One of the most surprising aspects of my two-decade career in financial services at two of the largest brokerage firms was how many career paths there are in the industry.
The financial services industry is not only limited to roles like Financial Advisor, Financial Planner, Finance Analyst, Research Analyst, Investment Banker, Accountant, or other jobs in finance.
Financial Advisors need internal customer service. There are many areas within Service. Expertise in finance is generally not required. Positions in Service are easier ways to get your foot in the door.
This position is responsible for developing new products and features. They can be investment products or software. For instance, a financial planning software that either clients, Financial Advisors, or Financial Planners use to develop plans.
For me, this role was in the Investment Risk department, but these analytical roles exist in all areas of the industry. There are many roles that revolve around analyzing data to report to management.