Geoffrey Schaefer thought he’d work in finance. The Army had other plans.

After serving as a U.S. infantry officer, Geoffrey eventually found his way back to the industry—now as a fee-only fiduciary wealth advisor and partner at an independent firm serving families, retirees, and small business owners.

In this episode, we talk about starting out in a product-driven environment where the tools can be impressive, but the incentives can quietly shape the planning relationship. Geoffrey explains the long-term impact of production culture, why many clients end up with “an investment guy” instead of a real financial planner, and how the conversation changes when you can say the only people who pay you are the clients themselves.

We also go behind the scenes of running an advisory firm—partner dynamics, dividing responsibilities like compliance and investment management, outsourcing what doesn’t belong on an advisor’s desk, and building a multi-generational planning model that serves parents, kids, and grandkids through major life transitions.

Geoffrey closes with practical advice for newer advisors on humility, mentorship, and why earning the CFP early can make a real difference.

If you enjoy conversations with real planners about how this profession actually works, subscribe to the show, share the episode with a colleague, and leave a quick review so others can find it.

Geoff's Blog and Social:

https://thesteadfastfiduciary.com/

https://intergywealth.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffrey-schaefer-intergy/

Music in this episode was obtained from Bensound