Financial services are economic services provided by the finance industry, which encompasses a broad range of service sector firms that provide financial management, including credit unions, banks, credit-card companies, insurance agencies, and investment funds. These firms offer a variety of products and services, such as investing, lending, saving, and spending money. Financial services also include the provision of reinsurance and insurance, such as protection against death (life insurance), or against property loss or damage (auto, home, health, and renters’ insurance).
A large number of benefits accompany a career in financial services, from excellent pay to flexible schedules. In addition, many companies are highly invested in the advancement of their employees, promoting aptitude over tenure and offering continuous on-the-job training opportunities to ensure their team members have the best tools available for success.
Due to the high demand for their products, many of these firms are known for offering a more diverse set of offerings than traditionally categorized as “banks.” As a result, the lines that once separated the different sectors have become increasingly blurred, and some financial conglomerates specialize in several areas of the industry, such as banking, insurance, investment management, and mortgage services.
The skills needed to succeed in a financial services job vary by position, but generally speaking, it’s important to possess a solid foundation of hard and soft skills. Strong math and data analysis are necessary for certain roles, as is the ability to understand complicated documents and communicate that information clearly. Finally, strong interpersonal skills are crucial to the industry; people often work in teams or closely with customers and clients, so it’s important to be able to collaborate effectively.