When people think of financial services, they often think about banks, brokers and mortgage lenders, but it is much more broad than that. The financial sector encompasses all service sectors that manage funds for individuals, small businesses, large corporations, nonprofits and the government. The industry includes everything from credit unions and hedge funds to Wall Street, securities traders and insurance companies. It also includes a variety of support and service sectors.
A career in financial services can be a lucrative one, and it is one that offers a lot of room for advancement. Whether you are in investment banking, wealth management or insurance, there is plenty of opportunity to grow your salary and move up the ranks. But, it’s important to understand what a financial services job really entails before you decide to pursue a role in the field.
The most common type of financial services is insurance, which is a system that protects against the costs of certain unexpected expenses. Most of us know about life, auto, home and health insurance, but there are many other kinds of insurance that fall under the umbrella of financial services. These can include investment and retirement accounts, savings accounts, mortgages, loans, and even debt management services.
Another area of financial services is asset management, which focuses on managing pensions, insurance assets, mutual funds and hedge funds. It is becoming more and more common for financial institutions to operate across several different sectors of the industry. For instance, a bank may own an investment firm and an insurance company, and these companies work together in partnership to provide their clients with the most comprehensive financial services possible.
The third sector of financial services is credit and debit card processing. These service providers help businesses accept credit and debit cards for payment in exchange for a percentage of the total transaction. These companies also offer payment solutions for mobile apps and digital marketplaces. Rocket Money, for example, is a popular app that allows users to earn money by accepting credit and debit card payments from sellers in exchange for a percent of each transaction.
Finally, the last kind of financial services is regulatory, which is a collection of independent agencies designated to oversee various types of finance operations and ensure that they are conducted fairly and transparently. Examples of these agencies include the FINRA and OCC, both of which are responsible for maintaining a high level of consumer protection in the United States. This helps to promote a stable and reliable banking environment for consumers, as well as creating an overall competitive and transparent marketplace. In addition, this helps to keep banks accountable and prevents them from engaging in unethical or illegal practices.