The financial services industry, also known as the finance sector, encompasses a range of occupations that deal with money and its management. These include banking, investments, insurance and more. As an in-demand career area, jobs in this field tend to pay well and offer greater job security. Additionally, since many positions are not location specific, it is easier to relocate with a position in this industry. Phyton Talent Advisors works with professionals in a variety of financial services positions, and we have seen these benefits firsthand.
When people think of financial services, they often imagine a number of different things, like banks, credit unions and credit card companies. However, these are not the only types of financial services available. In fact, there are numerous financial services that most of us use in our daily lives, including insurance services, mortgage lending and more.
In terms of what is considered part of the financial services industry, the broadest definition includes any company that raises funds by taking deposits or issuing securities and uses them to acquire financial assets. This category also includes those who pool risk by underwriting insurance and annuities. It also includes those who facilitate payment transactions and provide debt management services.
There are a number of subsectors within the financial services industry. Investment services, which are provided by brokerage firms and mutual fund companies, help individuals and businesses invest in stock and bond markets. These companies may also provide advisory services to guide investors in their investment decisions. Private equity providers and angel investors also provide investment capital to companies in exchange for ownership stakes or profit participation.
Another important category of financial services are those that manage and control risk. This includes those who help individuals and businesses manage risks such as death or injury, property loss or damage, and liability. These companies may provide insurance products, such as life and health insurance, or they might be more directly involved in the management of risk by advising businesses on what type of insurance to purchase and how much coverage is needed.
Other financial services include debt resolution, which helps consumers that have accumulated too much debt to file for bankruptcy and wish to work out an alternative payment plan with creditors. It also includes credit-card debt relief and assistance with resolving issues related to commercial and retail loans. Then there are those who provide critical financial market utilities, which include stock and commodity exchanges as well as payments systems such as real-time gross settlement systems and interbank networks.
The financial services industry is constantly changing and expanding, largely due to advances in technology. For example, online and mobile banking allow consumers to access a wider variety of financial products than ever before. Additionally, some companies that were once standalone have begun to merge in order to provide a more comprehensive set of financial services to their customers. An example of this is a bank that might buy an insurance company or an investment firm and fold them into its existing operations.