Financial Advisor Assistant Salary

A financial advisor assistant is generally tasked with assisting a financial advisor with administering all aspects of client accounts. The assistant is generally the first person to interact with clients when they call, email, or come into the office. The financial advisor assistant normally works closely with one financial advisor, but they also assist other financial advisors and have frequent, extensive contact with customers. The assistant must warmly greet clients and prospective clients who enter the office, as well as handle the financial advisor's appointment calendar, accept incoming calls, and make outgoing calls. Additionally, they handle email and mail correspondence, input transactions for client accounts, and monitor client files for compliance with various regulations. More experienced assistants may make investment recommendations and eventually transition into a financial advisor position.

Financial advisor assistants generally work in an office environment during regular business hours. In some cases, the assistant's hours are timed to coincide with the stock market opening, which could result in early morning hours depending on the time zone.

Required qualifications for this position vary by organization and opening. Some organizations require a two- or four-year college degree in business or finance; most at least prefer a degree. Experience in the financial service industry is highly desired, and marketing or public relations experience may also be helpful. A working knowledge of financial products is essential; securities and insurance licenses are highly desirable. (Copyright 2017 PayScale.com)

Financial Advisor Assistant Tasks

• Schedule appointments and assist clients with paperwork.
• Assist financial advisor with client support and time management.
• Handle financial operational problems, such as issues with statements and transactions.

For Financial Advisor Assistants, Houston provides a pay rate that is 33 percent greater than the national average. Financial Advisor Assistants will also find cushy salaries in Seattle (+27 percent), Indianapolis (+26 percent), Dallas (+21 percent), and Minneapolis (+16 percent). Location significantly influences compensation, with Denver Financial Advisor Assistants earning much less — 21 percent less — than the national average. Toledo and St. Louis are a couple other places where companies are known to pay below the median — salaries are 19 percent lower and 13 percent lower, respectively.