Career comparison
Financial Advisor vs. Financial Services Sales Agent
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Financial advisors earn more at the median ($105,070 vs. $78,660), while financial advisors usually get to work faster (Long-term on-the-job training of training). Financial advisors help people plan for retirement, college and other financial goals. Financial services sales agents help clients invest and buy financial products, from stocks to retirement plans.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Financial Advisor | Financial Services Sales Agent | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $105,070 ($50.51/hr) | $78,660 ($37.82/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $50,190 – $357,020 | $48,040 – $212,880 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +1.4% (slower than average) | +1.4% (slower than average) |
| Openings per year | 17,100 | 35,100 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | Long-term on-the-job training | 4 years plus licensing |
| Key credential | CFP | FINRA SIE |
| Work setting | Advisors work in offices and meet clients in person or by video.. | Agents work in offices at banks, brokerages and financial firms, mostly at computers and on the phone.. |
What each job does
Financial Advisor
- Meet clients about goals
- Build financial plans
- Recommend investments
- Plan for retirement
- Review insurance needs
Financial Services Sales Agent
- Build and manage client relationships
- Assess clients’ financial goals and risk tolerance
- Recommend investments and products
- Execute trades and transactions
- Monitor accounts and markets
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with people, high-pay, working independently, and working with information. They sit in different fields, business & office and sales & retail, but share transferable skills such as trust-building and trustworthiness.
Which should you choose?
Choose financial advisor if…
- I like helping people plan
- I’m good with money
- I build trust easily
Choose financial services sales agent if…
- I’m interested in investing
- I like building relationships
- I’m motivated by sales goals
Still torn? Take the Financial Advisor fit quiz and the Financial Services Sales Agent fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, financial advisor or financial services sales agent?
Financial Advisors earn more at the median: $105,070 versus $78,660 for financial services sales agents, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Financial Advisors typically train faster (Long-term on-the-job training) than financial services sales agents (4 years plus licensing).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects financial advisors to grow +1.4% from 2025–35, compared with +1.4% for financial services sales agents.