Which activities appear in relevant job advertisements and how often? What does a financial planner job require?

Wie sehen die Stelleninserate für einen Finanzplaner Job aus? Welche Tätigkeiten und Anforderungen werden genannt?

Advertisements for a financial planner job contain all the requirements that a company places on new employees for the vacancy. People looking for a job will find all the important information about the vacancy in the job advertisements, such as

  • the activities
  • the requirements (previous education, professional experience, personal skills and characteristics)
  • the company
  • Financial planner
  • Financial Planner
  • Financial advisor
  • Financial Advisor (Male/Female)
  • Retirement and Financial Planning Advisor (Male) / Retirement and Financial Planning Advisor (Female)
  • Retail Client Advisor (Male) / Retail Client Advisor (Female)
  • Financial Planning Specialist (Male/Female)
  • Financial professional
  • Finance Specialist
  • Wealth Planner
  • Wealth Advisor
  • Private Banking Advisor (Male) / Private Banking Advisor (Female)
  • Financial Services Customer Service Representative (Male) / Financial Services Customer Service Representative (Female)
  • Head of Financial Planning / Head of Financial Planning
  • Investment Advisor
  • Insurance and Retirement Planning Advisor (male) / Insurance and Retirement Planning Advisor (female)
  • Pension and Financial Planning Specialist (Male) / Pension and Financial Planning Specialist (Female)
  • Retirement Planning Advisor
  • Retirement Planner
  • Pension Specialist
  • Retirement Planning / Financial Planning / Mortgage Client Advisor (Male), Retirement Planning / Financial Planning / Mortgage Client Advisor (Female)
  • Financial expert
  • Personal Financial Planning Advisor (Male) / Personal Financial Planning Advisor (Female)
  • Relationship Manager
  • Financial Consultant
  • Investment Consultant
  • Succession Planning Consultant (part-time)
  • Estate Planner (at major financial institutions)

An analysis of current job postings reveals the following approximate breakdown of responsibilities:

Client Advisory Services and Financial Planning approx. 35% of the time
Analysis of the Financial Situation approx. 20% of the time
Development of customized financial, retirement planning, and investment solutions approx. 15% of the time
Customer Service and Relationship Management approx. 15% of the time
Acquiring new customers approx. 10% of the time
Administration and Documentation approx. 5% of the time

The focus is clearly on personalized advice.

Requirements mentioned in job advertisements for a financial planner job

The duties and requirements described here are based on an analysis of relevant job postings on various Swiss job platforms and are intended to give you an idea of what the role of a financial planner entails. Requirements and responsibilities may vary depending on the employer, industry, and specific job description.

Professional requirements
  • Completed commercial apprenticeship
  • Continuing education, further training as a financial planner with a Federal Diploma of Higher Education / financial planner with a Federal Diploma of Higher Education or comparable qualification
  • Several years of professional experience in the financial services sector
Specialist knowledge for a financial planner job
  • Industry knowledge and financial expertise
  • Knowledge of customer relationship management
  • Additional financial knowledge, such as:
    • Financial planning
    • Asset planning
    • Retirement Planning (AHV, BVG, Pillar 3a)
    • Investment Advice
    • Tax planning
    • Estate and Succession Planning
    • Insurance Solutions
    • Mortgages and Real Estate Financing
    • Portfolio Management (Basics)
    • Compliance and Regulatory Requirements
    • CRM Systems
    • Financial Analysis
    • Conversation and Counseling Techniques
  • Very good language skills in German
  • Knowledge of at least one foreign language
  • User knowledge MS-Office
Personal characteristics
  • Ambition for above-average performance
  • Trustworthiness
  • Strong communication skills
  • Consulting and Customer Focus
  • Analytical thinking
  • Negotiating skills
  • Empathy
  • Discretion
  • Personal initiative
  • Independent way of working
  • Entrepreneurial thinking
  • Persuasiveness
  • Sense of responsibility
  • Organizational skills
  • Frequently: Category B driver's license
Other financial planner job / financial planner job

Financial planners often work with their clients for many years. In addition to in-depth expertise, they are therefore expected to provide high-quality advice, maintain discretion, and have the ability to explain complex financial topics in an understandable way. Depending on the employer, their responsibilities may also include acquiring new clients and managing their own client portfolio.

Advisory expertise, meaning attention to detail, organizational skills, and the ability to explain complex information in a way that clients can easily understand, as well as the ability to handle financial information with sensitivity.

Many job postings specifically highlight the combination of retirement planning, tax planning, and wealth management as areas of expertise. In the financial sector, trust and long-term client relationships are key success factors when it comes to soft skills.

Financial planners work in the following areas, among others:

  • Financial planning
  • Wealth Management
  • Pension advice
  • Private Banking
  • Wealth Management
  • Insurance advice
  • Mortgage Counseling
  • Succession and Estate Planning
  • Customer Service for Individual and Business Customers
  • Financial and Tax Consulting

Financial planners are particularly likely to work in:

  • Banks
  • Private Banks
  • Insurances
  • Financial advisory firm
  • Asset management
  • Trust Companies
  • Family Offices
  • Mortgage and Financing Companies
  • Tax Consulting Firms
  • Independent Financial Advisory Firms

This shows that the professional certification is in demand in various areas of the financial sector.

Career Development Opportunities for Financial Planners

For individuals with continuing education or further training in financial planning, there are many career opportunities for growth in various directions. Current job postings highlight the growing importance of topics such as holistic life-stage planning, digital advisory tools, CRM systems, and hybrid advisory models.

Typical Career Opportunities

As they gain more professional experience, financial planners often go on to become:

  • Senior Financial Advisor
  • Financial Advisor
  • Wealth Manager
  • Private Bankers
  • Head of Financial Planning
  • Consulting Team Leader
  • Branch Manager
  • Relationship Manager for High-Net-Worth Individuals
  • Independent Financial Planner
  • Partner at a financial consulting firm

Specializing in high-net-worth individuals or business owners is a particularly common career path.

Current Trends in the Job Profile

Financial advising is increasingly evolving into a holistic, life-stage-based approach. Clients no longer expect just recommendations on individual financial products, but rather comprehensive strategies for wealth building, retirement planning, taxes, real estate, and estate planning. At the same time, digital advisory tools, CRM systems, and hybrid advisory formats (in-person and online) are gaining in importance. Financial planners therefore combine in-depth expertise with strong advisory skills and long-term relationship management.

Useful Information on Job Search and Applications

Are you looking to advance your career or seeking a new challenge? Compare different job postings to find out what responsibilities, qualifications, and experience are required for a financial planner position. This will help you better assess which positions match your profile and whether targeted continuing education, further training is worth pursuing for your next career move.

Schools Offering Training for Financial Planner Jobs / Financial Planner Jobs