Resident expert, Stanley Chan, is the voice behind Online Finance Degree. Read more about Stanley and his resource here.
“If you are interested in studying finance and economics, I advise you to embrace the financial culture. You should start to read magazines like Bloomberg and The Economist so that you can stay current with relevant issues. If you do that, the educational journey will be much more fulfilling because you will be able to relate what you are learning in school to the real world.”Read the Full Interview
“I would advise students to take AP classes in economics or accounting as well as business electives in high school in order to gain a better idea of what finance classes in college are like.”Read the Full Interview
“The main finance courses that I advise all students to take are accounting, economics and statistical analysis.”Read the Full Interview
“Looking back at my formal education, I wouldn’t have done anything differently. I chose to major in economics instead of business and I think that was the right choice for me. I would, however, take classes to improve my Microsoft Office and SQL skills, but I don’t think those classes need to be a formal part of a student’s education.”Read the Full Interview
“What I enjoy most about being a bank manager is the satisfaction of seeing my bank succeed and the opportunity to help other people advance in their careers. I am naturally competitive, so it is important to me that I can tell that my work pays off and my branch improves in customer service and profit.”Read the Full Interview
“I would recommend that a student who is interested in finance as a career invest time in doing an internship. I did not do that and I should have, because it is the best real-world job training that you can get.”Read the Full Interview
Here is a quick quiz to help you decide if you have the personality it takes to succeed as a finance professional. Rate, on a scale from 1 to 5, how well each of the following statements describes you.
I budget well and manage my own money wisely.
Finance professionals buy and sell securities that are worth a lot of money. If you want to be a financial representative, you should practice your money management skills by limiting your spending and investing for the future.
I am comfortable taking risks.
Investing in the stock market does not guarantee profits. You need to recognize the potential for loss if you want to become a finance professional.
I like to work with numbers and data.
Finance professionals analyze numerical data to estimate the value of commodities and securities. You must have a sound understanding of statistics, probability and finite mathematics to work in finance.
I am personable and I can gain the trust of others.
Investors trust financial analysts, advisors and sales representatives with their money. You must inspire trust so that potential clients will rely on you for advice about their financial security.
I am confident and I am willing to promote my own skills.
Some finance professionals have to build their own client lists through advertising and cold calls. You will need to boldly market your services and abilities in order to convince investors to hire you.
I trust my own judgment.
Finance professionals make decisions that can affect people deeply. You will need to trust your own research and intuition when you make important decisions.
I am able to see how details fit into the big picture.
Financial service sales agents must remember the monetary goals of individual investors when they make financial recommendations. You should be able to suggest investments for your clients while keeping their future objectives in mind.
I am able to process a lot of information at once.
Finance professionals must filter through large amounts of information about the economy, different industries and corporate developments to determine whether investments are wise or not. You should think analytically if you want to work in finance.
I work well under pressure.
Financial jobs are often stressful because they deal with large amounts of money. If you want to work in finance, you should be able to stay calm and collected under pressure.
I like to use technology to make my tasks easier.
Some technology tools that finance professionals use include spreadsheets, calculators and analytical tools like graphs. You should be adept at using computers and software programs to be efficient in your job as a finance professional.
*Note that this is not a scientific quiz. The result is simply my rough estimate of how well I believe your personality matches that of a successful finance professional.
By my assessment, a career in finance is probably not a good fit for your personality.
By my assessment, although a career in finance may not be an ideal fit for your personality, if you are willing to adapt in a few areas, you can still find success in the field. Please see the list to the right for information on the areas that you may need to work on.
By my assessment, your personality is a good fit for a career in finance. Scroll through our site to gain valuable insight into what it will take you to earn the necessary credentials.
In addition to personality, you may want to consider the length of time that you want to study before beginning a career in finance.
Before you choose your educational path, you should think about how long you want to be in school. Some students are attracted to studying finance because it does not require extensive graduate education. In fact, you can get a high paying job as a financial professional with just a bachelors degree. But a graduate degree like an MBA with a concentration in finance will enhance your resume and may help you to advance your career faster.
Some of the major finance professions that you can choose from include:
High school diploma
$65,500
Banks, credit unions, mortgage companies
Loan officers determine whether applicants are qualified for business, mortgage and personal loans. They underwrite loan applications by verifying the credit history and income of the applicant to determine if they will be able to pay back the loan comfortably and on time. Loan officers usually work in either the commercial, consumer or real estate sector.
