The world of high finance can be one of highs and lows and abstract numbers, but can also be a chance to help people in need of advice. Despite difficult economic times, careers in finance are paying off well in 2009, according to a survey by financial research company Cerulli Associates. Salaries for financial advisors have gone up in 2009, driven primarily by education and a greater focus on client interaction, according to their study. Financial advisors provide guidance to businesses, families and individuals about their investment decisions. The ability to help people with their lives was cited as a major source of satisfaction for the advisors in the survey. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that as financial markets grow more complex and an aging population retires amidst a difficult economic situation, there will be massive growth in the job market for personal financial advisors. From 2006 to 2016, the number of such jobs is predicted to rise from 176,000 to 248,000, a growth of 41%, substantially faster than the national average for all jobs during that time.  |