When we speak with Financial Planners, we often ask them to consider this:  sell more, earn more.  If you are spending your valuable client time on paperwork, tracking down requirements, and dealing with administrative issues, what opportunities are you missing?

Enter the Financial Services Virtual Assistant.

This individual often works as the right-hand to the Financial Planner they work for.  Provided the VA has the proper skills and training, this can be a 100% win-win situation for both parties involved. It is just a matter of getting started and arming yourself with all the knowledge you need to begin what could be your dream career!

Here are 4 snippets of helpful tips to begin your journey!

1.  How to begin your career as a Financial Services Virtual Assistant

There is great potential for learning and a career path as a VA in the financial services field. Because VA’s are flexible, we can offer Financial Planners a variety of packages or hours to accommodate their business needs. We can be the right arm and go-to person for a Financial Planner, a position that is deemed incredibly valuable by today’s busy planner. As a VA, having a basic knowledge of the financial services industry makes you highly appealing to Financial Planners looking to hire an Assistant. This way, they save their time and energy by not having to train you on the basics of their field. To gain this knowledge, check out training courses offered by LOMA and the American College.

2.  Required Skills

On top of possessing basic knowledge of the financial services industry, it is also crucial to have a skill set that makes you beneficial to the Financial Planner. Experience dealing with Microsoft Office Suite and CRM’s are typical requirements that brush only the top of the skill set necessary for most VA roles. Let’s also not forget that a wonderful personality and the ability to deal with clients in a professional and courteous manner are important! You are an essential element to the Financial Planner offering high-touch service to their clients, so it is very important to them that you properly reflect their values and quality of service in all your communications.

3.  Job Outlook

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the number of Financial Planner positions is expected to increase by 32% from 2010 to 2020, which is much higher than the average growth rate of 14% expected for all occupations as a whole. It is safe to say that this increase will lead to an increased demand for Financial Planner Assistants as well. The clearly rising demand for VA’s in this field will increase job security for individuals who fill these roles, especially for those who possess the training and skillset that make them highly employable.

4.  The Demand for Services

There are many reasons why Financial Planners are motivated to outsource to Virtual Assistants. One of these reasons is that by hiring someone on a part-time, as-needed basis, they save money by not having to pay for employee benefits or a full-time salary. This is especially attractive to planners who may not have enough work for a full-time employee. It is a great substitute for them. Money can also be saved because they do not need to have an office space for their Assistant, or to invest in a computer, phone, or other supplies for them since VA’s work from home using their own equipment.

For additional information about a career as a VA in Financial Services, please visit our website. You do not need a financial services background to be a VA in this field, there are many training programs that can augment your administrative/virtual administrative skills! We are currently offering a FREE membership for those who would like to join this online directory of VA’s.  This directory is a place for Financial Planners throughout the industry to find a VA who has already been pre-qualified through our application and interview process and will be a perfect fit for them. This is a wonderful place for VA’s to receive free advertising for your services to Financial Planners.

Contributed by Doreen Patrick – Visit her website for more information on becoming a Financial Services Assistant