What Can I Do With a Major In Financial Planning?

UGA Specific Information for Financial Planning

The mission of the Financial Planning Program is to prepare students for successful careers in the financial planning profession. Financial planning plays a critical role in the lives of individuals and families. Financial planners help increase the financial literacy and capacity of their clients. There is an increasing demand for financial planning professionals who can help individuals and families manage their finances better and achieve their financial goals. Courses in the curriculum are rigorous and meet the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards education requirements. Upon completion of the program, students are eligible to take the CFP Certification Examination. Students must pass the CFP Certification Examination and satisfy other certification requirements before receiving the CFP marks. Students in the program study a variety of topics, including credit and debt management, income tax planning, savings and investments, risk management and insurance, retirement planning, estate planning, financial counseling, and consumer decision making.

The financial planning degree program helps students become professional financial planners. Financial planning has been consistently recognized as one of the best careers in America. The profession is growing. The number of jobs available for qualified individuals is at an all-time high. Most graduates work in small to mid-size firms helping families achieve financial goals. While enrolled in the program, students have opportunities to write targeted and comprehensive financial plans, work in the field during internships, and participate in experiential learning activities. Graduates from the program are eligible to sit for the national Certified Financial Planner (CFP) exam upon graduation. This credential provides students with opportunities to obtain positions at a variety of regional and national financial planning firms. After graduation students will also be able to start their own financial planning practices. Other career opportunities for students include positions with retirement planning firms, consumer credit counseling services, banks, insurance companies, human resources departments, and the government. The degree also provides a launching point for those interested in earning an advanced graduate degree.

Source: UGA Bulletin

CLICK HERE TO VIEW EMPLOYERS/POSITION TITLES and GRADUATE SCHOOLS/PROGRAMS REPORTED FOR THIS MAJOR

Class of 2025 Career Outcomes for Financial Planning*

** Includes Self-Employed

Campus Resources

CAMPUS STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

Additional UGA Career Center Recommendations

Additional Career Research Resources

O*NET Online – The O*NET database includes information on skills, abilities, knowledge, work activities, and interests associated with over 900 occupations.  

My Next Move – An interactive tool for students and job seekers to learn more about their career options.  

Occupational Outlook Handbook – The OOH is a career resource offering information on the hundreds of occupations that provide most of jobs in the United States.  

Vault – Vault.com provides in-depth intelligence on what it’s really like to work in an industry, company, or profession – and how to position yourself to land that job.  

Candid Career – This resource provides you with access to thousands of informational video interviews with real professionals through an easy-to-use website.  

UGA Mentor Program – Connect with a mentor (alumni, faculty, staff) to research and explore industries and careers. Research industries and careers by connecting with a mentor for a quick chat or formal 16-week mentorship through the UGA Mentor Program.  

Interstride - Interstride is an interactive tool for both international and domestic students to enhance their international experience and employment potential. The platform consists of job-listings, hiring trends, employer information, self-assessments, and up-to-date immigration guidance. 

Glassdoor - Glassdoor is a free jobs and career community that offers an inside look at jobs and companies through "employee generated content" – anonymous salaries, company reviews, interview questions, and more – all posted by employees and job seekers.  

Steppingblocks - Research your future career with real-world stats about your major, your interests, and your dream job title with career and education searches designed to find your best path based on millions of others. It’s data-powered career exploration for doers like you.

Employment Websites

GENERAL

  • Handshake (scroll down to the bottom of the page; login with your UGA MyID and password)  

  • LinkedIn (this popular networking site also has a job board!) 

  • Idealist (non-profit jobs) 

  • USAJobs (federal jobs) 

MAJOR/CAREER SPECIFIC

Professional Associations/Resources

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS - National Association of Personal Financial Advisors • Financial Planning Association • Certified Financial Planning Board • Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education

COMPANY & SALARY RESEARCH - Career Bliss • GlassDoor • Salary.com

LINKEDIN - Join LinkedIn groups that are relevant to your career interests.  To search, select "groups" & type in your keywords. Review the groups that professionals in your field of interest have joined & consider joining those as well. To login, visit the LinkedIn main page. 

Employers/Position Titles Reported by Class of 2025 Financial Planning Majors

The information below represents employers and position titles from the Class of 2025 Career Outcomes Survey. To view historical Career Outcomes for this major, click here and select "Historical Data" from the navigation menu.

Employer Position Title(s)
Abound Wealth Management Financial Planning Associate
Ameriprise Financial Advisor Assistant
Ameris Bank Personal Banker
Atlanta Motorsports Park General Manager
Baker Botts Paralegal Clerk
Beacon Pointe Advisors Associate Financial Planner
BEAM Wealth Advisors Client Service Specialist
Bleecker Partners Intern
Blue Trust Investment Operations Specialist
Boeing Estimating and Pricing Specialist
Cannon Financial Strategists Financial Planning Intern
Capital Investment Advisors Investment Associate
Cornerstone Management Gift Annuity State Registration Associate
Delta Air Lines New Product Introduction Specialist
DePalma's Italian Cafe Operating Partner
DMA Associate Tax Consultant
Equis Financial Senior Field Underwriter
Evans Wealth Management Financial Planner
Georgia Financial Advisors Financial Consultant
Holcombe Financial Associate
Homrich Berg Wealth Management Associate
Homrich Berg Wealth Management Associate
JPMorgan Chase & Co. Analyst
Koch-Chemie USA Territory Manager
Logistic Dynamics Logistics Broker
Longview Wealth Management Client Service Coordinator
Marsh & McLennan Companies Risk Consultant
Matterly Digital Marketing Coordinator
McGee & Oxford, LLP Intern
Morgan Stanley Financial Planning VEA
On Top Therapy LLC Business Development Manager
Renasant Bank Wealth Management Trainee
RSM US LLP Associate
SignatureFD Associate Financial Planner
Strategic Wealth Specialists Financial Planning Assistant
TaxConnex Tax Operations Specialist
The Piedmont Group Financial Services Representative
The Walt Disney Company Financial Analyst
TK Elevator Accounts Payable Intern
Toney Financial Services Client Relationship Manager
Unspecified DoD Contractor
US Air Force Pilot
Vanguard FADP Senior Associate
Vanguard Financial Advisor
Verkada Associate Account Executive
Wiser Wealth Management Financial Planning Associate
* denotes no responses received.
*Source: Areas above marked with an Asterisk (*) have been created utilizing data taken from the UGA Career Outcomes Survey. The "Employers Hiring...," "Job Titles of...," "Career Outcomes for...," and "Graduate/Professional Schools and Programs..." information listed above represent UGA Class of 2025 Graduates. The lists are not exhaustive and therefore do not represent all potential career options. Click here for more detailed Career Outcomes information regarding this major.
Graduate/Professional Schools Attended by Class of 2025 Financial Planning Majors

The information below represents graduate/professional schools and programs reported through the Class of 2025 Career Outcomes Survey. To view historical Career Outcomes for this major, click here and select "Historical Data" from the navigation menu.

Graduate School Program(s)
University of Arizona Real Estate Development, MA
University of Florida Management, Masters
University of Georgia Behavioral Financial Planning, MS
University of Georgia Behavioral Financial Planning, MS
University of Georgia Financial Planning, Masters
University of Georgia Financial Planning, Housing, & Consumer Economics, MS
* denotes no responses received.

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