How Many Financial Advisors Are in the U.S.? | Finance Strategists (2024)

Financial Advisors in the U.S. Overview

Financial advisors are professionals who help clients manage their finances. According to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data, there are around 330,300 financial advisors employed in the country.

The latest available demographics and statistics of such profession show the following:

  • There are more men than women in the financial advisor profession.
  • An employed financial advisor is 44 years old on average.
  • The most dominant ethnicity among them is white.
  • The average salary is $94,170 per year or $45.27 per hour.
  • Finance advisors are 48% more likely to work for a private company than a public company.
  • The highest-paying states for financial advisors are New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, the District of Columbia, and Virginia.
  • It is estimated that 35% of Americans consult with a financial advisor.

Understanding the current landscape of financial advisors in the U.S. can help make informed decisions when finding financial advice. Financial advisors are valuable assets in the management of personal and business finances.

Gender Statistics for Financial Advisors

According to Zippia, 72% of financial advisors are male, and 28% are female.

Data also show that males earn higher than females in this profession.

The average annual income of female financial advisors is $58,316. In comparison, that of male financial advisors is $68,662.

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Race Statistics for Financial Advisors

White is the most prevalent ethnicity among financial advisors, accounting for 76.5% of the population. In comparison, 8.6% are Asian, and 7.6% are Hispanic or Latino, followed by African Americans comprising 5.1%.

The minority comprises unrecognized ethnicities, American Indians, and Alaska Natives.

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There is a considerable wage gap among different ethnic backgrounds. Financial advisors from an unknown racial background have the average highest salaries, earning $68,312 per year.

Following closely in the statistics are the Asians at $67,128 per year and white advisors at $65,983. African Americans earn at least $53,785 annually.

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Average Age of a Financial Advisor

The average age of financial advisors in the United States is 44 years old, with the 62% majority being above 40 years old.

Financial advisors aged 30 to 40 represent 27% of the population, and young financial advisors aged 20 to 30 make up 10%.

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Financial Advisors by Education

Most financial advisors hold a bachelor's degree as their highest level of education, with 74% obtaining one. In addition, 12% have a master's degree, and the rest possess an associate degree, high school diploma, and other kinds of degrees.

The level of education affects a financial advisor’s overall cost. The higher the level of education, the higher the salary. Those with a doctorate earn the most at $86,634 annually, followed by those with a master's degree at $76,666.

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Statistics on Financial Advisor Employment

Most financial advisors work in securities, commodity contracts, other financial investments, and related activities in industry accounting. Such accounts for 19.98% of industry employment

The next most significant sector, far behind at 2.2%, is credit intermediation and related activities.

The rest of the financial advisors work in agencies, brokerages, other insurance, and related activities.

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Statistics on Financial Advisor Turnover and Unemployment

A review of 33,322 financial advisor resumés by BLS indicated that 42% of financial advisors stay at their job for approximately 1-2 years. 20% of financial advisors look for another job in less than a year. Only 6% were employed in the same place for more than 11 years.

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Generally, the trend of unemployment for financial advisors has been decreasing. The trend indicates an increase in job opportunities for financial advisors. In 2010, the unemployment rate was 3.85%, and data from 2019 shows that it is at 1.59%.

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Average Annual Salary of a Financial Advisor

The latest available data shows that the average annual salary of a financial advisor in the U.S. is $94,170. The highest 10% earning financial advisor receives more than $208,000, while the lowest 10% earns less than $47,570.

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The top-paying industry is where most financial advisors are employed. Most are engaged in securities, commodity contracts, other financial investments, and related activities. The average annual wage is $99,970.

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Financial Advisor Job Outlook

The job outlook for financial advisors is positive. The projected growth rate for financial advisors from 2022 to 2032 is 13%, much higher than the average of all occupations. This indicates that more financial advisors will be needed to serve a growing population.

Over the next decade, the average number of opportunities for personal financial advisors is expected to be around 30,500. The anticipated growth can result from the need to replace people who change occupations or leave the labor force, such as retiring.

Final Thoughts

Financial advisors are professionals who help clients manage their finances. There is a growing demand for the profession. The Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that more than 330,300 financial advisors are employed in the United States.

Statistics show that they came from different backgrounds regarding gender, age, race, and education. The trend of turnover and unemployment and the diversity of financial advisors is encouraging as it opens many job opportunities.

Given the increase in demand, financial advisors can expect to have many opportunities in the near future. The latest available average salary is $94,170, and the job outlook for this profession is expected to be positive in the upcoming years with a 15% growth rate.

The number of financial advisors will continue to increase as people become more aware of the importance of managing their finances and the industry continues to expand. With the proper guidance, investors can make sound decisions and grow their wealth.

How Many Financial Advisors Are in the U.S.? FAQs

According to the 2021 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, there are more than 330,300 financial advisors employed in the United States with an increasing number projected over the next decade.

It is estimated that in the United States, 35% of people have a financial advisor. This indicates that almost one for every three of the population has sought advice from a professional financial advisor in managing their finances and investments.

The financial advisor industry is estimated to be $59.7 billion in 2023. Financial advisors have been playing a crucial role in providing advice and guidance to individuals and businesses to make wise financial decisions.

The mean age of financial advisors 44, with 62% being over 40; 27% falling within the thirty to forty-year range and 10% comprising those aged twenty to thirty.

