Want to Work in Financial Services?

Many people dream of one day working in financial services. Some of these people will actually go so far as to pursue their dreams and goals through education. While education is a wonderful thing for anyone who hopes to work in financial services, experience is equally important, if not more so. It is for this reason that it is highly recommended that those currently in college or who have recently graduated from college pursue some type of an internship in the financial sector. In fact, the National Association of Colleges and Employees recently released a survey revealing that a whopping two-thirds of college seniors who graduated in 2013 had participated in some type of internship or cooperative education assignment. Forbes took the results of this survey and used them to declare that those who did not participate in internships were at a disadvantage and stood less of a chance of getting hired than those who did participate in internships.

Unfortunately, the same survey mentioned above also found that only a little more than half of the internship opportunities that college students took on were paid. That means that you have to prepare yourself for the possibility that you could be working for free. While you should always choose a paid job, even if it’s a job outside your field, if you’re in need of money and/or have no other way of paying for your education, keep in mind that, with a relevant internship, you aren’t really working for free. What you miss out on in terms of a paycheck will be given to you in the form of experience that looks good on a resume and the opportunity to make important connections in your field.

If you’d like to learn more about financial internships in the Naperville area, Platinum Financial Associates, Inc. is a good place to turn.

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• Inernships: How/Where/When (iheartparsons.com)

Get Guidance from a Good Book!

Do you like to read? If so, you can put that love of reading to good use by picking up a financial self-help book. There are actually quite a few good financial reads out there, and the information you’ll find in them is likely a lot more reliable than the random tips you’ll find just surfing the internet. Of course, even the best financial self-help book isn’t a substitute for the help of a qualified financial advisor. Supplement your reading by researching different financial services in your area and connecting with a trustworthy advisor. Who knows? Your advisor might just have some more good book recommendations for you!

One book you might want to add to your reading list, especially if you’re new to financial management, is Yes, You Can Achieve Financial Independence. The book is written by the founder of American Century Investments, James Stowers. Though it deals with some serious subject matter, it’s actually a fairly fun and light read, one that’s informative without being boring. It even features some cute illustrations and has a great section on understanding mutual funds.

If you’re on a budget (as you should be!) and don’t want to shell out the cash to read the book, check out your local library. Since books are arranged by category, you’re likely to stumble across some other great reads. And, after you’ve researched local financial services, such as Platinum Financial Associates of Naperville, you can talk with your financial advisors about any questions or concerns your reading raised for you.

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• New Technology Helps Advisors Give the Right Financial Advice (ftfnews.com)

Budget to Stay in Control

Ideally, every single person who earns and uses money—which is most of the world—should be on a budget. That might sound like a shocking thing to say, especially if you think of budgets as only being for those who are poor or struggling to make ends meet. In reality, though, every person needs to know exactly how much he or she is making, how much he or she has to pay in bills and other necessities each month, and how much money is left over after those bills are paid or, conversely, how much money is being spent on frivolities.

There are many Naperville financial services out there that will gladly sit down with you and help you to create a budget. If you’re already paying all of your bills on time and saving a little extra money each month, you likely won’t need to make many changes to your current habits. If you’re constantly finding yourself in debt, however, or if you’re spending everything you make and living paycheck to paycheck, a budget may prove a difficult but worthwhile venture.

Platinum Financial Associates, located in Naperville, is an excellent resource for those who would like help creating (and sticking to!) a budget.