careernav.

Leading Companies & Markets

As a financial planner, there is a range of organisations and industries where you can find employment, focusing either on direct or indirect investments. You can work for banks, insurance and investment companies, accounting and legal firms, or financial dealers and stockbrokers.

Some of the leading financial planning organisations in Australia are National Australia Bank Limited, AMP Limited, and AXA Asia Pacific Holdings Limited. Global organisations are also key market players such as 

Other leading organisations in Australia are stockbroker- based firms, focussing on direct investments, such as ING Australia Holdings, ABN AMRO Morgans Limited, and Macquarie Bank.

As an experienced financial planner, you may decide to become an owner-operator under your own boutique name, offering a suite of high profile branded products; or position yourself as a representative of a high profile brand, regularly but not exclusively recommending its products.

You will need a broad network of clients and knowledge of small business management. If you choose self-employment, then development of your own database and your own clients will be of great importance. 

Environment & Culture

Meetings with clients will  generally take place in your office,  but it may be necessary for you  to travel, particularly to secure a new client. You will generally work a 50 to 60 hour week. Having the flexibility required to develop a range of clients could have you working evenings and weekends. If you choose the self-employed option,  you will find it highly fluid and fast-paced, whilst the larger corporate planner as an employer works in a more structured workplace with greater internal controls.

Depending on your employer, you may either work on your own, or as part of a team. You will usually be using computers which will aid your work with financial and mathematical planning.