What is Financial Planning? (2024)

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Career Guide

Financial planning involves looking at a client's entire financial picture and advising them on how to achieve their short- and long-term financial goals. From saving for education and planning for retirement to effectively managing taxes and insurance, financial planners develop valuable relationships with their clients to provide them with confidence today and a more secure tomorrow.

Why Rianka Chose Financial Planning

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Being a financial planner allows you to build the work-life balance that you want.

Rianka Dorsainvil

CFP® Professional

What is Financial Planning? (1)

For Students, Graduates and Career Changers

Guide to careers in financial planning

This comprehensive career guide introduces readers to the financial planning profession and identifies different entry points and typical career tracks; explores the types of companies that employ financial planners, from large to small; highlights the personal and professional benefits of a career in financial planning, and the benefits of obtaining CFP® certification; and provides details on where to find financial planning careers, including questions to ask in a job interview.

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Join a Fast-Growing Profession

The demand for personal financial advisors is expected to grow faster than average, at a rate of 13% through 2032, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. One reason is that the U.S. is on the cusp of an immense transfer of wealth, with an estimated $30 trillion expected to pass from baby boomers to their heirs over the coming decades.

With the demand for financial planners quickly outpacing the supply, now is a great time to get started on the path to CFP® certification: the mark that tells clients and firms you've achieved the standard of excellence in financial planning.

TOPIC AREAS

What is Financial Planning?

Ethical, competent financial planners bring together the different parts of a client's financial life to build a roadmap for the future. That's why developing deep subject matter expertise – in these areas and more – is critical to the role.

Explore financial planning topics

Basics of Financial Planning

Mastering financial, economic and cash flow/debt management concepts.

Investment Planning

Building a portfolio, including different investment vehicles, diversification and risk management.

Retirement Savings & Income Planning

Performing retirement needs analyses, evaluating retirement plans, and understanding Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

Tax & Estate Planning

Understanding laws and management techniques around taxes, property transfer and estate planning.

Risk Management & Insurance Planning

Evaluating risk and assessing different types of insurance, from healthcare to property to disability.

Psychology of Financial Planning

Address client behavior and attitudes related to financial planning.

What is Financial Planning? (2)

What is Financial Planning?

Developing One-on-One Relationships

A personal financial planner establishes a one-on-one relationship with each of their clients. Financial planners provide holistic advice to guide clients through all aspects of their finances and help them maximize their potential for meeting their financial goals.If you enjoy helping people — listening to their needs, asking questions to determine their financial goals and developing a plan that is designed to meet those goals — you may be a good fit for working with clients as a personal financial advisor.

What is Financial Planning? (3)

What is Financial Planning?

Supporting Teams

There are also opportunities for financial planners to work at firms and support teams of advisors. Some examples include behind-the-scenes positions in investments, operations, research and analysis.These positions place you at the center of a team designed to support clients and their financial planning needs. Although you're supporting clients, you won't be meeting regularly with them in person.

Explore jobs in financial planning

Visit the CFP Board Career Center for job and internship listings, as well as career resources, and to learn more about career opportunities in financial planning.

Explore Job Opportunities

Start your journey to CFP® Certification

  • Track your progress with the CFP® Certification Tracker
  • Post your resume at the Career Center
  • Connect with a mentor who can guide you
  • Register and prepare for the exam
  • Find career and financial support
  • Connect with other candidates at our online forum

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What is Financial Planning? (2024)

FAQs

What is financial planning answers? ›

Financial planning enables a business to determine how it will afford to achieve its objectives and strategic goals. A business typically sets a vision and objectives, and then immediately creates a financial plan to support those goals.

What is financial planning in your own words? ›

Financial planning is a step-by-step approach to meet one's life goals. A financial plan acts as a guide as you go through life's journey. Essentially, it helps you be in control of your income, expenses and investments such that you can manage your money and achieve your goals.

What is financial planning quizlet? ›

Define: Financial Planning. A process of setting goals, developing a plan to achieve them, and putting the plan into action.

