You spent years leading teams under pressure. You managed budgets, logistics, and people. You made decisions with real consequences. And now you are looking at the civilian job market wondering where all of that fits.

Financial advising is one of the best career matches for veterans. The pay is strong. The job growth is steady. And the skills you already have are exactly what this industry needs.

I am not guessing here. After I separated as a Navy Diver, I spent 1.5 years applying to jobs with zero callbacks. I tried federal jobs, private sector, everything. Once I figured out how to translate my background, I got hired into six different federal career fields. I built Best Military Resume so other veterans skip that learning curve. And financial advising is a career path I keep seeing veterans crush.

This guide covers the real path from military service to financial advisor. Licensing, salary, firms that hire veterans, and how to position your resume. No fluff. Just what you need to get started.

Why Do Veterans Make Strong Financial Advisors?

Financial advising is a trust business. Clients hand you their savings and ask you to grow it. That takes credibility, discipline, and the ability to explain complex things in simple terms.

Sound familiar? That is what you did every day in uniform.

Military officers managed operating budgets in the millions. NCOs ran supply chains, payroll, and equipment accounts. Even junior enlisted handled accountability for gear worth more than most people earn in a decade.

Financial advisory firms care about four things when they hire:

• Trust: Can clients rely on you? Your security clearance, background checks, and service record answer that fast.
• Discipline: Can you follow a process day after day? You did it for years.
• Communication: Can you explain a 401(k) rollover to a confused client? You briefed commanders on complex ops. This is easier.
• Work ethic: Can you cold call 50 prospects a day for six months? Firms know veterans will do the hard work that other new hires quit on.

What Does a Financial Advisor Actually Do?

A financial advisor helps people manage their money. That includes investments, retirement planning, insurance, college savings, and estate planning. Some advisors work with individuals. Others work with businesses or high-net-worth families.

Your day-to-day looks like this:

• Prospecting: Finding new clients through networking, referrals, and outreach. This is where many new advisors struggle. Veterans usually do not.
• Client meetings: Sitting down with people to understand their goals. Income, debt, savings, timeline. You build a plan around their life.
• Portfolio management: Picking investments that match each client's risk level and goals. Some firms give you model portfolios to follow. Others let you build your own.
• Compliance: Keeping records, filing paperwork, and following SEC or FINRA rules. Veterans are good at this. You already know how to operate inside a regulatory framework.
• Ongoing service: Checking in with clients regularly. Adjusting their plan when life changes. A new baby, a job change, a death in the family. The relationship is long-term.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) calls this role "Personal Financial Advisors" under code 13-2052. The median pay in 2024 was $99,580 per year. The top 10% earned over $208,000. Job growth is projected at 17% through 2033. That is much faster than average.

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What Licenses Do You Need to Become a Financial Advisor?

You cannot sell investments or give financial advice for pay without proper licensing. This is the biggest barrier for new advisors. But it is not hard. It just takes study time and passing exams.

Here are the main licenses and what they cover:

Securities Industry Essentials (SIE)

This is the entry exam. Anyone can take it without a firm sponsoring you. It covers the basics of securities markets, products, and regulations. Many people pass it in 4-6 weeks of study. The exam fee is $80.

Series 7 (General Securities Representative)

This lets you sell stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and options. You need a FINRA-member firm to sponsor you before you can sit for this exam. Most major firms will sponsor you when they hire you. The pass rate is around 72%. Study time is typically 6-10 weeks.

Series 66 (Uniform Combined State Law)

This combines the Series 63 and Series 65. It lets you act as both a securities agent and investment advisor representative. Most firms require it. You need your Series 7 first.

CFP (Certified Financial Planner)

This is not required to start. But it is the gold standard credential in financial planning. You need a bachelor's degree, 6,000 hours of professional experience (or 4,000 hours in an apprenticeship), and you must pass the CFP exam. Many veterans use the GI Bill to cover certification costs including CFP coursework.

Which Firms Hire Veterans as Financial Advisors?

Many of the biggest firms in financial services have veteran hiring programs. Some even have SkillBridge partnerships that let you start training before your separation date.

