RESUME MISTAKES
Avoid Costly Resume Errors That Hold Wealth Managers Back
Turn your experience into a compelling story that passes ATS and impresses hiring managers.
How This Page Helps
Help wealth managers identify and correct common resume pitfalls to secure interviews with elite financial institutions.
Spot hidden ATS blockers
Learn how to quantify client growth
Showcase certifications like CFA and CFP
Craft a professional summary that sells
Optimize formatting for readability
Align your resume with industry compliance standards
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
Using a generic objective instead of a targeted summaryHIGH
Why it hurts
- Fails to capture hiring manager attention
- Reduces relevance to wealth management roles
- Often filtered out by ATS keywords
How to fix
- Replace objective with a 2‑sentence professional summary
- Highlight years of experience, client assets managed, and key achievements
- Incorporate role‑specific keywords like 'portfolio optimization' and 'client acquisition'
❌ Before
Objective: Seeking a challenging position in finance.
✓ After
Professional Summary: Wealth Manager with 8 years delivering $1.2B in client assets, driving 15% YoY portfolio growth through strategic asset allocation and risk management.
ATS Tip
Lead with a summary that includes core keywords early.
Detection Rules
Contains the word 'objective'
Less than 30 characters
No quantifiable data
Resumly Tip
Swap the objective for a concise, results‑focused summary.
Missing quantifiable results and metricsHIGH
Why it hurts
- Hiring managers can’t gauge impact
- ATS may miss performance keywords
- Resume looks vague
How to fix
- Add specific numbers: assets under management, growth percentages, client retention rates
- Use action verbs and measurable outcomes
- Tie achievements to business goals
❌ Before
Managed client portfolios and increased revenue.
✓ After
Managed 120 high‑net‑worth client portfolios, increasing AUM by $250M (22% growth) and boosting client retention to 96%.
ATS Tip
Include numeric values and relevant financial terms.
Detection Rules
No numbers present
Bullet points lack % or $
Generic verbs only
Resumly Tip
Insert concrete figures to demonstrate your impact.
Failing to list essential certifications (CFA, CFP, Series 7)MEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Reduces credibility
- Misses key ATS keyword filters
- Signals lack of compliance knowledge
How to fix
- Create a dedicated Certifications section
- List CFA Level II, CFP, Series 7, and any state licenses
- Include dates of attainment
❌ Before
Financial advisor with experience in investment planning.
✓ After
Certifications: CFA Level II (2022), Certified Financial Planner (CFP) (2021), FINRA Series 7 (2020).
ATS Tip
Place certifications near the top to catch keyword scanners.
Detection Rules
No 'Certifications' heading
Missing common finance credentials
Only generic titles
Resumly Tip
Add a Certifications section with full credential names.
Inconsistent formatting and date stylesMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Makes resume hard to read
- ATS may misinterpret dates
- Looks unprofessional
How to fix
- Use a clean, single‑column layout
- Standardize dates as 'MMM YYYY' (e.g., Jan 2020 – Present)
- Align headings and bullet points uniformly
- Limit fonts to two professional types
❌ Before
Senior Wealth Manager 2018 – 2022 XYZ Bank
✓ After
Senior Wealth Manager, XYZ Bank Jan 2018 – Dec 2022
ATS Tip
Consistent date format improves parsing accuracy.
Detection Rules
Multiple date formats
Mixed bullet styles
Varied heading capitalization
Resumly Tip
Apply a uniform template with consistent fonts and date formatting.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Header, Professional Summary, Core Competencies, Professional Experience, Certifications, Education, Professional Affiliations
Naming: FirstName_LastName_WealthManager.pdf
Consistency
Length: 1‑2 pages (max 2 pages for senior roles)
Date Format: MMM YYYY
Location Format: City, State (or Country)
Resume Quality Checklist
- Tailor summary to wealth management
- Include quantifiable results for each role
- List CFA, CFP, Series 7 and other licenses
- Use consistent date format (MMM YYYY)
- Apply clean, ATS‑friendly layout
- Incorporate industry keywords like 'portfolio construction', 'risk mitigation', 'client acquisition'
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: iCIMS, Workday, Greenhouse, Lever
Keyword Strategy: portfolio management, asset allocation, client acquisition, risk assessment, compliance, AUM growth
Heading Format: Use standard headings like 'Professional Experience' and 'Certifications' to match ATS expectations
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste your current resume text below
- Replace generic objective with targeted summary
- Add numbers to every achievement bullet
- Insert certifications section
- Standardize dates to MMM YYYY
- Apply uniform heading style
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