Factors of Employability for Graduates Progressing through a Career in Financial Planning in Canada

Graduates entering financial planning careers face challenges due to their limited awareness of career paths and success factors. This study, based on 20 interviews with Canadian financial- planning professionals, examines key employability factors. Our findings outline a career path for financial planning graduates involving customer service and then associate financial planner roles. Social capital helps start a career, but career development becomes easier thereafter. Associate financial planners should leverage human and social capital for career development. This research finds that students can enhance their prospects by developing client-service skills and building professional networks to gain employability in financial planning careers.