What are the main points of financial planning? ›

8 Keys to Good Financial Plans
  • Setting financial goals. ...
  • Net worth statement. ...
  • Budget and cash flow planning. ...
  • Debt management plan. ...
  • Retirement plan. ...
  • Emergency funds. ...
  • Insurance coverage. ...
  • Estate plan.

What is in a financial planning? ›

A financial plan documents an individual's short- and long-term financial goals and includes a strategy to achieve them. The plan should be comprehensive and highly customized. It should reflect an individual's personal and family financial needs, investment risk tolerance, and plan for saving and investing.

What is financial planning like? ›

Financial planning is the process of taking a comprehensive look at your financial situation and building a specific financial plan to reach your goals. As a result, financial planning often delves into multiple areas of finance, including investing, taxes, savings, retirement, your estate, insurance and more.

What is financial plan in one word? ›

A financial plan is sometimes referred to as an investment plan, but in personal finance, a financial plan can focus on other specific areas such as risk management, estates, college, or retirement.

What is financial planning work? ›

Financial planning involves looking at a client's entire financial picture and advising them on how to achieve their short- and long-term financial goals.

What is the value of financial planning? ›

A financial plan can lead to better habits

Financial planning isn't just about investing; it's about what money can do for your confidence, security, and quality of life—such as the protection that life insurance offers or the peace of mind that an emergency fund can provide.

What is plan financial planning? ›

A financial plan is a comprehensive picture of your current finances, your financial goals and any strategies you've set to achieve those goals. Good financial planning should include details about your cash flow, savings, debt, investments, insurance and any other elements of your financial life.

What do you mean by financial planning explain its steps? ›

It involves chalking out a plan listing all your future goals and estimating the capital required for their completion. You then plan out the financial means to attain them. It may involve saving, investment, and administration of funds, among others.

Why is the financial plan? ›

Wherever you are in your financial journey, a financial plan can help what you what you might need to do to reach your goals — and show you where you are today and designed to do to reach your goals. Most important, a financial plan will provide you with a road map of clear action steps to get you from here to there.

What is the key to financial planning? ›

It's crucial to understand your cash flow -- the movement of money in and out of your accounts. Determine where the money is going and how much you spend on a monthly and annual basis, then conduct an analysis. Determine which costs are essential and which are discretionary. Often, you'll find room for improvement.

What are the 4 basics of financial planning? ›

To start this crucial process, follow the steps below to create a successful financial plan:
  • Setting SMART objectives.
  • Make a Budget.
  • Develop an investment plan.
  • Monitoring and Rebalancing.
Mar 28, 2024

What are the three 3 objectives of financial planning? ›

Financial planning is nothing but the process of: Determining your future needs in terms of investment, resources, funds. Determining the sources of funds. Managing or utilizing these funds efficiently.

What are the key questions financial planning must answer? ›

The key questions financial planning must answer are: What specific assets must the firm obtain in order to achieve its goals?, How much additional financing will the firm need to acquire these assets?, How much financing will the firm be able to generate internally (through additional earnings), and how much must it ...

What questions should a financial plan answer? ›

Top 9 Questions Your Financial Plan Must Answer
  • Will I have enough money?
  • How long will my money last?
  • When can I retire?
  • When should I take my government benefits?
  • How much can I spend and not go broke?
  • In what order should I spend my assets?
  • Am I saving enough?
  • Will my family be okay if I get sick, hurt, or die?

What are the 5 steps in financial planning? ›

Plan your financial future in 5 steps
  • Step 1: Assess your financial foothold. ...
  • Step 2: Define your financial goals. ...
  • Step 3: Research financial strategies. ...
  • Step 4: Put your financial plan into action. ...
  • Step 5: Monitor and evolve your financial plan.

What is financial planning worksheet? ›

The five components of the Financial Planning Worksheet are: Net Worth Statement, Income, Budget or Spending Plan, Financial Health Assessment with Action Plan, Debt Destroyer, and Financial Links. Hands-on practical application of the FPW is part of the case study assignments.

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