Financial services is the economic service industry that encompasses a broad range of service sector firms that provide financial management. Financial services are a vital part of the economy and help individuals manage their money, save for the future, and meet their financial goals. Financial services also include the markets and activities that support these businesses, such as asset management, banking, insurance, capital markets, credit unions, and consumer finance.
Financial intermediation is the process of channeling cash from savers to borrowers. Banks, for example, do this by aggregating the savings of depositors and then lending it out to borrowers who need funds to purchase goods or invest in projects. In addition to distributing cash, intermediation services also include pooling risk by having lots of borrowers share the same risks so that one borrower’s failure does not devastate all of them.
Thousands of jobs exist in the financial services sector, but not all of them pave the way to a successful career. In many of these positions, you may be expected to work long hours and often in stressful conditions. Some people who work in this field struggle to achieve a work-life balance and feel burnt out from the intense stress.
But if you have an aptitude for numbers, the opportunity to work in a fast-paced environment, and the motivation to build your skillset through on-the-job training, a job in financial services could be the right fit for you. With new tools for saving and investing introduced to the market seemingly every day, it’s important to keep up with these developments so that you can offer your clients the best options.