently outperformed market benchmarks through strategic asset allocation.
- Spearheaded the integration of financial planning software, leading to a 30% reduction in process turnaround time for client financial plans.
- Conducted comprehensive market research to identify emerging investment opportunities, securing on average a 15% year-on-year return for client portfolios.
- Facilitated educational workshops on investment strategies for over 200 clients, greatly enhancing customer satisfaction and retention.
- Provided in-depth financial analysis and projections for startup enterprises, directly contributing to securing an average of £2 million in seed funding.
- Customized retirement planning services for a diverse range of clients, increasing their average expected retirement income by 15%.
- Actively managed asset allocations to respond to Brexit market volatility, which preserved client capital and offered growth opportunities amidst economic uncertainty.
- Pioneered a sustainable investing initiative, attracting and managing socially responsible portfolios, with £30 million in assets under management within the first year.
- Generated and implemented cost-saving tax strategies for clients leading to an average of £10,000 annual tax savings per client.
- Enhanced digital customer engagement by embracing technology platforms, which led to a 40% increase in digital interactions and client satisfaction.
- Orchestrated a client retention strategy that successfully retained 95% of the client base during the global financial crisis by re-evaluating risk profiles and adjusting investment plans.
- Developed and launched a comprehensive estate planning service, increasing the firm's revenue streams by 10%.
- Leveraged quantitative analysis to inform client portfolios, which consistently yielded above-industry-average returns.
- Managed a portfolio of technology start-ups, providing financial guidance that led to an average of 30% annual growth for client companies.
- Collaborated with the legal team to develop tax mitigation strategies for international investors, which improved their investment returns by reducing tax liabilities by up to 20%.
- Initiated and led a digital transformation project that modernized client reporting systems, enhancing transparency and trust.
- Collaborated intensively with high-tech firms to structure employee stock option plans, resulting in enhanced talent attraction and retention for client companies.
- Designed a series of fixed-income products tailored to the needs of conservative investors, which gathered £25 million in investments in the first six months.
- Implemented a mentorship programme that improved the efficiency and competencies of junior financial advisors, increasing departmental productivity by 20%.
- Executed over £200 million in trades annually, consistently achieving top quartile performance amongst peers in the wealth management division.
- Facilitated a cross-departmental collaboration to streamline the client onboarding process, significantly reducing onboarding time by 35%.
- Conducted market analyses to shape the investment strategies for the firm's flagship international equity fund, which grew 20% in value under my management.
Swapping your professional experience (when you have none) with skills and more
Never underestimate the importance of relevancе when it comes to your financial advisor CV. Even if you don't happen to have much or any standard (full-time contract) professional experience, this doesn't mean you shouldn't apply for the role. Instead of a bespoke CV experience section:
- Showcase more prominently any internships, part-time roles, and volunteer experience that are applicable to the role and have taught you job-crucial skills;
- Feature a strengths or achievements section with your transferrable skills or talents you've obtained thanks to your work or life experience;
- Write an objective statement that clearly outlines your values as a candidate and defines your career ambitions;
- List your education or certificates that match the job profile closer to the top of your CV.
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Include examples of how you adapted to new tools, environments, or work cultures, showing your flexibility.
The CV skills' divide: between hard and soft skills
Of course, you may have read the job requirements plenty of times now, but it's key to note that there is a difference between technical and personal skills. Both are equally relevant to your job application. When writing about your skill set, ensure you've copy-pasted the precise skill from the job requirement. This would not only help you ensure you have the correct spelling, but also pass any Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessments.
- Hard skills show your technological capabilities. Or whether you'll be a good technical fit to the organisation. Ensure you've spotlighted your hard skills in various sections of your CV (e.g. skills section, projects, experience) by including the technology and what you've attained;
- Soft skills pinpoint your personality and people or communication skills, hinting at if you'll easily accomodate into the team or organisation. Quantify your soft skills in your CV achievements, strengths, summary/objective, and experience sections. Always support your soft skills with how they've helped you grow as a professional.
Top skills for your financial advisor CV:
Financial Planning
Investment Strategies
Risk Management
Tax Planning
Portfolio Management
Wealth Management
Retirement Planning
Insurance Knowledge
Estate Planning
Regulatory Compliance
Analytical Thinking
Communication
Problem-Solving
Client Relationship Management
Attention to Detail
Negotiation
Time Management
Leadership
Adaptability
Integrity
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If you have received professional endorsements or recommendations for certain skills, especially on platforms like LinkedIn, mention these to add credibility.
Listing your university education and certificates on your financial advisor CV
The best proof of your technical capabilities would be your education and certifications sections. Your education should list all of your relevant university degrees, followed up by their start and completion dates. Make sure to also include the name of the university/-ies you graduated from. If you happen to have less professional experience (or you deem it would be impressive and relevant to your application), spotlight in the education section:
- that you were awarded a "First" degree;
- industry-specific coursework and projects;
- extracurricular clubs, societies, and activities.
When selecting your certificates, first ask yourself how applicable they'd be to the role. Ater your initial assessment, write the certificate and institution name. Don't miss out on including the completion date. In the below panel, we've curated relevant examples of industry-leading certificates.
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If you have received professional endorsements or recommendations for certain skills, especially on platforms like LinkedIn, mention these to add credibility.
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Key takeaways
Your successful job application depends on how you well you have aligned your financial advisor CV to the job description and portrayed your best skills and traits. Make sure to:
- Select your CV format, so that it ensures your experience is easy to read and understand;
- Include your professional contact details and a link to your portfolio, so that recruiters can easily get in touch with you and preview your work;
- Write a CV summary if you happen to have more relevant professional experience. Meanwhile, use the objective to showcase your career dreams and ambitions;
- In your CV experience section bullets, back up your individual skills and responsibilities with tangible achievements;
- Have a healthy balance between hard and soft skills to answer the job requirements and hint at your unique professional value.
