What is the Future Financial Professionals Program?
Future Financial Professionals is a live, 90-minute career exploration experience for students and aspiring professionals who want to learn what a career in insurance and financial services is really like. You’ll hear directly from professionals working in the field, explore different career paths, and have the opportunity to ask questions in real time.
Why should I register?
Because there is only so much you can learn about a career from a course catalog, job posting, or website. Future Financial Professionals gives you direct access to people who have built successful careers in financial services—and the chance to learn how they got there, what they’ve learned along the way, and what they would tell someone just starting out.
Whether you are seriously considering financial services or simply exploring your options, you’ll leave with a clearer picture of the opportunities available.
Is there a cost to participate?
No. Future Financial Professionals is completely free for both students and participating colleges and universities. There is no registration fee or cost to attend. NAIFA created the program to give students direct access to financial services professionals and real-world career insights at no cost to them or their schools.
What will I learn?
Every session is different, but you can expect to learn about the many career paths within financial services, what professionals actually do day to day, how they got started, the skills that helped them succeed, and the challenges and opportunities new professionals should understand.
You’ll also hear about topics you may not encounter in the classroom—from building relationships and earning clients’ trust to entrepreneurship, leadership, and building your own practice.
Who will present?
Future Financial Professionals sessions feature accomplished NAIFA members working across the insurance and financial services profession. Depending on the session, presenters may include financial advisors and planners, insurance professionals, wealth managers, retirement specialists, employee benefits professionals, business owners, firm leaders, and other industry specialists.
Most importantly, they are people who can tell you what the career is actually like because they are doing the work every day.
Will I hear from more than one professional?
Yes. Future Financial Professionals is designed to expose you to different experiences and perspectives. Participating professionals may have taken very different routes into financial services, built different types of careers, or specialized in different areas. Hearing those perspectives can help you discover opportunities you may not have considered.
Is there a live Q&A?
Yes, and it is an important part of the experience. Future Financial Professionals is designed to be interactive, so you’ll have an opportunity to ask participating professionals your own questions. Wondering how they found their first job? What they wish they had known in college? How they built a client base? What they like or find challenging about the profession? Ask them!
Do I need to be a finance or financial planning major?
No. While Future Financial Professionals is a natural fit for students studying finance, business, economics, financial planning, insurance, or risk management, students from other academic backgrounds are welcome.
Financial services needs people with a wide range of talents, from analytical and business skills to communication, relationship-building, leadership, and entrepreneurship.
What if I don't know exactly what I want to do yet?
Then you are exactly the kind of person Future Financial Professionals was created for. You do not need to arrive with a career plan. The program is an opportunity to explore, ask questions, and begin identifying which careers and which parts of the profession might fit your interests and strengths.
Is this a recruiting session?
No. Future Financial Professionals isn't a job interview or a recruiting presentation. It's a career exploration experience designed to give you candid, real-world insight into the profession. You may discover a career path you want to pursue or simply gain a better understanding of your options.
Will Future Financial Professionals help me find a job or internship?
Future Financial Professionals is not a job-placement program, but it can help you become better prepared to pursue internships and entry-level opportunities. You’ll learn how professionals entered the field, what employers and successful practitioners value, and what you can do now to begin preparing for a career.
How long is the program?
Each Future Financial Professionals session is approximately 90 minutes and is conducted live, giving you the opportunity to hear directly from professionals and participate in the conversation.
Do I have to participate or ask a question?
No. You are welcome to listen and learn. But we encourage you to take advantage of the live format. There aren't many opportunities to ask successful professionals the questions you really want answered about their careers.
What should I do before the session?
Come curious. Think about what you would want to know before choosing a career: What does a typical day look like? How do you get started? What skills matter most? How do you build a successful practice? What are the earning and advancement opportunities? There are no wrong questions.
What will I leave with?
A better understanding of the financial services profession, the variety of careers available, what it takes to succeed, and whether one of those paths could be right for you. You’ll also have something that can be harder to find early in your career: perspective from people who have already been where you are now. Plus, a certificate of completion, recognizing your participation, will be emailed to you following your participation in the entirety of the session.
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