Financial Services is Not a Profession

23 Pages Posted: 4 Jul 2019

Date Written: June 13, 2019

Abstract

This article serves as a meta-analysis to uncover different factors comprising the definition of “profession” from multiple disciplines including medicine, business, and law. Within the literature, four major themes arise that form the basis for what constitutes a profession: knowledge; admission; organization; and ethics. Upon close examination, the broad field of financial services is lacking in every category. Material differences between other disciplines and financial services prevent the latter from being rightly labeled as a profession. However, financial planning, largely through the efforts of the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) Board, may move closer in that direction.

Keywords: financial services, professionalism, financial planning

JEL Classification: H11, L84, N01, M53, Y80

Suggested Citation

Lee, Steven, Financial Services is Not a Profession (June 13, 2019). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3413988 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3413988

Steven Lee (Contact Author)

Cal Poly Pomona ( email )

Finance, Real Estate and Law Department
3801 W. Temple Avenue
Pomona, CA 91768
United States

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