There was an error. Please try again.
This page is already listed in your guide. Please choose a different page to add.
Financial Advisor, Financial Consultant, Personal Financial Planner, Personal Financial Services Specialist, Qualified Associate Financial Planner
In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.
The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used.
Here is how this occupation has been classified over time.
2006 NOC
2006 NOC-S
2011 NOC
2016 NOC
2021 NOC
2023 OaSIS
Financial planners create plans for clients to achieve their financial goals. They explain and compare financial products such as mutual funds, insurance, or other securities. They help clients:
Some clients put financial plans into effect themselves. Others choose to have financial planners put the plans into effect for them. To carry out the plan, financial planners may work with or refer clients to other financial services or professionals such as:
Financial planners also:
Some financial planners conduct seminars and workshops about:
Some offer financial advice to the public. They write columns for newspapers or appear on television or radio shows.
Financial planners may work alone or with others. They may work in fully equipped offices or from home. Many financial planners travel to meetings at clients’ homes or businesses.
They may work evenings and weekends as well as regular office hours.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2023 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
To find out how well this occupation fits your work personality types, complete the Work Personalities Quiz in Find Your Fit.
Click or tap a personality type for its description.
Find other alis occupations that match this occupation’s work personalities.
To identify or change your work personalities, complete the Work Personalities Quiz in Find Your Fit.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2023 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Financial advisors
2023 OaSIS: 11102.00
The graph below shows how well your scores match the overall abilities for this occupation.
The closer your ability scores are to the center, the more they match this occupation’s. The further away they are, the less they match this occupation’s.
The lower your ability scores are compared to the occupation’s, the more challenging the occupation will likely be for you. The higher your ability scores are compared to the occupation’s, the less challenging the occupation will likely be for you.
To find out how well this occupation fits your abilities, complete the Abilities Quiz in Find Your Fit.
The 49 abilities are grouped into 5 abilities sets: Critical Thinking, Numbers and Patterns, Physical Activity, Mind-Body Coordination, and Senses.
Some abilities are more relevant to an occupation than other abilities. Individual abilities that are not relevant to an occupation are greyed out.
To fill in or change the values for your abilities, complete the Abilities Quiz in Find Your Fit.
Critical Thinking includes 9 abilities related to identifying and solving problems, thinking of ideas, and communication, such as speaking and writing.
This is how well your scores match the set of Critical Thinking abilities for this occupation:
Numbers and Patterns includes 10 abilities related to math, memorizing, and multitasking. It also includes how we perceive patterns, shapes, and distances.
This is how well your scores match the set of Numbers and Patterns abilities for this occupation:
Physical Activity includes 9 abilities related to strength, balance, flexibility, coordination, and endurance.
This is how well your scores match the set of Physical Activity abilities for this occupation:
Mind-Body Coordination includes 9 abilities related to movement control and how we react to signals. It also includes fine motor skills, such finger and hand dexterity and hand-eye coordination.
This is how well your scores match the set of Mind-Body Coordination abilities for this occupation:
Senses includes 12 abilities related to seeing, hearing, and speaking.
This is how well your scores match the set of Senses abilities for this occupation:
Financial planners need:
They should enjoy:
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 82 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Nov 28, 2021 and Dec 20, 2025.
Review these skills to learn:
| Tasks: Analyze clients' financial records | 61 |
|---|---|
| Tasks: Identify clients' financial goals and objectives | 60 |
| Tasks: Develop financial plans for clients | 58 |
| Tasks: Make recommendations concerning cash management, insurance coverage, investment planning, retirement and estate planning | 54 |
| Attention to detail | 46 |
| Construction Specialization: Effective interpersonal skills | 40 |
| Construction Specialization: Excellent oral communication | 40 |
| Tasks: Arrange for sale of financial products and investments | 39 |
| Construction Specialization: Excellent written communication | 37 |
| Construction Specialization: Organized | 36 |
There are no minimum admission requirements. However, experience in the financial industry is recommended. Those who wish to earn the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation need a bachelor’s degree.
Candidates may further their education by attending classes at designated universities and colleges. They may also take courses through distance education or via the Internet. For example, they can take Canadian Securities Institute courses.
The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.
To expand or narrow your program options, visit Post-Secondary Programs and start your search with:
Completing a program does not guarantee entrance into an occupation. Before enrolling in an education program, prospective students should look into various sources for education options and employment possibilities. For example, contact associations and employers in this field.
