Financial Planning internships for college students
Financial planning internships are with wealth management firms, independent advisory practices, banks’ private client groups and insurers. Interns prepare client meetings, help build plans and handle account paperwork, and internship hours can count toward the experience needed for the CFP.
Recent financial planning internship listings
- Financial Planning & Analysis Co-Op
- Quantitative Strategist Intern - Asset and Wealth Management - Quantitative Strats
A sample of recent postings from employer job boards and public feeds. Search by ZIP code to see the ones near you.
Common financial planning internships
- Financial planning or paraplanning intern — Gathers client data and helps build financial plans in planning software.
- Client service intern — Prepares meeting materials, opens accounts and handles paperwork.
- Wealth management intern — Supports advisors with portfolio research and client reviews.
- Insurance and retirement planning intern — Helps compare insurance, retirement and estate options for clients.
Skills employers look for
- Communication with clients
- Excel
- Tax, retirement and insurance basics
- Attention to detail
- Planning software such as eMoney or MoneyGuide
- Discretion with confidential information
When financial planning internships recruit
- Freshman–sophomore yearFind out whether your program is CFP Board-registered; if it is, your degree covers the CFP coursework.
- Junior fallWealth management and advisory firms recruit summer interns.
- Twice a yearCFP Board’s virtual career fair lists jobs and internships with planning firms.
- Before you graduatePass the SIE — it needs no employer sponsor — and consider the Series 65.
For every major side by side, see when to apply for business internships.
Certifications that strengthen a financial planning application
- Finance and capital markets — Khan Academy. Free Free.
- Excel training paths — Microsoft Learn. Free Free.
- SIE — Securities Industry Essentials exam — FINRA. Paid $100 exam fee. No firm sponsorship needed; you must be 18 or older.
- Series 65 — Uniform Investment Adviser Law Exam — NASAA · run by FINRA. Paid $187 exam fee. No firm sponsorship needed.
- CFP — Certified Financial Planner — CFP Board. Paid Exam $825–$1,025 depending on when you register; required coursework $3,000–$8,000 unless your degree is CFP-registered.
See all 13 financial planning certifications, free ones first
Resume keywords for financial planning internships
Key terms for financial planning internships
Questions students ask
Do I need a license for a financial planning internship?
Usually not to start. Passing the SIE, which needs no employer sponsor, shows commitment; firms typically sponsor the Series 7 after you join, and the Series 65 or 66 often follows.
What is a CFP Board-registered program?
A degree or certificate whose courses meet the education requirement for the CFP. If your major is one, you will not need to pay for separate CFP coursework later.
When do financial planning internships recruit?
Larger wealth management firms recruit in the fall for the summer; independent advisory firms often hire in the spring. CFP Board’s virtual career fair, held twice a year, lists internships too.
Guides for your applications
Search financial planning internships by ZIP code →
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