Work-Life Balance for Finance Professionals (2024)

FAQs

Do finance careers have good work-life balance? ›

It's a bit counterintuitive to enter finance and then optimize for work / life balance, but there are some very comfortable finance jobs out there. It is entirely possible to earn >$300k and work <50 hours by your early 30s if you pick your spots right.

The role of a Finance Manager is inherently demanding, with the need to oversee financial planning, manage risks, and ensure the fiscal health of their organization. These tasks often extend beyond the typical nine-to-five workday, encroaching on personal time and challenging the very concept of work-life balance.

As a financial analyst at a non-financial or manufacturing corporation, your hours can vary greatly, depending on the corporate culture. But in general, 8-6, 8-8, five days per week, with some long days and weekends when needed, are the norm.

The role, which demands acute attention to market trends, client needs, and financial planning, often extends beyond the typical nine-to-five schedule. This can lead to unpredictable work hours and the need for constant availability, which complicates the pursuit of work-life balance for these professionals.

Finance degree jobs can provide relatively high pay, stability, opportunities for advancement and consistent demand projections. Careers in finance may also offer flexibility for employees by allowing them to work remotely or in hybrid environments.

They can include high stress, big responsibility, long working hours, continuing education requirements, and, in some cases, a lack of job security—the finance industry is generally quite cyclical.

At number one we have finance. Given that this is one of the majors with the highest upside. while also being incredibly easy academic wise and extremely popular, you betcha this one is oversaturated and super competitive.

Finance can be a fiercely competitive field. It's a famously high-paying industry known to deal out six or seven figures in salaries and bonuses for those at the top. Even those on the bottom rung can expect to start at a good wage compared with other fields.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for personal financial advisors was $94,170 in May 2021. It means half of the financial advisors earned more than that, and half earned less. One in ten earned less than $47,570, while one in ten made more than $208,000.

Why do financial advisors quit? ›

Lack Of Fulfillment

They are required to spend their days selling products and services they don't believe in. Far too many advisors find themselves working 9-5 (or worse) at a job that doesn't fulfill them or make them happy.

80-90% of financial advisors fail and close their firm within the first three years of business. This means only 10-20% of financial advisors are ultimately successful.

Finance is not always a stressful career, but for the highest-earning jobs it can be. Long hours and an “always on call” mentality can be extremely stressful for finance professionals, especially those dealing with global markets.

The finance industry offers some of the highest paying entry-level jobs. And top-paying entry-level finance positions currently in high demand. There are a lot of different paths you can take with a finance degree, so it's crucial to learn about your options and explore various career opportunities.