Certified Financial Planner (CFP) certification is becoming a standard requirement for most financial planning roles at financial institutions. Many job postings list the CFP as a requirement, especially for positions working with high net-worth clients.
FP Canada (formerly the Financial Planning Standards Council) offers the CFP certification. To apply, applicants must:
For details about requirements, visit FP Canada.
Under Alberta’s Securities Act [pdf], you must be registered with the Alberta Securities Commission (ASC) to deal in, advise on, and manage funds and securities.
Financial planners need to complete specific courses depending on the financial products they handle:
Additional courses and training may be required after obtaining certain licences.
For details, visit the ASC and Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) websites.
Certain professional titles or duties within this occupation are protected by provincial legislation. Requirements vary if you use these titles or perform these duties.
The related legislation is shown below. If there are multiple related legislations, select a certification heading to learn about each one.
Insurance agents assess people’s financial needs and advise them on how to protect themselves against financial loss. They may represent insurance companies directly or as independent representatives. They sell life, property, casualty, automobile, or health insurance policies to individuals, businesses, or public institutions.
Under Alberta’s Insurance Act [pdf] and Insurance Agents and Adjusters Regulation [pdf], you must be licensed by the Alberta Insurance Council (AIC) to sell insurance in Alberta.
For information on what you need and other details, visit the certification profile Insurance Agent.
Financial planners can also pursue other designations:
To learn about designation requirements, visit the organization’s website.
Source: 2021-2025 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Some financial planners work at small financial planning businesses. Some choose self-employment. Others work full-time or contract their services to larger firms and organizations such as:
Experienced financial planners may specialize in a particular aspect of financial planning, such as retirement planning or wealth management. They may also move into supervisory or management positions in larger companies or professional associations.
This section shows the industries where the majority of people in this occupation work. The data is based on the 2016 Census.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
Other financial officers
2016 NOC: 1114
82.9% of people in this occupational group work in:
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.
This section shows the Alberta job market condition, or short-term demand forecast, for this occupation over a 3-year period. It also shows the number of people employed in the occupation.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
Source: 2024-2026 Alberta Short-Term Employment Forecast
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.
To see data for all occupations, visit Occupations in Demand.
This section shows the employment outlook for this occupation in Alberta over a 5-year period.
Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
Source: 2021-2025 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Annual growth is from 2021 to 2025. New positions created each year are in addition to job openings created by employment turnover.
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.
Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.
Self-employed financial planners may charge fees for their services, earn commissions on the products they sell, or both.
Fee-for-service planners charge hourly or provide a quote for a full plan. They may base the quote on the complexity of the plan or the value of a client’s assets.
Commission planners receive commissions for selling specific financial products or referring clients to specific professionals or companies.
Financial planners who work at larger financial institutions typically earn salaries.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Unless otherwise noted, the data shown here is for all industries and all regions in Alberta.
All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production), and other forms of compensation.
To see the full survey data for this NOC group, visit the wage profile.
Other wage sources
To make an informed wage and salary decision, research other wage sources to supplement this data.
Lower Reliability, represents a CV of between 15.01% and 33.00% and/or if fewer than 20 survey observations and/or if survey observations represent less than 33% of all estimated employment for the occupation.
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting | $24.04 | $51.28 | $31.77 | $30.70 |
| Overall | $28.20 | $76.92 | $41.13 | $33.96 |
| Top | $31.25 | $115.38 | $48.26 | $36.41 |
Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.
* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.
Pay brackets for hourly wages
| ALL INDUSTRIES | $81,673 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturing | $74,803 |
| Wholesale Trade | $99,393 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $93,226 |
| Information, Culture, Recreation | $66,825 |
| Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, Leasing | $79,152 |
| Professional, Scientific & Technical Services | $78,660 |
| Public Administration | $93,604 |
Advocis (The Financial Advisors Association of Canada) website: myadvocis.ca
Canadian Securities Institute (CSI) website: www.csi.ca
Financial Planning Association of Canada website: www.fpassociation.ca
FP Canada (formerly Financial Planning Standards Council) website: www.fpcanada.ca
Institute of Advanced Financial Planners (IAFP) website: www.iafp.ca
The Canadian Institute of Financial Planners (CIFPs) website: www.cifps.ca
The Canadian Institute of Financial Planning (CIFP) distance learning website: www.cifp.ca
The Institute for Advanced Financial Education website: iafe.ca
The Investment Funds Institute of Canada (IFIC) distance learning website: www.ifse.ca
Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.
Updated Mar 31, 2022. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.