Bachelors (4 years)
$64,750
Banks, corporate businesses, private practice
Personal financial advisors help their clients plan strategies to meet their financial goals like saving for retirement, having children or paying for college. They educate their clients about investment opportunities and give them advice for managing their portfolios. Some personal financial advisors also buy and sell stocks and bonds on behalf of their clients.
Bachelors (4 years)
$74,350
Corporate businesses
Financial analysts help businesses and individuals to manage their portfolios, or collection of investments. They study economic trends and analyze the way that investments like stocks and bonds are performing so that they can recommend investment decisions to their clients. Financial analysts are usually considered to be either buy-side analysts or sell-side analysts. Buy-side analysts develop investment strategies for wealthy companies, while sell-side analysts guide financial sales agents like stockbrokers.
Bachelors (4 years)
$70,190
Financial institutions
Financial sales agents include brokers, investment bankers and stock traders. These finance professionals buy and sell securities, like stocks and bonds, and commodities, like oil or crops. They trade commodities and securities on the physical stock exchange floor and through digital computer networks.
Bachelors (4 years)
$74,940
Corporate businesses, government agencies
Financial examiners monitor the fiscal state of banks. They tend to work in either risk scoping or consumer compliance. Risk scoping involves verifying that banks have enough money to cover unexpected losses, while consumer compliance examiners make sure that borrowers are treated fairly and are offered loans that they can reasonably repay.
Bachelors (4 years)
$100,000
Banks, corporate businesses
Financial engineers are finance professionals who devise new financial products or services. For example, they repackage insurance offers so that companies can sell a combination of products at a lower price than those same offers could be purchased individually. Financial engineering is sometimes called computational finance because financial engineers use mathematical calculations to set the prices of products and to predict how well those products will do on the market.
Bachelors (4 years) plus work experience
$103,900
Banks, corporate businesses
Financial managers are responsible for an organization’s financial condition. They monitor corporate finances by writing reports that are based on data analysis and market trends. Using these reports, they advise business executives about ways to increase profits and reduce costs. Financial managers also supervise employees who work in accounting, auditing and budgeting departments.
| Profession | Employment 2010 | Projected 2020 | Average Growth |
| Financial Manager | 527100 | 573400 | 9% |
| Auditor | 1216900 | 1407600 | 16% |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, Or Auditing Clerk | 1898300 | 2157400 | 14% |
| Budget Analyst | 62100 | 68500 | 10% |
| Credit Analyst | 63300 | 75900 | 20% |
| Credit Authorizer | 54300 | 56900 | 5% |
| Credit Authorizer, Checker, Or Clerk | 54300 | 56900 | 5% |
| Credit Checker | 54300 | 56900 | 5% |
| Credit Counselor | 33100 | 39800 | 20% |
| Financial Analyst | 236000 | 290200 | 23% |
| Financial Examiner | 29300 | 37200 | 27% |
| Branch Financial Manager | 527100 | 573400 | 9% |
| Financial Quantitative Analyst | 164900 | 174900 | 6% |
| Financial Specialist | 164900 | 174900 | 6% |
| Investment Fund Manager | 828100 | 893500 | 8% |
| Loan Counselor | 33100 | 39800 | 20% |
| Loan Interviewer Or Clerk | 182500 | 176800 | -3% |
| Loan Officer | 289400 | 330400 | 14% |
| Personal Financial Advisor | 206800 | 273200 | 32% |
| Financial Services Representative | 312200 | 359700 | 15% |
| Securities Or Commodities Trader | 312200 | 359700 | 15% |
| Accountant | 1216900 | 1407600 | 16% |
| Financial Services Sales Agent | 312200 | 359700 | 15% |
| Profession | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
| Financial Manager | 101450 | 106200 | 110640 | 113730 | 116970 | 120450 |
| Auditor | 60670 | 63180 | 65840 | 67430 | 68960 | 70130 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, Or Auditing Clerk | 31780 | 32780 | 33800 | 34750 | 35340 | 36120 |