Here are firms that actively recruit veterans:

Large Wirehouses and Wealth Management Firms

• Edward Jones: One of the most veteran-friendly firms in the industry. They have a Military Veteran Support Team and a structured training program for new advisors. Over 19,000 branch offices. You run your own office from day one.
• Northwestern Mutual: Strong veteran hiring track record. They pair new advisors with mentors and offer a hybrid compensation model (salary plus commission during your first years).
• Morgan Stanley: Has a dedicated Military and Veterans Network. Offers a Financial Advisor Associate program with paid training and licensing support.
• Merrill Lynch (Bank of America): The Merrill Lynch Financial Advisor Development Program includes salary, bonuses, and full licensing support. Bank of America has a Military Affairs team.
• Ameriprise Financial: Offers a structured advisor development program. Has been recognized as a Military Friendly Employer multiple years running.

Insurance and Financial Planning Firms

• USAA: Built by and for military families. Financial advisor roles at USAA focus on serving the military community you already know.
• First Command Financial Services: Specifically serves military families. Many of their advisors are veterans. They provide training, licensing, and a built-in client base of military members.
• New York Life: Veteran hiring program with training stipends and mentorship. Their VETS (Veterans Employee Team and Support) employee resource group is active.

How Do You Position Your Military Experience on a Financial Advisor Resume?

Your resume for a financial advisor role needs to show two things. First, that you can build relationships and earn trust. Second, that you can handle numbers and follow a process.

You already have both. You just need to frame them the right way.

Here is what to put on your resume:

Leadership and team management. If you led a squad, platoon, or section, that is people management. Financial advisory firms want people who can lead client relationships the same way.

Budget and resource management. If you managed any kind of budget, equipment account, or supply chain, put numbers on it. "Managed a $2.4M annual operating budget with zero audit findings" tells a hiring manager you can handle money.

Training and mentoring. Did you train junior personnel? That translates to client education. Financial advisors spend a lot of time explaining things to people who do not understand finance.

Compliance and regulations. Military operations run on rules and procedures. Financial services run on SEC and FINRA regulations. Show that you operated in a regulated environment.

Use BMR's career crosswalk tool to find the exact civilian job titles that match your MOS, rating, or AFSC. Then tailor your resume to those titles.

How Much Do Financial Advisors Earn?

Compensation in financial advising varies a lot based on how you are paid and how long you have been building your client base.

Here is what to expect at each stage:

Year 1-2 (Training and Ramp-Up): Most firms pay a base salary during your first two years. This ranges from $40,000 to $75,000 depending on the firm and location. Some add bonuses for hitting milestones like passing exams or opening a certain number of accounts.

Year 3-5 (Building Your Book): Your compensation shifts more toward commission and fees. Total pay typically ranges from $70,000 to $120,000 as your client base grows.

Year 5+ (Established Advisor): Advisors with a solid book of business earn $100,000 to $200,000 or more. The BLS median of $99,580 includes advisors at all levels. Top performers at major firms earn well above $200,000.

Compare this to other veteran career paths. Nuclear power careers for Navy nukes pay well too. But financial advising has no ceiling on your income. The more clients you bring in, the more you earn. Your income is directly tied to your effort.

The compensation model matters when you choose a firm:

• Commission-based: You earn a percentage of each product you sell. Higher risk, higher reward.
• Fee-based: You charge clients a percentage of assets under management (AUM). More stable and growing in popularity.
• Salary plus bonus: Common during training programs. Lower upside but steady income while you learn.
• Hybrid: A mix of fees, commissions, and salary. Many firms use this for the first few years.

Can You Start This Career While Still on Active Duty?

Yes. And you should start preparing early. The military to civilian transition takes time. Starting 12-18 months before your separation date gives you the best shot.

Here is what you can do while still serving:

Pass the SIE exam. This is the one exam you can take without a firm sponsoring you. Do it while you still have a steady paycheck and structured time. The SIE does not expire, so pass it early and it is done.

Start networking. Connect with veteran financial advisors on LinkedIn. Join the Financial Planning Association (FPA) or the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA). Many have veteran member groups.

Research SkillBridge options. Some financial firms offer SkillBridge internships. Edward Jones and Northwestern Mutual have both participated. Check the current SkillBridge programs list to see what is available in financial services.

