Retirement Planners

High School

Take as many business and mathematics courses in high school as possible. Speech classes will help you hone your oral communication skills, while English classes will give you the basics necessary to write reports for your clients.

Postsecondary Training

A bachelor's degree is generally the basic requirement for a career in retirement planning. Most retirement planners and other financial advisers hold degrees in accounting, business, finance, mathematics, law, or economics, as these directly relate to the type of work that planners do. Courses in taxes, estate planning, and risk management are especially helpful. You should also be sure to take classes in communication and public speaking, as interacting with clients is the cornerstone of this business. Good computer skills are also a must.

Certification

The Financial Planning Association (FPA) offers a 12-week, online Elder Planning Specialist Program. The weekly schedule includes the following (which includes a one-week break): Understanding the Aging Process and the Caregiver's Role Week; Diversity and Aging and Insights into Retirees 85 and Older; Legal Issues of Aging; Increasing Approaches to Planning for Extended or Long-term Care; Social Security and Medicare Planning; End of Life Planning/Ethical Wills; Diminished Capacity/Elder Abuse; Family Meeting; Building a Team/Marketing; Presentation Review and Discussion; and Presentation of Elder Plans. Participants receive a certificate of completion. The FPA also offers a cybersecurity for financial planners certificate and other certificates. Visit https://fpalearning.onefpa.org for more information. Colleges and universities also provide certificates in financial planning and related fields.

Other Education or Training

Keeping up with industry developments is key to success as a retirement planner. Professional associations often provide continuing education opportunities. For example, the Financial Planning Association offers continuing education (CE) classes, workshops, webinars, and seminars on communication and organizational skills, sales and marketing, and business and practice management. The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors also offers CE opportunities. Contact these organizations for more information.