| Budget Analyst | 63920 | 66310 | 68140 | 69240 | 70660 | 71450 |
| Credit Analyst | 60190 | 62820 | 64580 | 67230 | 68180 | 69640 |
| Credit Authorizer | 31710 | 31200 | 31980 | 33700 | 34670 | 35790 |
| Credit Authorizer, Checker, Or Clerk | 31710 | 31200 | 31980 | 33700 | 34670 | 35790 |
| Credit Checker | 31710 | 31200 | 31980 | 33700 | 34670 | 35790 |
| Credit Counselor | 41840 | 41990 | 41970 | 40930 | 41700 | 41940 |
| Financial Analyst | 77280 | 81700 | 84780 | 85240 | 86040 | 87740 |
| Financial Examiner | 71240 | 73550 | 78180 | 79070 | 82320 | 83620 |
| Branch Financial Manager | 101450 | 106200 | 110640 | 113730 | 116970 | 120450 |
| Financial Quantitative Analyst | 59600 | 61760 | 63880 | 64810 | 66920 | 65700 |
| Financial Specialist | 59600 | 61760 | 63880 | 64810 | 66920 | 65700 |
| Investment Fund Manager | 87250 | 91990 | 95890 | 99100 | 102160 | 104910 |
| Loan Counselor | 41840 | 41990 | 41970 | 40930 | 41700 | 41940 |
| Loan Interviewer Or Clerk | 32680 | 33220 | 33890 | 34670 | 35180 | 35810 |
| Loan Officer | 61930 | 62610 | 63540 | 63210 | 65900 | 67960 |
| Personal Financial Advisor | 86730 | 89220 | 92970 | 94180 | 91220 | 90900 |
| Financial Services Representative | 90380 | 90470 | 92050 | 91390 | 95130 | 98810 |
| Securities Or Commodities Trader | 90380 | 90470 | 92050 | 91390 | 95130 | 98810 |
| Accountant | 60670 | 63180 | 65840 | 67430 | 68960 | 70130 |
| Financial Services Sales Agent | 90380 | 90470 | 92050 | 91390 | 95130 | 98810 |
| Profession | 10th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 90th |
| Financial Manager | $58120 | $78300 | $107160 | $146150 | $187200 |
| Auditor | $39640 | $48920 | $62850 | $83210 | $109870 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, Or Auditing Clerk | $21450 | $27400 | $34740 | $43440 | $53250 |
| Budget Analyst | $45360 | $55260 | $69090 | $86540 | $102280 |
| Credit Analyst | $36590 | $45880 | $60730 | $83210 | $115240 |
| Credit Authorizer | $23160 | $27220 | $33560 | $42500 | $52810 |
| Credit Authorizer, Checker, Or Clerk | $23160 | $27220 | $33560 | $42500 | $52810 |
| Credit Checker | $23160 | $27220 | $33560 | $42500 | $52810 |
| Credit Counselor | $26980 | $32150 | $38430 | $47650 | $61140 |
| Financial Analyst | $46300 | $57900 | $75650 | $101120 | $145580 |
| Financial Examiner | $43520 | $55990 | $75250 | $105490 | $138700 |
| Branch Financial Manager | $58120 | $78300 | $107160 | $146150 | $187200 |
| Financial Quantitative Analyst | $35370 | $44370 | $59810 | $79960 | $103660 |
| Financial Specialist | $35370 | $44370 | $59810 | $79960 | $103660 |
| Investment Fund Manager | $51380 | $71100 | $99540 | $129600 | $160200 |
| Loan Counselor | $26980 | $32150 | $38430 | $47650 | $61140 |
| Loan Interviewer Or Clerk | $23000 | $28010 | $34820 | $42770 | $49880 |
| Loan Officer | $32110 | $41890 | $58030 | $81850 | $115450 |
| Personal Financial Advisor | $32810 | $43160 | $66580 | $111880 | $187200 |
| Financial Services Representative | $32120 | $41940 | $72060 | $132040 | $187200 |
| Securities Or Commodities Trader | $32120 | $41940 | $72060 | $132040 | $187200 |
| Accountant | $39640 | $48920 | $62850 | $83210 | $109870 |
| Financial Services Sales Agent | $32120 | $41940 | $72060 | $132040 | $187200 |
Nearly all finance jobs require you to have a bachelors degree, which means it will take you at least 4 years to find an entry-level job as a finance professional.
A degree in finance will increase your knowledge and skills about money management and economic strategy.
This subject defines the various organizations that make up the financial industry and the markets that support them. It addresses topics like commercial banking, international banking and investment banking. In addition, it discusses the roles of finance corporations, insurance businesses and mortgage companies.
Economics is the study of the major elements that affect the international economy. Knowledge of both macroeconomics and microeconomics is essential for successful finance students. Macroeconomics studies large issues like growth and inflation, while microeconomics addresses more finite factors like markets, labor, competition and supply and demand.
