RESUME MISTAKES
Stop Losing Clients Before You Even Get Hired
Identify and correct the biggest resume mistakes financial planners make.
How This Page Helps
Help financial planners create a polished, ATS‑friendly resume that showcases their advisory expertise and drives interview callbacks.
Spot hidden errors that recruiters overlook
Learn actionable fixes for each mistake
Optimize for leading ATS platforms
Follow industry‑specific formatting standards
Access a quick‑fix workshop and checklist
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
Vague Objective StatementMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Fails to convey niche expertise
- Doesn't capture client‑focused value
- Often filtered out by ATS keywords
How to fix
- Replace with a concise professional summary
- Highlight certifications (CFP, CPA)
- Include measurable outcomes
❌ Before
Objective: Seeking a position in finance.
✓ After
Financial Planner with CFP certification and 5+ years advising high‑net‑worth clients, increasing portfolio assets by 30%.
ATS Tip
Include keywords like 'financial planning', 'wealth management', 'CFP'.
Detection Rules
Contains the word 'objective'
Less than 30 words
No industry keywords
Resumly Tip
Swap the objective for a summary that quantifies your impact.
Listing Duties Instead of AchievementsHIGH
Why it hurts
- Recruiters skim for results
- ATS favors numbers and action verbs
How to fix
- Start each bullet with a strong verb
- Add percentages, dollar amounts, client counts
- Focus on outcomes
❌ Before
Responsible for managing client portfolios.
✓ After
Managed $25M in client portfolios, achieving a 12% annual return and retaining 95% of clients.
ATS Tip
Use action verbs and quantifiable metrics.
Detection Rules
Bullets start with 'Responsible for' or 'Assisted with'
No numbers present
Resumly Tip
Turn every duty into a result‑oriented bullet.
Missing Relevant CertificationsMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Certifications are key credibility signals
- ATS often scans for CFP, CPA, ChFC
How to fix
- Create a dedicated Certifications section
- List credential name, issuing body, and year
- Include license numbers if applicable
❌ Before
Education: B.S. Finance, University X
✓ After
Certifications: Certified Financial Planner (CFP), 2021; Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), 2022
ATS Tip
Place certifications near the top of the resume.
Detection Rules
No 'Certifications' heading
Only education listed
Resumly Tip
Add a Certifications block to boost trust and ATS matches.
Improper Date FormattingLOW
Why it hurts
- Inconsistent dates confuse ATS
- Hiring managers may think of it as sloppy
How to fix
- Use month-year format (MM/YYYY)
- Keep dates aligned to the right
- Avoid words like 'Present'—use 'Current'
❌ Before
Jan 2018 – 2020
✓ After
Jan 2018 – Dec 2020
ATS Tip
Standardize all dates to MM/YYYY.
Detection Rules
Dates not in MM/YYYY
Mixed formats
Resumly Tip
Apply a uniform date style across all entries.
Overly Complex DesignHIGH
Why it hurts
- ATS cannot read graphics or tables
- Recruiters prefer clean, scannable layouts
How to fix
- Use a single-column format
- Stick to standard fonts (Arial, Calibri, Times)
- Avoid images, charts, and colored text
❌ Before
Resume includes a sidebar with icons and a chart of performance.
✓ After
Resume uses a clean, left‑aligned layout with bullet points only.
ATS Tip
Save as .docx or PDF (text‑based) for ATS compatibility.
Detection Rules
Presence of tables
Use of graphics
Resumly Tip
Simplify to a text‑only, one‑column design.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF (text‑based), DOCX
Sections: Header, Professional Summary, Core Competencies, Professional Experience, Certifications, Education, Professional Affiliations
Naming: FirstName_LastName_FinancialPlanner_Resume
Consistency
Length: 1‑2 pages for mid‑level planners; 2 pages max for senior roles
Date Format: MM/YYYY
Location Format: City, State (optional)
Resume Quality Checklist
- Use a professional summary with measurable results
- Include CFP or other relevant certifications
- Quantify every achievement
- Standardize dates to MM/YYYY
- Save as PDF (text‑based) or DOCX
- Avoid tables, graphics, and columns
- Incorporate industry keywords (wealth management, retirement planning, etc.)
- Proofread for spelling and grammar
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: Taleo, iCIMS, Workday, Greenhouse, Lever
Keyword Strategy: financial planning, wealth management, portfolio management, CFP, retirement planning, risk assessment
Heading Format: Use standard headings like 'Professional Experience' and 'Certifications' to ensure ATS parsing.
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste your current resume text below
- Convert objective to summary
- Add quantifiable metrics
- Standardize date format
- Insert certifications section
- Simplify layout to single column
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