Industry rankings and consumer statistics show a high demand for personal financial advisors over the next five to 10 years.

Industry Rankings

• Personal financial advisor is the No. 1 career to pursue, according to Fast Company’s Top 25 Jobs for 2005-2009 (March 2005).
• Financial advisor ranks third on the Best Jobs in America list created by MONEY Magazine and Salary.com (April 2006), behind software engineer and college professor.
• The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment for personal financial advisors to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2014.

Consumer Statistics

• 78 million Baby Boomers are beginning to retire or nearing retirement age. They need a plan to manage their assets, and they want personal help to do it.
• 48 million U.S. households say they don’t have enough life insurance.
• 74 percent of these 48 million households don’t have a personal advisor, but they want one.
• 92 percent of families in the middle income market say they need help and guidance in making financial decisions, but 63 percent have never had a professional financial advisor.
• 60 percent of families in the middle income market want to plan their financial futures face to face with an advisor whom they can trust.