New York is the highest-paying state in the U.S. for financial advisors, with an average salary of $158,040. This is nearly 67% higher than the national average salary of $94,170. Other top-paying states include the District of Columbia, $156,670 and Washington, $144,890.

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About the Author

True Tamplin, BSc, CEPF®

True Tamplin is a published author, public speaker, CEO of UpDigital, and founder of Finance Strategists.

True is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance (CEPF®), author of The Handy Financial Ratios Guide, a member of the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing, contributes to his financial education site, Finance Strategists, and has spoken to various financial communities such as the CFA Institute, as well as university students like his Alma mater, Biola University, where he received a bachelor of science in business and data analytics.

To learn more about True, visit his personal website or view his author profiles on Amazon, Nasdaq and Forbes.

How Many Financial Advisors Are in the U.S.? | Finance Strategists (2024)

FAQs

How many financial advisors are there in the USA? ›

According to the 2021 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, there are more than 330,300 financial advisors employed in the United States with an increasing number projected over the next decade.

What is the difference between a financial advisor and a financial strategist? ›

Financial strategists may work with individuals or advise organizations on investments and other financial activities. Financial advisers typically focus on working with individuals to develop and work toward their personal financial goals.

What are the statistics of financial advisors? ›

Approximately 70% of advisors are men. Whites account for 70-80% of the profession, with Asian, Latino and Black advisors each representing 5-10% of the workforce. Over 60% of advisors are 40 years or older. Most financial advisors hold bachelor's degrees, often in business, finance or economics.

How many RIAs are there in the US? ›

Generally, the clients of RIAs can be individuals, institutions, or pooled investment vehicles. The number of RIAs has been increasing annually, with there being approximately 14,800 registered investment advisors employed in the United States in 2021.

Who are the biggest financial advisors in us? ›

Most investors will be able to find what suits their investment needs within the offerings of these firms.
  1. BlackRock. BlackRock (BLK) is the largest investment firm in the world. ...
  2. Vanguard. ...
  3. Fidelity Investments. ...
  4. State Street Global Advisors. ...
  5. J.P. Morgan Asset Management.

Who are the top 5 financial advisors? ›

2024 RankNameFirm
1Michael WarrMorgan Stanley Private Wealth Management
2Tony SmithStonegate Investment Group
3Christopher ComptonStonegate Investment Group
4Brian WoodkeMerrill Wealth Management
22 more rows

Do financial advisors make 6 figures? ›

The prospect of earning a six-figure income is a significant draw for many professionals considering a career as a financial advisor. It's important to recognize that while some financial advisors do achieve this income level, it is by no means a guaranteed salary.

What type of financial advisor makes the most money? ›

High Paying Financial Planner Jobs
  • Investment Consultant. Salary range: $97,500-$155,000 per year. ...
  • Senior Wealth Advisor. Salary range: $112,000-$147,500 per year. ...
  • Financial Advisor. ...
  • Portfolio Manager. ...
  • Private Wealth Advisor. ...
  • Certified Financial Planner. ...
  • Financial Planning Consultant. ...
  • Pension Consultant.

What is a strategic finance advisor? ›

Role summary. The Strategic Finance Advisor is an important role within HILS' Finance Team. It will help to sustain and shape our recent, rapid growth and support the Executive Team with setting the strategy of the Finance function of the organisation.

What do the top 1 of financial advisors make? ›

In May 2023, Financial Planning listed Edward Jones as the number one firm for Best Advisor Pay for $2M, $1M and $600K producers and second for the $400K producer.

Who monitors the largest financial advisors? ›

The SEC regulates investment advisers who manage $110 million or more in client assets, while state securities regulators have jurisdiction over advisers who manage up to $100 million.

What is the failure rate of financial advisors? ›

That position will allow other advisors in the area to go after your clients and pick them off with their marketing efforts. 5. The Statistics: 80-90% of financial advisors fail and close their firm within the first three years of business. This means only 10-20% of financial advisors are ultimately successful.

What is the largest RIA in the US? ›

Leading RIA firms in the United States 2023, by AUM

As of December 2023, Cambridge Associates, LLC was the largest registered investment advisory firm in the United States by assets under management. The assets under management (AUM) of Cambridge Associates LLC amounted to 294 billion U.S. dollars.

What is the average size of an RIA firm? ›

The report identified at least 21 RIAs with an average account size over $100 million, as well as an overall mean client balance of $2.7 million and median of $386,646 across the thousands of firms.

How do RIAs make money? ›

Paid much like mutual fund managers, RIAs usually earn their revenue through a management fee consisting of a percentage of assets held for a client.

How big is the financial advisory market in the US? ›

18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Financial Advisory Services Market was valued at USD 94.8 Billion in 2022 and is expected to reach USD 157.7 Billion by 2032 at a CAGR of 5.3%.

What percent of millionaires have financial advisors? ›

The study reveals that 70% of millionaires work with a financial advisor, compared to just 37% of the general population. Moreover, over half (53%) of wealthy individuals consider their financial advisors their most trusted source of financial advice.

How old is the average financial advisor? ›

According to various studies and publications, the average age of financial advisors is somewhere between 51 and 55 years, with 38% expecting to retire in the next ten years.

How much do financial advisors make us? ›

As far as experience goes: The average salary of financial advisors with 1-2 years of experience in the U.S. is $63,210 while those with over 10 years of experience earn over $107,068 per year. Glassdoor: According to Glassdoor, the average salary of a financial advisor is $118,385 yearly.

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