What You'll Do

  • Advise clients or respond to inquiries about financial matters in person or via phone, email, Web site, or Internet chat.
  • Assess clients' overall financial situations by reviewing income, assets, debts, expenses, credit reports, or other financial information.
  • Calculate clients' available monthly income to meet debt obligations.
  • Create debt management plans, spending plans, or budgets to assist clients to meet financial goals.
  • Estimate time for debt repayment, given amount of debt, interest rates, and available funds.
  • Explain services or policies to clients, such as debt management program rules, advantages and disadvantages of using services, or creditor concession policies.
  • Interview clients by telephone or in person to gather financial information.
  • Maintain or update records of client account activity, including financial transactions, counseling session notes, correspondence, document images, or client inquiries.
  • Negotiate with creditors on behalf of clients to arrange for payment adjustments, interest rate reductions, time extensions, or payment plans.
  • Prepare written documents to establish contracts with or communicate financial recommendations to clients.

Essential Skills

Speaking 4.0/5
Reading Comprehension 3.88/5
Active Listening 3.88/5
Writing 3.75/5
Critical Thinking 3.75/5
Active Learning 3.62/5
Service Orientation 3.62/5
Complex Problem Solving 3.5/5
Judgment and Decision Making 3.5/5
Persuasion 3.38/5
Negotiation 3.25/5
Mathematics 3.12/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to understand the kind of profile this role rewards. It helps you judge whether this career looks like a stronger match than your current role, a nearby move worth exploring, or a broader path to compare more seriously.

Top passions

  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
  • Helper: Supporting people and making a difference matters to you.
  • Leader: Taking charge and moving ideas forward motivates you.

Common styles

Dependability, Attention to Detail, Integrity, Empathy, Sincerity

Want a personal read on fit? Take the free assessment and compare this career to your current role, nearby alternatives, and broader stronger-fit options.

Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Oral Expression 4.12/5
Oral Comprehension 4.0/5
Written Comprehension 3.88/5
Written Expression 3.75/5
Problem Sensitivity 3.75/5
Deductive Reasoning 3.75/5
Inductive Reasoning 3.75/5
Information Ordering 3.25/5

Technologies & Tools

Chat software Cooperative Processing Resources DMS Professional Suite CoreLogic DebtorTrace Email software Freddie Mac Loan Prospector ICCO CreditSoft Integrant DebtLogic LexisNexis LexisNexis Accurint Merlin Information Services databases Microsoft Access Microsoft Dynamics Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Word Oracle PeopleSoft Paragon Financial Services Paragon Financial System Prime Debt Soft Debt Settlement

Work Environment & Strengths

Common Strengths for This Career

  • Dependability (High importance: 4.77/5)
  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.75/5)
  • Integrity (High importance: 4.7/5)
  • Empathy (High importance: 4.62/5)
  • Sincerity (High importance: 4.49/5)

Want to see how YOUR strengths align with this career?

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How to Become One

Most employers require a bachelor's degree in a relevant field. Some positions may also require experience through internships, co-ops, or entry-level work to strengthen your candidacy.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Accredited Financial Counselor Branch Credit Counselor Certified Consumer Credit and Housing Counselor Certified Credit and Housing Counselor Certified Credit Consultant Certified Credit Counselor Consumer Credit Counselor Credit Associate Credit Balance Specialist Credit Card Specialist Credit Counselor Credit Representative Credit Review Specialist Credit Services Representative Credit Services Specialist Credit Specialist Credit Support Counselor Credit Support Specialist Debt and Budget Counselor Debt Counselor Debt Management Counselor Financial Aid Administrative Assistant Financial Aid Advisor Financial Aid Coordinator Financial Aid Counselor Financial Aid Officer Financial Assistance Advisor Financial Health Counselor Home Lending Advisor Housing Counselor Loan Advisor Loan Servicer Loan Servicing Assistant Loan Servicing Associate Loan Servicing Supervisor Mortgage Advisor Mortgage Counselor Personal Finance Counselor Student Financial Aid Counselor Student Loan Counselor

Career Fit FAQs

Is this career a good fit for me

This page shows the role itself. To see personal fit, use the assessment to compare your interests, motivations, and strengths against this career and against the role you are in now.

Can this help if I want to stay in my field

Yes. Many people use career pages like this to compare nearby roles in the same field and see whether they need a full switch or a better-fit version of the work they already know.

What should I compare first

Start with the daily tasks, the preparation level, and the work-style signals on this page. Then use the assessment to see whether this role looks like a stronger fit than your current role or just a different title.