Centre for Career and Personal Development Degree Profiles

These degree profiles look at potential jobs, key skills & atributes, associations & professional development and great books which relate to each degree and its potential career path.

Personal Financial Planning

Personal financial planning focuses on helping individuals and families manage their money, plan for the future, and make informed financial decisions.

Financial planners work closely with clients to assess their current financial situation and develop personalized strategies for budgeting, saving, investing, insurance, taxes, and retirement. This field combines technical knowledge of financial products and regulations with strong interpersonal skills to support long-term financial well-being. As a personal financial planner, you could work in banking, investment advising, insurance, or independent consulting—helping clients achieve financial security and confidence at every stage of life.

Key Skills & Knowledge

Financial Analysis & Budgeting: Ability to assess income, expenses, and financial goals to create effective personal and household budgets.

Investment Planning: Understanding of investment vehicles such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and ETFs, including risk assessment and portfolio diversification.

Retirement & Pension Planning: Knowledge of retirement savings strategies, pension plans (e.g., RRSPs, TFSAs), and long-term income planning.

Tax Planning: Understanding of personal taxation, deductions, credits, and strategies to optimize after-tax income.

Insurance & Risk Management: Ability to evaluate personal risk and recommend appropriate life, health, disability, and property insurance products.

Estate Planning: Familiarity with wills, trusts, power of attorney, and strategies for wealth transfer and minimizing estate taxes.

Ethics & Regulatory Compliance: Understanding of industry ethics, fiduciary responsibilities, and compliance with Canadian financial regulations and standards (e.g., FP Canada).

Client Relationship Management: Strong interpersonal and communication skills for building trust, gathering client information, and delivering tailored financial advice.

Use of Financial Planning Tools: Proficiency in financial planning software, spreadsheets, and tools for scenario analysis and plan development.

Sample Job Titles

Please note some of these positions may require further training, certification or education. Check out the occupational profiles to review the full details for the occupations that interest you at alis.alberta.ca/occinfo


Financial Planner	Investment Advisor	Financial Analyst
Credit Counselor	Banking/Investment Manager	Financial Customer Service Representative
Credit/Loans Manager	Financial Manager	Personal Banker

Potential Industries


Banks & Credit Unions	Financial Technology (FinTech) Firms	Pension & Retirement Planning Services
Credit Counseling Agencies	Government Financial Services	Regulatory & Compliance Agencies
Education & Financial Literacy Non-Profits	Insurance Companies	Tax Planning & Consulting Firms
Estate & Trust Services	Investment Advisory Firms	Wealth Management Companies
Financial Planning Firms	Mortgage & Lending Institutions	Accounting & Auditing Firms