Financial Planning Internships
Financial planning internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience analyzing client portfolios and financial models, mentorship from working financial planners, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Roles cover Consulting & Professional Services, with TMEIC, Planned Parenthood, and Northwestern Mutual among the employers posting roles now.
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- Company parties
- Dental insurance
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Opportunity for advancement
- Training & development
- Vision insurance
The Northwestern Mutual College Financial Planning internship offers hands-on experience in building a financial planning practice with the support of a Fortune 500 company. Interns gain guidance, connections, and tools to develop their skills while engaging with experts and learning how financial strategies and solutions are introduced to clients. Key benefits include:
- Flexible schedules to balance with classes.
- Real-world experience in prospecting, networking, and business strategy.
- Training in proprietary planning software and licensing (Life, Accident, Health insurance).
- Opportunities for certifications (Series 6 & 63, CFP®).
- Weekly coaching and professional development.
- Access to leadership programs and recognition events.
Our commitment to impact extends beyond financial services. We take pride in giving back to our community through support of local organizations such as HSHS St. John’s Children’s Hospital, Contact Ministries, the James Project, and Alex’s Lemonade Stand. If you're looking for a career where you can make a difference, both in your clients’ lives and in your community, while building a business with unlimited potential, we’d love to talk with you.
- Current role and time with NM: Growth & Development Director & Financial Advisor; 12 years
- University attended: University of Illinois Springfield
- Graduation year: December 2017
- Brief description of their college experience: Eli began his Northwestern Mutual journey as a college freshman, gaining hands-on experience, earning his securities licenses, and building a client base before graduating from UIS. Now a successful full-time advisor and Growth & Development Director, he leads the internship program and is passionate about helping students turn the internship into a long-term career.
- Current role and time with NM: College Unit Director & Financial Advisor; 2.5 years
- University attended: Illinois College
- Graduation year: December 2024
- Brief description of their college experience: Hunter studied Finance and Economics at Illinois College and held multiple leadership roles in the Investment Club before being recruited into the Northwestern Mutual internship. After earning his securities licenses and gaining experience while still in school, he transitioned into a full-time advisor role and now serves as College Unit Director, helping lead and support the internship program.
- Current role and time with NM: Internship Coordinator; 2.5 years
- University attended: Illinois State University
- Graduation year: December 2023
- Brief description of their college experience: Gabby began her Northwestern Mutual internship in the summer of 2023 and continued through her final semester, graduating with a degree in Business Administration. While she ultimately chose a different career path than advising, she loved her experience and now serves as Internship Coordinator, working alongside Eli and Hunter to support and run the internship program.
- Full-time students (juniors and seniors preferred)
- Ambitious, with a curiosity for business development
- Highly involved on campus (leader, athlete, campus orgs, student government, etc.)
- Excellent time-management skills
- Business savvy and desire to increase critical thinking abilities
- Professional: Coachable, responds well to accountability, strong communication skills, articulate
- Financial service interest: Financially motivated, capacity for hard work, interest in making an impact with others
- Key characteristics: Motivated, competitive, willingness to overcome obstacles/deal with adversity
- Strong Earnings Potential
- Learning and Development Financial Incentives
- Productivity Bonuses
- Exposure to the financial services industry, including optional licensing education for students who qualify and are interested. Licensing is not required to begin the internship.
- Bonus based on performance
- Company parties
- Dental insurance
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Opportunity for advancement
- Training & development
- Vision insurance
The Northwestern Mutual College Financial Planning internship offers hands-on experience in building a financial planning practice with the support of a Fortune 500 company. Interns gain guidance, connections, and tools to develop their skills while engaging with experts and learning how financial strategies and solutions are introduced to clients. Key benefits include:
- Flexible schedules to balance with classes.
- Real-world experience in prospecting, networking, and business strategy.
- Training in proprietary planning software and licensing (Life, Accident, Health insurance).
- Opportunities for certifications (Series 6 & 63, CFP®).
- Weekly coaching and professional development.
- Access to leadership programs and recognition events.
Our commitment to impact extends beyond financial services. We take pride in giving back to our community through support of local organizations such as HSHS St. John’s Children’s Hospital, Contact Ministries, the James Project, and Alex’s Lemonade Stand. If you're looking for a career where you can make a difference, both in your clients’ lives and in your community, while building a business with unlimited potential, we’d love to talk with you.
- Current role and time with NM: Growth & Development Director & Financial Advisor; 12 years
- University attended: University of Illinois Springfield
- Graduation year: December 2017
- Brief description of their college experience: Eli began his Northwestern Mutual journey as a college freshman, gaining hands-on experience, earning his securities licenses, and building a client base before graduating from UIS. Now a successful full-time advisor and Growth & Development Director, he leads the internship program and is passionate about helping students turn the internship into a long-term career.
