The path to become a retirement analyst begins with completing the proper education, which, in most cases, will be a four-year bachelor's degree in finance, financial planning, or accounting. Generally, your education will focus less on the broad subjects of economics or business management and more on all of the facets of account management. The lessons learned in this coursework can be generally applied to the formation and maintenance of retirement accounts for clients of all ages. You will then need to work as a fund analyst or financial planner for a group or organization that offers retirement accounts. In most cases, you can become a retirement analyst as an entry level applicant provided that you possess a degree in a relevant subject.
Your education to become a retirement analyst begins with about 80 credit hours of undergraduate coursework in general education subjects, though you will also take several introductory courses in finance, accounting, and business practices. After the completion of your lower division coursework, you must complete an additional 30 to 40 credit hours of upper division coursework that focuses exclusively on your major, such as accounting or financial planning. In accounting coursework, you will learn how to manage funds, and to track all types of financial records tax liabilities for those accounts. A financial planning track to become a retirement analyst will give you a foundation for directly working with clients to establish a sound retirement plan.
While completing your upper division coursework, attempt to find an internship or apprenticeship with an accounting firm or with a financial planning service. An internship will provide you with valuable applied experience for what you have learned and with an important job-related item for your resume. Search the job board in the academic department of the college you attend to inquire about internships or ask the contacts in your professional network if any such internships are available. Often, an internship in this field will not offer payment, but you may receive course credit for each academic term that you have the internship.
Once you have completed your four year bachelor's degree in financial planning or accounting, you might want to pursue a master's degree in the same subject in order to solidify your knowledge base. You can, however, begin applying to fund management firms. The more experience you have, the more quickly you will find work, but to become a retirement analyst, you usually only need the skills that you have learned while in college.
