(NewsUSA) - The best career is one that gives you so much personal satisfaction that you’d gladly do it without pay. But don’t worry; you won’t be working for free if you become a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^™ professional. In fact, the pay is high, with experienced advisors earning an average of $192,000 a year. And the demand for talented and skilled CFP^® professionals is greater than ever. The benefits of becoming a financial planner go well beyond the financial rewards and include the following:

Working With People: Financial planning is a people business that succeeds by building trusting relationships with clients. It’s a great feeling when you help someone reach their financial goals!

Setting Your Own Schedule: Many financial planners enjoy the flexibility to balance career and home life. The more life you experience, the more well-rounded a CFP^® professional you become, and the more value you bring to your employer and clients.

Growing in an Expanding Industry: The U.S. government predicts that personal financial advice careers will grow 15% a year through 2031, far faster than other occupations. 

Sounds interesting, doesn’t it? But how do you become a CFP^® professional?

Your road to becoming a CFP^® professional starts with a bachelor’s degree. It can be in any major at any accredited college or university. Once you have that diploma in hand, you’ve fulfilled one of the two education requirements toward becoming a CFP^® professional. Next, you’ll complete coursework through a CFP Board Registered Program.

Or you could earn your degree from a CFP Board Registered Program. With more than 300 registered programs to choose from, you have lots of options to find the program that makes the most sense for you. After you pass your coursework, you’ll take the CFP^® exam.

The exam is tough, but you don’t have to navigate this path alone. The most successful athletes and entertainers had a mentor who guided them from the beginning. So can you. You can find a CFP^® professional mentor who is ready to help and support you as you prepare for the CFP^® exam. Mentors can help you focus on time management, study strategy, staying motivated, dealing with work/life balance and more. By connecting with a mentor, you can gain valuable insights from your mentor’s own experience preparing for and passing the CFP^® exam.

As you graduate high school, who knows what adventures lie ahead for you? One of them can be an exciting and rewarding career as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^™ professional. Learn more today!