Financial services are the activities that businesses, governments and individuals engage in as they seek to further their monetary goals. These include selling products and assets (such as stocks and bonds), lending money, issuing debt and maintaining accounts.
Ultimately, the success of a financial services company depends on the strength of its customer base. This includes customer retention as well as new customers. A great way to build strong relationships is by offering innovative tools that help customers manage their finances.
The Financial services industry is incredibly broad and offers a wide variety of career options. However, choosing a role that aligns with your long-term career goals is key to advancing your career. While many jobs in this sector are high paying, not all pave the way to a successful future.
To determine which role is the best fit for your skills, consider the following four key categories of financial services:
Banking Services – Provide deposit-taking; credit-card issuing; payment and money transfer services; securities trading; and other auxiliary financial services (such as brokerage services, asset management, private banking and investment advisory services).
Insurance Services – Offer general, life, health and property insurance to protect against unforeseen events.
Investment Services – Offer advice, research and access to a range of investments such as equity and bond funds, mutual funds and private equity.