Career as a Financial Advisor is highly in demand right now even though there seems to be a financial collapse due to the US sub prime woes.

Such skills are always in demand and the demand will be even greater once the economy turns around.

So brace yourself and embark on this lucrative career and prepare for the financial industry to make a comeback.

Financial advisor must have at least a college degree and a good knowledge of complex financial markets.

You also need to have a good grasp of the ever-growing complexity of the financial industry is essential to conduct technical financial analyses. Having good industry knowledge is not enough.

Such business is people business. Trust must be earned before your client can trust you.

One of the primary requirement is to have a license to operate. There are specific examinations that must be taken and passed to get that license.

The license will allow you to represent clients in financial advising. However, there might be some differences in the licensing requirements at different states.

However, most will require sponsorship by brokerage firms such as American Express or Fidelity.

It is a requirement to work work with a registered brokerage firm for at least four months, before they can work independently, once the exam is passed.

Many states also require the financial advisor to pass a secondary test that focus specifically on testing the candidate's general knowledge in securities, stock business and a good understanding of customer protection laws, procedures and liabilities.

Such courses are usually done through online as the candidates are often working professionals.