The financial services firm Edward Jones is partnering with Securities Training Corporation to help prepare students for a career as a financial advisor, according to a news release issued by Edward Jones. The partnership was formed to encourage more students to consider a career as a financial advisor.

Beginning this fall, Kansas State University will offer a credit course that prepares students to take the Series 7 exam. All materials used by faculty, as well as training provided to these instructors, will be provided by STC with the $5,000 cost paid by Edward Jones. The financial services firm has committed to pay the cost of adding this course to the curricula of 10 universities that currently offer a financial planning sequence.

The partnership is a step in the right direction, says NAIFA President John Nichols. According to the GAMA Foundation’s Advisor 2020, sponsored by NAIFA, the demand for insurance and financial advisors will outpace the average growth of the U.S. workforce by 2020. However, the pool of candidates for these jobs will begin to shrink as the numbers of college graduates and early career changers decline.

NAIFA is developing programs to prepare its members for the changes and opportunities described in Advisor 2020.