Use these 4 tips to boost your paycheck now

Partner Insights from

By Aisling O'Toole

In the US, the Association for Finance Professionals Compensation Survey reports a 4.4% annual base pay increase, for all professional tiers, the largest gain in the past 10 years.

On the surface, the finance sector is most likely to financially reward staff, yet the highest earners and those enjoying the largest bonuses are in the minority when compared to the average finance worker––meaning there's still work to be done in terms of negotiating a pay raise.

Use these four tips to boost your paycheck.

1.  Benchmark yourself

Benchmarking yourself against your peers is important when asking for a salary increase. Researching job boards such as the Financial Planning Job Board can be a great place to start for an industry overview, but if you truly want to boost your earnings, then you need to go beyond the obvious, and benchmark yourself against your own company.

Where does your employer position itself in terms of salary? Is it known as a high or low payer? Financial institutions often benchmark themselves against their competitors and are in constant contact with headhunters to ensure they remain competitive.

Having this knowledge, as well as comparison with your colleagues, will help you bolster your case for an increase.

2.  Treat it like a deal

You've done the market research and benchmarked yourself, but approaching the conversation about a salary increase is similar to pitching for big business. It's all about timing.

Asking for an increase in salary is best done at the start of the financial year or on the back of a successful project. Even with the right timings, it's imperative that you show your value to the company.

How much money did you bring in over the past 12 months? Highlight your value to the company in terms of revenue, and just how much it might cost them to replace you.

3.  Think beyond money

If you've made your case and there's no room for a financial increase, think beyond money and look at non-financial benefits that might improve your work-life balance, or impact your bottom line on a personal level.

Flexible working hours can impact childcare costs, while fully remote working opportunities can impact rental expenditure. There may also be an opportunity for subsidized training that can improve your career prospects, pension contributions, increased healthcare support or stock options. Boosting your remuneration doesn't always have to be purely financial.

4.  Move roles

Even if your negotiation is successful and your employer agrees to increase your salary, you may gain more by moving roles. Research shows that switching companies can result in a 15% salary increase on average, which is higher than what companies generally offer existing staff.

The Financial Planning Job Board is full of opportunities with leading companies across all areas within finance. Below are three companies which are currently hiring.

Mortgage Product Development Specialist, United Wholesale Mortgage, Ponitac
A mortgage wholesaler which underwrites mortgages for independent lenders, United Wholesale Mortgage is currently recruiting for a number of roles including a Mortgage Product Development Specialist. Benefits for employees include health insurance, paid sabbatical opportunities and floating paid time off. Find more information here.

Senior Financial Analyst, Paylocity, Schaumburg
Fintech company Paylocity provides cloud-based financial and HR support to companies across the world, freeing up employees for deeper work. Currently recruiting for a number of roles including a Senior Financial Analyst, Paylocity is committed to ensuring its employees are happy and supported in their roles. Find more information on available opportunities. Apply for this role now.

Financial Policy Writer, Office of The Chief Financial Officer, Washington
The Government of the District of Columbia is in search of a Financial Policy Writer. Here, you'll be responsible for supporting business operations and enterprise-wide technology change initiatives by producing effective written communication in the form of policies, procedures, and other guidelines. If this sounds good, see the full job description and apply today.

Find your perfect fit with plenty more roles waiting for you on the Financial Planning Job Board right now

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.
Partner insights by Amply
MORE FROM FINANCIAL PLANNING