Financial services are a massive sector that touches just about every person’s daily life. They’re crucial to the economy – intermediating those with money to save, with those who need it to spend, and helping redistribute risk across a larger pool of people. Banks, for example, take on the risk that borrowers won’t pay back their loans so that depositors don’t have to, and insurance companies pool together the risk of losing money on individual policies to make them more affordable.

Most people are familiar with insurance – the system of payments that protects individuals from large and often unforeseen costs like medical bills or a lost home or car. But insurance is only one aspect of the financial services industry; a full spectrum of investment banking and other financial services exist to cover all aspects of a customer’s financial needs.

Many companies in this field focus on client service and support, with many investing heavily into professional development and a range of tools to help their employees succeed. Careers in the financial services industry tend to be very secure, and those who work hard early on can quickly move up the ranks of the company they are working for.