From Curiosity to Career: Exploring Financial Services With Pursue^SM

Key Points

• Many young professionals are interested in entering financial services, but may face barriers to enter the industry
• Education about the financial services industry and career paths before entering the workforce can improve firm recruitment and retention
• The College’s Pursue^SM career readiness microcourse is designed to give a professional primer to those newly entering the financial services industry

"People think they are choosing a job," said Lindsey Lewis, MBA, ChFC®, CFP®, managing director of The American College Center for Women in Financial Services. "In reality, they are choosing from an entire ecosystem of careers."

Pursue^SM, a free microcourse from The College, was designed to guide aspiring and early career professionals through that process.

In this interview, American College Center for Economic Empowerment and Equality Director Valencia Gabay, PhD, CFEI®, and American College Center for Women in Financial Services Managing Director Lindsey Lewis, MBA, ChFC®, CFP®, discuss why Pursue was created, what learners can expect from the course, and more.

What is Pursue^SM, and What Gap Does It Fill in Financial Services?

For Gabay, the first challenge for someone entering the industry is understanding their options.

"Many people entering the financial services profession find it difficult to understand the diverse career paths," Gabay said. "And when they enter the profession lacking guidance and community, it's even more challenging to excel and distinguish yourself in the field."

Pursue^SM introduces learners to the financial services landscape while encouraging them to consider their own strengths, values, and goals.  

"When people understand both themselves and the profession, they make better decisions," Lewis said. "That benefits individuals, employers, and ultimately the future of financial services."

Why is Pursue^SM Important for an Industry Facing a Talent Shortage?

The need for greater career clarity comes at an important moment for financial services.

The College's Onboarding Gen Z Study found that Gen Z considers finance their top industry choice.¹ The challenge is what happens after people enter the profession. One in three Gen Zers reported ineffective onboarding, while one in four said their training was ineffective and job expectations were unclear.²

At the same time, the industry is experiencing a major workforce transition. Within the next decade, 37% of today’s advisors are expected to retire, leaving behind a critical need for new talent.³ To meet the demand for financial services professionals and replace talent lost to retirement and turnover, the industry will need to attract an estimated over 740,000 new hires over the next decade.⁴

"Recruiting great people is only half the equation," Lewis said. "Helping them stay and build meaningful careers is where the real opportunity lies."

For Lewis, early attrition isn't necessarily evidence that someone chose the wrong profession. It may instead indicate that they entered an environment that wasn't the right fit without having enough information to recognize the difference.  

"If we can help people make more informed decisions before they accept that first role, I believe we can improve retention across the profession," said Lewis.

What Will Learners Gain from Completing Pursue^SM?

Pursue^SM is intentionally structured to move learners from exploration to understanding to action.

"The course begins by introducing the financial services landscape and helping learners see just how many career opportunities exist. From there, we explore different business models, compensation structures, credentials, and work environments," said Lewis.

But the course doesn't stop at explaining the industry. It asks learners to turn that knowledge inward.

"After obtaining these fundamentals, learners connect what they have learned to their values and priorities," said Gabay.  

How Does Pursue^SM Connect With Younger Professionals and Career Changers?

Today's emerging professionals are approaching career decisions with a fresh set of questions.

"They are not just asking, "Can I get this job?" They are asking, "Will I enjoy this work?" "Does it align with my values?" "Can I build a meaningful life doing this?" We wanted to create something that was honest about both the opportunities and the realities of the profession,” said Lewis.  

Pursue^SM features stories from professionals with a wide range of career journeys, from education to healthcare, technology, the military, and beyond.

“This illustrates that the profession is not only a technical profession, but also a relationship driven profession, and knowing how to participate in story sharing helps develop client relationships,” said Gabay.

What Makes Pursue^SM Different from Other Financial Services Career Programs?

"Most firms naturally focus on their own business model, career opportunities, and culture. That makes sense,” said Lewis. “The American College has a unique vantage point because we educate professionals across every corner of financial services. We see the profession as a whole.”

That vantage point allows Pursue^SM to introduce learners to a broad range of career opportunities rather than presenting a single path. Sometimes, that may mean helping someone realize they belong in financial services, but in a different role or type of firm than they initially imagined.

“I don’t see that as losing talent. I see it as helping people find the place where they can build a long and meaningful career,” said Lewis.

How Can Pursue^SM Help Increase Representation in Financial Services?

Career awareness, like how firms operate, how compensation works, and what credentials matter, often isn’t equally accessible to everyone. Pursue^SM aims to help make those pathways and unwritten rules more visible, while featuring professionals with diverse backgrounds and career journeys.

“Growing up, I never heard of financial services as a career and rarely knew of any Black financial advisors in my community,” said Gabay.

Lewis sees the same need for women, noting that many are introduced to the profession through a mentor, professor, or colleague rather than intentionally seeking it out.

“Increasing representation begins long before recruitment. It begins with exposure, education, and the confidence that comes from understanding what is possible,” Lewis said.

Gabay explained that Pursue^SM can help more people ask a simple question: Why not me?

What Would You Say to Someone Who’s on the Fence About Whether Financial Services is for Them?

“Take Pursue^SM!” Gabay said. “Explore how your gifts and talents align with the profession.”

Lewis encourages prospective learners to remain curious, reiterating that financial services is far more diverse than many people realize, and very few professionals begin their careers with complete certainty about where they will end up.

"Whether someone ultimately chooses financial services or another profession, making that decision with greater understanding is a successful outcome," Lewis said.

More on Career Paths in Financial Services

• Learn more and register for Pursue^SM
• Get more insights on young professionals with our Onboarding Gen Z Study
• Explore designations at The College