- Current role and time with NM: College Unit Director & Financial Advisor; 2.5 years
- University attended: Illinois College
- Graduation year: December 2024
- Brief description of their college experience: Hunter studied Finance and Economics at Illinois College and held multiple leadership roles in the Investment Club before being recruited into the Northwestern Mutual internship. After earning his securities licenses and gaining experience while still in school, he transitioned into a full-time advisor role and now serves as College Unit Director, helping lead and support the internship program.
- Current role and time with NM: Internship Coordinator; 2.5 years
- University attended: Illinois State University
- Graduation year: December 2023
- Brief description of their college experience: Gabby began her Northwestern Mutual internship in the summer of 2023 and continued through her final semester, graduating with a degree in Business Administration. While she ultimately chose a different career path than advising, she loved her experience and now serves as Internship Coordinator, working alongside Eli and Hunter to support and run the internship program.
- Full-time students (juniors and seniors preferred)
- Ambitious, with a curiosity for business development
- Highly involved on campus (leader, athlete, campus orgs, student government, etc.)
- Excellent time-management skills
- Business savvy and desire to increase critical thinking abilities
- Professional: Coachable, responds well to accountability, strong communication skills, articulate
- Financial service interest: Financially motivated, capacity for hard work, interest in making an impact with others
- Key characteristics: Motivated, competitive, willingness to overcome obstacles/deal with adversity
- Strong Earnings Potential
- Learning and Development Financial Incentives
- Productivity Bonuses
- Exposure to the financial services industry, including optional licensing education for students who qualify and are interested. Licensing is not required to begin the internship.
Financial Planning Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services
Tips for Your Financial Planning Internship Search
Apply for summer roles in the fall
Large financial services firms and wealth management companies open summer internship applications as early as August or September the year before. Waiting until spring means the structured cohort programs are already closed. Treat fall as your primary application season and set reminders for when target firms typically post.
Build financial models before you apply
Hiring teams for financial planning internships expect limited work history, so your portfolio carries the weight. Document two or three projects, such as a personal finance analysis, a DCF model, or a budgeting case study, noting the tools used and linking to the work. Recruiters need a concrete artifact to evaluate your skills.
Work your campus network and apply directly at the same time
Campus career fairs surface structured programs tied to your university, and professors or career center staff often know which financial planning employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Applying directly to smaller firms running their own cohorts alongside campus activity widens the pool you reach.
Practice walking through a financial scenario out loud
Financial planning intern screens often include a case-style conversation where you analyze a client scenario, work through a budgeting problem, or interpret a financial statement. Practice your answers out loud, explaining your reasoning step by step, because interviewers weigh how you think through the problem as much as the final answer.
Target CFP-track and rotational programs early
Larger financial services firms run structured internship programs designed to train people new to the field, often aligned with the CFP pathway or a rotational model covering planning, investments, and client service. These programs recruit early and fill fast, so identify the ones that fit your goals and apply in the first wave.
Set your work-type filter before you start
On-site roles are 100% of the financial planning internships listed here. Decide what you can realistically commit to before you search, then filter by location and work type so you are not sorting through roles you cannot take. Applying only to roles that fit your situation keeps your effort focused.
Financial Planning Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a financial planning internship?
Lead with coursework and projects rather than work history, since hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. Build a portfolio that includes financial models, investment analyses, or budgeting case studies, giving recruiters a concrete artifact to assess. Combine direct applications with campus career fairs, where financial planning recruiters often move faster with students they meet in person.
Can a financial planning internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. What actually drives it for financial planning interns is the quality of your work on real client or analytical projects, available headcount on the team, and how early in the internship you signal interest in returning. Position for it without counting on it.
When should I apply for financial planning internships?
Earlier than most expect. Large financial services employers and wealth management firms recruit summer interns the preceding fall, sometimes opening applications in August or September. Smaller firms, regional practices, and co-op programs post much closer to start dates, so openings appear year-round. Check listings regularly and treat fall as prime application season for the following summer.
Are financial planning internships paid?
Most professional financial planning internships in the U.S. are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry segment, and location. Where an employer discloses pay, the listing shows it. Larger firms and structured rotational programs tend to offer more competitive compensation than smaller independent practices.
What should a financial planning internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. Include two or three documented projects showing the tools you used, such as Excel financial models, DCF analyses, or budgeting simulations, with links to the work where possible. Add relevant coursework like financial planning, investments, or tax. Keep the whole resume to one page.
Are there remote financial planning internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 0% of the financial planning internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts fill fast because they attract applicants nationally, so apply early and filter by work type to see them before they close.
What is a CFP-track internship program in financial planning?
Some larger financial planning firms and wealth management companies run structured internship programs designed to introduce candidates to the Certified Financial Planner pathway. These programs pair interns with planners working toward or holding CFP certification, focus on client-facing skills and plan construction, recruit early in the fall, and are competitive, so apply in the first wave when applications open.
Can international students get financial planning internships?
Yes. F-1 students can intern through CPT while enrolled or through OPT work authorization after finishing a degree, and the employer does not have to file anything for either, so many companies are open to international interns. Confirm your eligibility and timing with your university's international student office before accepting an offer.
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