Financial law refers to the federal laws and regulations that have been outlined by government agencies like the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Financial law discusses the legal issues that affect bank regulations, investment advising, mergers and trading stocks and bonds.
Learning about securities and investments is a significant part of a finance curriculum. These courses teach students about the structure of the stock exchange. Specifically, they address the different types of stocks and bonds as well as the basic principles that securities dealers and brokers use to guide their investment decisions.
Applied statistics examines how finance professionals can use data to inform their decisions. This course discusses ways to gather, organize and analyze data by using a combination of statistical tools and software. It also teaches students how to present statistical information clearly so that clients can understand complex financial data.
Finance is closely related to accounting, which is the act of recording and analyzing monetary exchanges. During your finance education, you will be trained to track the expenses and profits of companies and individuals so that you can suggest ways to help them spend more efficiently. You will be able to understand important financial information and relationships between numbers.
In your finance curriculum, you will learn marketing skills that you can use to make your financial services more attractive to potential clients. You will be trained to understand what customers want and to convince them that you can offer that. Your marketing classes will teach you how to plan advertising campaigns and navigate public relations.
Since finance is a subfield of business, you will learn business management skills in your finance curriculum. Specifically, you will learn to effectively organize your workforce, evaluate problems, track projects and budget. You will also learn to negotiate with employees, keep clients satisfied and make decisions that are ethically and financially sound.
As a finance professional, you will need a strong understanding of a variety of mathematical principles. Some of the math skills that you will need to master during your finance curriculum include probability theory, game theory and compound statements. In addition, you will learn computer programming and linear programming skills.
If you want to work in finance, you need to be comfortable making quick decisions. In your finance program, you will learn to analyze situations from many different perspectives. You will be trained to consider the possible effects of different actions so that you can choose the best option that will increase profits and limit losses for your company, clients and yourself.
You can earn finance credentials at every level of education. If you choose to study at the undergraduate level, you can earn associates and bachelors degrees. And if you want to pursue graduate study, you can earn masters and doctoral degrees. Finally, you can also earn undergraduate and graduate certificates in finance.
If you want to learn about finance without committing to a long and expensive degree program, you should consider earning a certificate. The classes that you take as part of a finance certificate program will improve your resume and increase your financial knowledge for personal gain.
Undergraduate Certificate
An undergraduate certificate in finance offers classes about important finance principles like accounting, investing and risk management. The undergraduate certificate can be used to supplement a business curriculum or to prepare for the CFA exam if you want to become a Chartered Financial Analyst.
Graduate Certificate
A graduate certificate in finance has graduate-level classes that teach advanced principles of finance management. The graduate certificate is preferable if you have a background in finance and you want to increase your education to get a promotion or build your resume.
Undergraduate Certificates
Undergraduate finance certificates usually require students to complete 12 to 15 credit hours. Most students can finish undergraduate certificates in 6 months to a year.
Graduate Certificates
Students who are enrolled in graduate certificate programs in finance generally need to complete 12 to 15 credit hours. Most graduate certificate programs are completed in about a year.
Undergraduate Certificates
The exact courses that you take while studying for an undergraduate finance certificate will vary according to the length and depth of your program. But you will likely take courses in financial accounting, investment strategy, risk management and international finance.
Graduate Certificates
You may take a variety of different courses to earn a graduate finance certificate. However, you are likely to take classes such as managerial accounting, financial management, portfolio management and quantitative analysis.
Undergraduate Certificates
An undergraduate certificate in finance will not qualify you for any finance positions on its own. However, it may enhance your business resume and improve your personal investing skills.
Graduate Certificates
Most finance jobs require only a bachelors degree, so a graduate certificate will boost your resume and give you an edge over your competition. A sample of the professions that you will be qualified for include financial analyst, personal financial advisor, financial examiner and financial sales agent.
Graduate Certificates
If you are considering earning a graduate certificate in finance, you should check to see if your credits will be transferable. Students sometimes use graduate certificates to test out graduate school before committing to a full degree. You may decide to continue graduate school and complete a masters degree when you finish your certificate, and you will have to repeat your classes if you cannot transfer your credits.
To be admitted into a graduate certificate program in finance, you must have a bachelors degree. However, your degree does not have to be in finance or a related field.
Many schools offer finance certificates online at the graduate and undergraduate levels. Most certificate coursework is theoretical, so there is no reason why you should avoid online finance certificate programs. Even so, you should compare the courses that are offered in traditional programs to those that are offered in the online finance programs that you are considering. If the courses are similar, you know that you are getting a good education through your online finance school.
