In personal finance, decisions are made about paying for education, financing goods such as real estate and vehicles, buying health and property insurance, and investing and saving for retirement. According to the Financial Planning Standards Board, the six key areas of personal financial planning are: Financial position: understanding what resources are available by looking at the net worth and cash flow of a household Corporate finance is all about providing the funds for a business’ activities. Finance managers: Balance risk and profitability Public finance is concerned with the financial dealings of states, as well as related public entities such as school districts or government agencies. Some typical arenas for working in finance include in actuary (insurance), corporate finance or real estate, financial planning, investment banking and money management. Many of the skills and abilities needed for each area overlap and can benefit you as you move further in your field, or decide to change your focus.