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Investment adviser

Also called RIA, investment manager, investment advisor

Investment advisers are professionals who offer transparent advice by recommending suitable solutions on financial matters to their clients. They advise on investing pension or free funds in securities such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds and exchange-traded funds to customers. Investment advisers serve individuals, households, families and owners of small companies.

Will there be jobs?Yes, good prospects57 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Business and administration professionalsWhat does it pay?Above averageFrom about €2,000 (Bulgaria) to €7,100 (Luxembourg) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Business and administration professionalsWhat do I need to study?Usually a degree8 in 10 have a degree.Business and administration professionalsWill AI change it?SignificantlyLevel 5 of 6. AI could take on part of most tasks, but none fully.Financial and investment advisers · ILO

What you'd do

Financial and investment advisers · ILO
  • Building and maintaining a client base
  • Interviewing clients to determine financial status and objectives, risk tolerance and other information needed to develop financial plans and investment strategies
  • Setting financial objectives, and developing and implementing strategies for achieving the financial objectives
  • Arranging to buy and sell stocks and bonds for clients
  • Monitoring investment performance, and reviewing and revising investment plans based on modified needs and changes in markets
  • Recommending and arranging insurance cover for clients
Interpret financial statementsReview investment portfoliosAnalyse financial riskAdvise on financial mattersMonitor stock market+ 10 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • Sitting most of the day
  • Lots of contact with people, including the public
  • Good freedom to decide
  • Often more than 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines most weeks
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Personal Financial Advisors"

Will there be jobs?

Yes, good prospects

Many jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as business and administration professionals in the EU
6.65m9.73m13.35m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
2,909,000 new jobs 3,080,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Business and administration professionals57
All jobs29
Right now
3 of 27 countries report a shortage of financial and investment advisers, 5 a surplus.
Financial and investment advisers · EURES

What does it pay?

Above average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €2,000 a month (Bulgaria) to €7,100 (Luxembourg), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among professionals in the EU, women earn 21% less per hour than men. Professionals · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Usually a degree

A degree in finance, banking and insurance is the usual route.

Highest qualification of business and administration professionals (EU, 2025)
Degree 81%Vocational 11%General secondary 6%Basic schooling 2%
Field that teaches it
Finance, banking and insurance
Vocational route, EU
3 in 10 trainees in this field
Business and law graduates in a matching job
66% in the EU

1,314 institutions in the EU offer business and law bachelor's degrees. Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Significantly

AI could take on part of most tasks, but none fully.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.57 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 6 tasks
Arranging to buy and sell stocks and bonds for clients0.66
Recommending and arranging insurance cover for clients0.65
Interviewing clients to determine financial status and objectives, risk tolerance and other information needed to develop financial plans and investment strategies0.64
Monitoring investment performance, and reviewing and revising investment plans based on modified needs and changes in markets0.62
Setting financial objectives, and developing and implementing strategies for achieving the financial objectives0.49
Building and maintaining a client base0.39

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for financial and investment advisers. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).