Online Financial Advisor Degree Information

Currently, available online financial advisor degrees are master's degree programs. There are undergraduate and graduate on-campus financial advisor options, and students desiring careers in financial advising may find online estate planning, investment or other related programs to get them started.

Online Master's Financial Advisor Master's Degree Program Overview

Online master's degree programs for financial advisors include Master of Business Administration in Financial Planning, Master of Science in Health and Human Development with a concentration in family financial planning, and Master of Science in Human Environmental Sciences with a family financial planning specialization.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) advises, however, that employers do not usually specify a field of study for personal financial advisors (www.bls.gov). Therefore, students may begin their financial advisor education with an online bachelor's degree in accounting, economics or finance.
Prior to enrolling in a financial advisor master's degree program, students are required to have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. The master's degree programs train students in financial planning, financial counseling and retirement planning.

Online Financial Advisor Graduate Program Requirements

Most online financial advisor master's degree programs can be completed entirely online. The distance learning courses are structured but also provide the flexibility online students need. Many online programs use accelerated instruction techniques to allow students to complete the program in as little as a year and a half. Each class has a particular distance learning instruction format. Some instructional tools are audio files, virtual classroom lectures, slide presentations and webinars.
Financial advisor master's degree distance learning programs recommend students have the Microsoft Office Suite software, e-mail access, a soundcard with speakers and a microphone and an updated Internet browser. Students are advised that AOL and Opera browsers do not work with virtual classroom software.

List of Common Financial Advisor Courses

Financial advisor courses provide the skills necessary for students to oversee a variety of financial planning strategies. They deal with individuals, families and corporations.

Real Estate for Financial Advisors Course

Students enrolled in this online course study financial calculations, taxes and mortgage rates. Additional topics of study include emerging housing issues and ethics.

Statistics for Financial Advisors Course

This distance learning course trains students to gather, analyze and interpret financial data. Students also learn to effectively present this data to their clients.

Risk Management Course

Students enrolled in this online course evaluate how much insurance individuals or groups need based on an assessment of risk. Types of insurance examined include health, life, property, liability and casualty.

Retirement Planning Course

This online course provides students with the skills necessary to assist clients in creating retirement portfolios. Students assess distribution options and government plans in determining clients' future needs.

Career Information for Financial Advisors

Even though it isn't always required, certification by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards is a boon to financial advisors who seek career advancement. Many online master's degree financial advisor programs provide the educational requirements necessary for taking the Certified Financial Planner examination. Certified Financial Planner applicants must also meet experience and ethics requirements.
According to a May 14, 2010, report issued by the BLS, personal financial advisors earned a median annual wage of $68,200 in 2009. The same report also listed a median annual wage of $73,670 for financial analysts in 2009.