How to Become a Financial Analyst

Rasmussen University’s Finance Bachelor’s degree program is not designed to prepare graduates for any state-issued professional license or certification and has not been approved by any state professional licensing agency.

If you have a head for numbers and an interest in how money moves through markets, you may be wondering how to become a financial analyst. Financial analysts evaluate financial data and provide information that may help businesses and individuals make investment decisions. In this article, we'll look at the typical path into the field, what these professionals do, the skills the work calls for, and how a degree may fit in.¹

Steps to Enter the Financial Analyst Field

There may be no single route into this career, but many people follow a similar general path. Some typical ways to enter the field may include:²

1. Earn a bachelor's degree. Most entry-level financial analyst positions call for a bachelor's degree, and finance is a common field of study.
2. Understand licensing where it applies. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority^® (FINRA^®) is the main licensing body for the securities industry. A license is generally needed to sell financial products, which may apply to some roles. Because most licenses require employer sponsorship, companies typically don't expect candidates to hold them before starting.
3. Consider certification. Certification is a way to build on foundational knowledge and learn new skills. Additional/advanced education and/or specific work experience may be required to be eligible for certification examinations. It is important to check the requirements needed by reaching out to the organizations and agencies which administer the examinations.
4. Build experience in a specialty. Financial analysts often start by focusing on a particular investment field, building expertise over time.

What Does a Financial Analyst Do?

At its core, the work involves evaluating investment opportunities based on financial analysis and market conditions. A financial analyst's typical responsibilities may include:¹

• Recommending individual investments and combinations of investments, known as portfolios
• Reviewing current and past financial data
• Studying economic and business trends
• Examining a company's financial statements to gauge its value
• Meeting with company officials to better understand the company's prospects
• Assessing the strength of a management team
• Preparing written reports

Analysts often concentrate on trends affecting a particular region, industry, or type of product, and they need to understand how economic shifts, new regulations, and political developments may affect investments. As investing has grown more global, some analysts specialize in a specific country or world region, developing a feel for its business environment, culture, and political conditions.¹

Skills Financial Analysts Use

There are typically several qualities that tend to matter for this work:²

• Analytical skills: Weighing a range of information to find promising investments
• Communication skills: Explaining recommendations clearly to clients
• Computer skills: Using software to analyze financial data, model scenarios, and support portfolio analysis
• Decision-making skills: Evaluating available information to support investment recommendations or financial analyses
• Detail orientation: Noticing small issues that may carry large implications
• Math skills: Using mathematics to estimate the value of financial securities

A degree program may help build on these qualities. The Finance Bachelor's degree at Rasmussen University identifies skill areas including financial analysis and consultation, proficiency in Microsoft^® Excel^®, financial management, and clearly communicating financial insights to a range of audiences.³

Typical Career Paths in Finance

A finance degree may be relevant to a range of roles. Typical career paths associated with Rasmussen University's Finance program include financial analyst, financial manager, and budget analyst. Some roles may require additional education, certifications, or experience depending on the employer and position.³

Why Earn a Degree?

While there may be more than one way into this field, earning a relevant degree is a common starting point, since most entry-level roles call for a bachelor's degree.² A degree program may offer a structured way to build the analytical, financial, and communication skills the work draws on, and to develop them alongside broader business knowledge.³

Finance and Business Courses You May Take

Coursework in a finance program may blend financial theory with hands-on analysis. Sample courses in Rasmussen University's program may include:³

• Concepts in Personal Financial Management
• Money and Banking
• Investment Portfolio Management

Certifications To Consider

Certifications are optional credentials that some finance professionals pursue. One example relevant to this field is the Chartered Financial Analyst^® (CFA^®) credential. The Finance program at Rasmussen University is designed to help prepare students for the CFA Level I Exam. Earning the full credential involves additional exam levels and requirements beyond completion of the program.³

Explore the Online Finance Program at Rasmussen University

Rasmussen University's online Bachelor of Science in Finance offers flexible online coursework designed to help students build skills relevant to roles in finance, including building financial models, analyzing data, assessing risk, and communicating findings to a range of audiences.³

If you're interested in building skills commonly associated with finance roles, learn more about Rasmussen University's online Bachelor of Science in Finance.³

Earning a degree does not guarantee employment or specific job outcomes. Employment conditions in your area may vary.

¹Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Financial Analysts, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/financial-analysts.htm#tab-2 (accessed July 1, 2026). Employment conditions in your area may vary.
²Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Financial Analysts, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/financial-analysts.htm#tab-4 (accessed July 1, 2026). Employment conditions in your area may vary.
³Rasmussen University, Finance Bachelor's Degree, at https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/business/finance/ (accessed July 1, 2026).

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority^® is a registered trademark of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., 1700 K Street NW, 12th Floor, Washington District of Columbia 20006.
FINRA^® is a registered trademark of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., 1700 K Street NW, 12th Floor, Washington District of Columbia 20006.
Microsoft^® is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation, 255 East Fifth Street, Suite 1900, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.
Excel^® is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation, 255 East Fifth Street, Suite 1900 Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.
Chartered Financial Analyst^® is a registered trademark of CFA Institute, 915 East High Street, Charlottesville, Virginia 22902.
CFA^® is a registered trademark of CFA Institute, 915 East High Street, Charlottesville, Virginia 22902.