The financial services industry is facing a growing challenge: a large share of financial advisors are nearing retirement and there are not enough licensed professionals ready to replace them.

UNLV’s Department of Finance is responding to this workforce shift by rethinking how students prepare for the profession. This spring, the department launched a credit-bearing course designed to prepare students for two of the most in-demand licenses in financial services: the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam and the Series 65 exam.

It's part of a broader approach at UNLV to pair academic learning with industry expectations so students graduate ready to step directly into professional roles. 

How Hiring in Finance is Changing  

The course grew out of conversations finance professor and department chair Daniel Chi had with financial services firms about hiring practices and workforce needs.

“One large brokerage firm told me that if they receive 100 applications, maybe 20 candidates have the SIE license — and those are the ones who get interviews,” Chi said. “If one of them also has the Series 65, that’s often the person who gets hired.”

Most finance students pursue industry licenses only after graduating. FIN 490-1002 takes a different approach by embedding exam preparation directly into the curriculum, giving students an advantage in a competitive job market. Rather than treating licensure as optional or outsourcing preparation to third-party exam prep companies, Lee Business School embedded exam preparation directly into the curriculum.

As experienced advisors step away from the profession, firms are accelerating succession planning to avoid service gaps and preserve long-standing client relationships. Wealth management and advisory services are widely viewed as growth sectors, fueled by demographic shifts.

Liz Ann Sonders, chief investment strategist at Charles Schwab, describes wealth management as a major growth area, driven in part by widespread succession planning. For students entering the field, that shift creates opportunities, but only for those who are prepared with the credentials and practical knowledge firms now expect.

Preparing Students for a Changing Industry

The licensure course is one example of how Lee Business School adapts programs to keep pace with changes in the business world, pairing classroom learning with real-world exposure.

Earlier this year, Lee Business School students traveled to New York City through the Rebels on Wall Street program, where they visited major financial firms and saw firsthand how artificial intelligence and data analytics are reshaping modern finance and investment strategy.

Together, these experiences reflect an approach that combines practical exposure with academic preparation.

Why This Matters in Southern Nevada

As a major retirement destination, Las Vegas is home to thousands of individuals and families navigating investments, retirement income, and long-term financial planning — driving demand for professionals who can help guide those decisions.

Chi often compares financial advisors to physicians.

“Financial advisors are money doctors,” he said. “They help people stay financially healthy over a lifetime.”

Ken Winans, founder of Winans Investments and a longtime financial services leader in Southern Nevada, sees licensure-ready graduates as essential to the region’s economic future. 

“The global financial service industry is thriving, and Las Vegas will directly benefit from the migration of investment companies from traditional financial centers,” Winans said. “We need to grow a domestic base of young professionals that are properly licensed and ready to go to work.”

Winans has pointed to Las Vegas’ growing prominence as a financial and investment center, driven by a business-friendly environment and increased activity in wealth management.

Inside the Course

FIN 490-1002 blends self-paced study with bi-weekly meetings to keep students accountable and progressing toward licensure. Students use professional exam-preparation materials, track progress together, discuss challenging concepts, and hear directly from industry professionals. The course is supervised by assistant professor Daisy Liu, who supports students throughout the preparation process.

To reduce cost barriers, the department partnered with Kaplan to secure a 30 percent discount on study materials. Community partner Winans Investments is providing an additional 30 percent discount and covering exam fees for the first 10 students enrolled.

For Chi, the course reflects a broader shift in higher education — one that emphasizes tangible outcomes alongside traditional academic learning.

“It’s not enough for students to simply understand the theory,” he said. “They need the credentials and practical knowledge that allow them to step into the profession with confidence — especially as the industry prepares for a generational transition."