Some schools allow you to earn an associates degree in finance, but you should know that this degree is not worth much by itself. The best use of an associates degree is to earn your general education so that you can transfer into a bachelors degree program in finance. In addition, you should keep in mind that some schools combine finance classes with closely related subjects like business and marketing, so your program might be called Marketing and Finance or something similar.
The AA degree in finance includes classes in the humanities as well as in finance and business to give you a broad background. The AA is not a common finance degree but you can use it to transfer into a bachelors program.
The AS in finance degree requires more science and mathematics classes to give you a technical education. The AS degree is the best choice if you plan to transfer into a bachelors degree program.
The AAS degree in finance teaches job specific skills that train you to work in the field. The AAS degree is the best option if you want to enter the workforce immediately after graduation.
Associates degrees in finance typically require students to complete 60 to 65 credit hours. Most students are able to complete their associates degrees in about 2 years.
An associates degree in finance will teach you the basic principles that govern business and finance. If you decide to pursue this degree, you will take introductory classes in accounting, business law, microeconomics, macroeconomics and investing.
An associates degree in finance will prepare you for very few jobs. You may be able to find work as a loan officer, but the primary function of this degree is to earn credits that you can transfer into a 4-year degree program.
A select number of schools offer online finance associates degrees. In general, associates degrees in this field do not prepare graduates for jobs. Instead, they are meant to give students a basic introduction to finance so that they can continue in a 4-year program. Because associates degrees are simply a starting point to an education in finance, there are no significant drawbacks to earning your finance associates degree online. However, if you decide to attend an online finance school for your degree, you should make sure that your credits can be transferred into a bachelors degree program. That way you can use the classes that you take in an online finance associates degree to help you earn a higher degree later.
Bachelors degrees are the most common level of education in this field. When you are looking for a bachelors degree program, you should keep in mind that some schools offer finance degrees that also focus on another subject, like accounting or economics.
A BA degree has more liberal arts classes, so you will study the humanities along with business and finance. The BA degree is the best choice if you want to continue on to graduate school.
A BS degree has more science and math classes that are designed to give you a strong technical background. The BS is the best option if you want to enter the workforce as soon as you graduate.
A BBA in finance has a strong focus on business classes, so you will learn management skills along with the principles of finance. The BBA is a good choice if you want to become a financial manager.
Bachelors degrees in finance usually consist of 120 to 130 credit hours. Students are generally able to complete bachelors degrees in finance in approximately 4 years.
If you choose to earn a bachelors degree in finance, you will take a variety of classes that focus on business and money management. Your core business classes will likely include marketing, accounting and business law. You will also take classes that are specific to finance like economics, portfolio management and investment strategy. In addition, you will have some courses in finite mathematics and statistics.
A bachelors degree will prepare you for the majority of jobs in finance. With a bachelors degree, you could work as a financial analyst or advisor, who help people and businesses to manage their investment portfolios. You could also become a sales agent, who buys and sells stocks and bonds. And after you gain several years of work experience, you will be qualified to work as a financial manager.
Earning your finance bachelors degree online is a reasonable option if you pay attention to the quality of the program. There are some reputable online finance programs, but you need to consider the curriculum when you evaluate them. First, make sure that the online finance school that you are considering offers an internship. The finance world is very competitive and you must participate in an internship so that you can practice your skills in a real-world environment. In addition, internships make your resume look better, which will lead to more job opportunities. Second, you should compare the courses that are offered in an online finance program to those that are offered in traditional programs. If the courses are similar, you know that you are getting a quality education.
A masters degree is not necessary to find work in finance, but it will improve your job prospects and help you to stand out among the competition.
The MS degree has advanced business, finance and mathematics classes. The MS is a good choice if you want to focus on finance, rather than business management, in your graduate studies.
An MBA in finance has core business classes and offers many finance and investment banking electives. The MBA is the best option if you want a business education that leads to a managerial position.
An MFE offers engineering courses like computer science and mathematics along with finance. The MFE is preferable if you want to work as a financial engineer.
Masters degrees in finance usually require students to complete 30 to 40 credit hours. Some finance programs are designed to be completed in 1 year, but it typically takes students 2 to 3 years to complete masters degrees.
The courses that you take while you study for a masters degree in finance vary somewhat according to which degree you choose to pursue. In all finance masters programs, you will take advanced classes about investing strategies, derivatives and financial institutions. And in an MS program, you will also take business, accounting and ethics. On the other hand, in an MBA program, you will take classes like organizational management and financial decision making. And if you decide to get an MFE, you will take classes like computational finance, stochastic calculus and credit risk modeling.