Use your GI Bill for CFP coursework. If you already have a bachelor's degree, you can use GI Bill benefits for CFP Board-registered education programs. Some universities offer these programs online.

Build your resume now. Do not wait until your last week in uniform. Use BMR's resume builder to translate your military experience into civilian terms. Paste a financial advisor job posting and get a tailored resume back.

What About the Veteran Advantage in Building a Client Base?

Building a "book of business" is the hardest part of being a new financial advisor. You start with zero clients. You have to find them, earn their trust, and convince them to let you manage their money.

Veterans have a built-in advantage here that civilian career-changers do not.

Your military network is massive. Every person you served with is a potential client or referral source. Veterans trust other veterans. When you reach out to a former platoon mate and say you are a financial advisor now, they listen. A civilian cold caller does not get that same reception.

Military families need financial help. TSP rollovers after separation. VA disability and how it affects taxes. SGLI to private insurance transitions. Pension versus lump sum decisions. These are real financial planning needs that your civilian competitors do not understand. You do.

Military communities are tight. One happy client at the VFW or on a veteran Facebook group becomes five referrals. Word of mouth in the military community moves fast. Do good work for one veteran and their spouse tells three friends.

Your credibility is automatic. When a retiring E-7 (SFC) sits down with a financial advisor who also served, the trust barrier drops immediately. You speak the same language. You understand their pay structure, their benefits, their concerns about starting over. That is something no CFP credential can replace.

Many successful veteran financial advisors specialize in serving military families. They build their entire practice around TSP management, VA benefit optimization, and military retirement planning. This niche is underserved and growing.

How Do You Prepare for Financial Advisor Interviews?

Financial advisor interviews are different from most job interviews. Firms are not just checking your qualifications. They are checking whether you can sell.

Expect these types of questions:

Your natural market. Who do you know? Firms want to hear that you have a list of people you can call on day one. Your military network is the answer. Be specific. "I served with over 200 people across three duty stations. Many are approaching retirement or recently separated and need financial planning help."

Your work ethic. Can you handle rejection? Cold calling? Working evenings when clients are free? Tell them about the hardest thing you did in the military. Not a war story. A grind story. The deployment where you worked 16-hour days for seven months straight. That is what they want to hear.

Your motivation. Why financial advising? The right answer ties your military experience to helping people with their money. "I spent my career protecting people. Now I want to protect their financial future." Keep it simple and real.

Your plan. How will you build your book in the first year? Have a real answer. "I will start with my military network. I will attend veteran events in the area. I will join the local FPA chapter." Firms want to know you have thought about this.

Practice your answers before the interview. Check out the most common veteran interview questions to prepare for the general questions too.

What If Financial Advising Is Not the Right Fit?

Financial advising is great for veterans who are comfortable with sales and building relationships from scratch. But it is not for everyone.

If the commission-based sales model does not appeal to you, there are related roles in finance that use the same skills without the prospecting pressure:

• Financial analyst: More analytical, less sales. You research companies, markets, and investment opportunities. Many federal agencies hire financial analysts at the GS-9 to GS-13 level.
• Bank manager or branch manager: You run a team and manage operations. Your leadership experience maps directly to this role.
• Compliance officer: Financial firms need people to ensure they follow regulations. Your military background in accountability and procedures is a strong match.
• Insurance underwriter: You assess risk and make decisions. If you were in military intelligence or operations planning, the analytical thinking is similar.
• Financial counselor (non-profit): Organizations like Military OneSource and Armed Forces Legal Assistance need financial counselors for service members. This lets you serve the community without a sales quota.

Use BMR's MOS to civilian job match tool to see which roles line up with your specific background. And check the enlisted to civilian career transition guide for a full breakdown of how to plan your move regardless of which direction you choose.

Your Next Step

Financial advising is one of the strongest career matches for veterans. The pay is real. The job growth is strong. And the skills you built in uniform are exactly what this industry needs.

Start with the SIE exam. Research firms that hire veterans. Build your resume around trust, numbers, and people skills.

If you need help translating your military experience for a financial advisor application, BMR's resume builder does it for free. Paste the job posting, upload your experience, and get a tailored resume back. 17,500+ veterans have used it. It works.