Learning paths for careers in insurance and finance

Pursuing a career in insurance or finance gives you an opportunity to work one-on-one with people who need assistance from a skilled and trusted advisor. Decisions around financial planning can be overwhelming and there is a high demand for professionals who have a keen understanding of the field and who are approachable and personable.

Insurance

Everyone needs insurance, but knowing the right kind of insurance to secure can be complicated. From individuals looking for life, car or home insurance, to businesses looking for corporate coverage, to non-profit organizations looking for Directors and Officers Liability insurance, clients and their situations are varied, sometimes complicated and often interesting.

Courses in insurance provide the skills you need in customer service, underwriting, claims investigation, risk analysis and more. Some insurance programs also give you most of the courses you need to obtain the Certified Insurance Professionals (CIP) certification. Does this sound interesting to you? Here are a few programs to look into:

• Customer Service Fundamentals - Insurance
• Business - Insurance
• Insurance and Risk Management

Finance

Financial planners and advisors are in high demand. These skilled professionals are able to work closely with individuals and families to identify the best financial decisions to make for their specific situation. Financial planners talk to people about their plans and work through options to help them achieve their financial goals. They also help people work through unexpected situations. They know things like how to assess risk, the tax implications of certain decisions, etc.

Finance programs, like Fanshawe’s Business – Finance diploma, teach students how to review a client’s financial situation and discuss financial management, tax planning, insurance, investments and estate planning. Fanshawe’s program sets students up to achieve their Qualified Associate Financial Planner and Personal Financial Planner designations.

Some students may decide to pursue a career in wealth management. Wealth managers work with clients who have higher wealth and utilize investment portfolios to grow their assets. Fanshawe offers a collaborative Finance and Wealth program with King’s University College at Western—students will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts - Finance (3 year) degree from Western University and a Business - Finance (2 year) diploma from Fanshawe College.

Insurance and Finance Careers

There are many career opportunities in insurance and finance, including:

• insurance customer service representative
• underwriter
• claims adjuster
• loss control specialist
• appraiser
• insurance agent/broker
• investment advisor
• financial planner
• retirement planner
• wealth manager