A masters degree in finance qualifies you for any professional job in finance. However, most management positions require that you gain several years of experience before you can apply. So while you can be a financial analyst, financial examiner or financial engineer with the appropriate masters degree, you will not be qualified to be a financial manager as soon as you graduate.
The most important thing to consider when you are looking for a graduate program in finance is what type of education you want. Most schools do not offer all 3 finance masters degrees, so if you want to study computational finance, you must look for an MFE program. Likewise, an MBA teaches you a different set of skills than an MS. Therefore, you should research the curriculums at several finance schools before you decide where you will apply.
The admissions requirements for a masters degree program in finance vary according to the kind of masters degree that you want to earn. In all cases, you need to earn a bachelors degree before you can apply to earn a masters degree in finance. However, if you want to get an MS or an MBA, your degree does not need to be in finance. As long as you have earned a bachelors degree in a related science, you can apply. But if you want to earn an MFE, you need to have a strong background in mathematics, statistical tools and computer programming. In addition, some programs require applicants to have at least 1 year of work experience.
Many reputable schools offer students the convenient option of earning their finance masters degrees online. There is no reason not to pursue your masters degree through an online finance program, as long as you verify that the curriculum will give you the same education as a traditional school would. One way to do that is to check whether or not your online finance masters degree program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), which is the accrediting agency for all business-related subjects including finance. Accreditation is not mandatory, but you can be sure that you are earning a quality education if your online finance program is accredited.
A doctorate is the highest degree that you can get in the field of finance. It trains students to conduct scholarly and applied research so that they can find academic research positions. During the course of this research, students will learn to design and test theoretical finance models.
A PhD in finance includes advanced finance classes and focuses on theoretical research. The PhD is the best option if you want to pursue an academic research career at a college or university.
A DBA emphasizes applied financial research that can be used to solve business problems. The DBA is the best option if you want to work as a finance professional at a corporation or government agency.
Most doctoral programs in finance require students to complete 60 to 72 credit hours. Students are generally expected to complete their doctoral degrees in 5 to 7 years.
If you decide to earn a doctorate in finance, you will get to design the focus of your own program. However, you will be required to take certain mathematics classes like linear algebra, calculus and probability. You will also take courses in economics, accounting, corporate finance theory and financial markets. In addition, most doctoral programs require students to complete a dissertation that is based on their original research.
A doctoral degree in finance will primarily prepare you for research positions. You could work for government agencies and think tanks, or you could become a professor at a college or university.
When you are looking for a finance doctorate program, you need to consider your research objectives. For instance, if you want to perform theoretical research, you should choose a school that offers a PhD program. But if you want to conduct applied research as a finance professional, you should only attend a school that offers a DBA. In addition, you should investigate the research interests of the faculty at the schools that you are considering. Faculty research is a strong indicator of the quality of the program as well as the types of work that you will be expected to produce if you decide to attend that school.
You do not have to hold a masters degree to apply for a doctorate program. Instead, most finance doctoral programs require applicants to have bachelors degrees in finance, economics, mathematics or business. Your application will also be greatly improved if you can demonstrate work experience and strong research and academic writing skills.
Although some schools offer online finance doctorates, you should not earn your finance doctorate online if you want to get a respected research position. Doctoral degrees require you to conduct exhaustive academic research and to form a working relationship with your professors. But you will not be able to foster that relationship through an online finance program. You may be able to learn financial theory through an online finance school, but you will not gain the experience of working with other academic professionals if you choose that path.
Finance is a very competitive field. After earning your finance degree, you may want to earn additional credentials to improve your job prospects.
The CFA credential is awarded to finance professionals who demonstrate knowledge of investments, portfolio management and financial analysis. The CFA credential benefits your career because employers recognize that it indicates your commitment to professionalism and your knowledge of investing.
To qualify to earn your CFA credential, you must have a bachelors degree and at least 4 years of professional experience. Then you need to complete the curriculum set by the CFA Institute, which emphasizes both academics and ethics. In particular, the academic curriculum addresses valuation, financial analysis, portfolio management and applications of financial tools. The program concludes with 3 extensive examinations.
The American Finance Association
Association for Financial Professionals
Financial Management Association
Financial Planning Association
Global Business & Finance Resources
Government Finance Officers Association
International Economic Association
SIFMA – Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association
