The short answer to the titular question is yes, a degree in finance is definitely worth the effort. However, you are probably looking for a more substantial answer than that, which we will get to in a moment. The most important thing to consider before you join an online finance master’s degree is how good you are with numbers.
If mathematics has never really bothered you, and you are pretty good when it comes to crunching numbers on a daily basis, then know that finance courses were made for students just like you. Nevertheless, there are other factors that might influence your decision to study finance, and of course, there’s also the question of job opportunities.
Personality and Math
Unlike accountancy, the finance student also needs to be communicative, friendly and outgoing. While being good with numbers is the most important criterion for landing a good job, it also helps if the person is able to hold friendly, yet diplomatic conversations. If you are unable to communicate with your clients to find all the information you need in order to help them, the job may become very difficult for you.
Should You Study Online?
Online finance education programs from reputed universities have opened the door to a career in the field for many students across the United States and even globally. They are cheaper, they make regular commuting unnecessary and they are not viewed as any less valuable by employers nowadays. Perhaps the most important advantage that an online finance course has over the traditional ones is the fact that it allows students the flexibility to work and study at the same time, or complete two simultaneous courses.
Job Opportunities
The prime growth sectors for finance professionals in the U.S. at the moment are financial advising and financial management. Once you have completed your master’s degree in finance, you could be working in international financial management, corporate financial management, investment banks, private banks, insurance companies, brokerage firms, financial planning firms and much more.
While we did just point out some specific sectors, your opportunities in real life will be even more versatile because a financial expert never sits idle. You can also consider opportunities to expand your skillset and qualifications further, for example by pursuing an MBA or CPA qualification. This can help elevate your finance career to the next level.
The Finances of the Finance Expert
The average annual salary of the finance professionals exceeds $70,000 in the U.S., with the higher end of the spectrum going past the $120,000 mark. It should be noted that financial managers usually earn the highest salaries in general. If some of the predictions turn out to be correct and the U.S. manages to see some positive financial growth in the coming years, both the demand for finance professionals and their salaries will increase significantly.
The best part about studying finance is the fact that whatever you will learn and the skills you will acquire during the course will help you in your career for the rest of your life, irrespective of the profession you choose to pursue afterward. Even if you start a business of your own later in life, you will likely be more successful than most people around you.
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