Brett Danko is the president of the Financial Planning Resource Center and managing partner of Main Street Financial Solutions. He joins the show today to share how his interest in financial planning has helped him build two successful companies. If you're interested in building a career in financial planning, passing the CFP exam, or learning tips from an experienced educator, this episode is for you!

Listen in as Brett shares what sparked his interest in financial planning, how he entered the profession and started his own firm, and what led him to begin teaching CFP review classes. You'll hear about his unique teaching style, course offerings, and philosophies for helping students pass the CFP exam. We also talk about why people fail the CFP exam, how the new test format differs from older legacy exams, and Brett's top study tips.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/4a9WFr1

Jeremy Eppley is the Founder of Silverstone Financial. He joins the show today to share his career journey, from discovering his passion for financial planning and securing an internship that led to an entry-level role after graduation to ultimately starting his own firm at age 21. If you're interested in learning how to navigate early career challenges, build a financial planning firm from scratch, or start your own business, this episode is for you!

Listen in as Jeremy recounts launching his firm just three months after entering the workforce. You'll hear about the challenges he faced, including going 11 months without a new client. Jeremy also discusses the designations he pursued, how his firm has grown, and tips he would give others considering starting their own business.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3D7FvxG

Kirsten Ashbaugh is the Director of Sales at Wilkinson Wealth Management, and she joins the show today to share her career journey into financial planning. If you're interested in navigating a career change, using networking to land your first role, or building a successful path in financial planning, this episode is for you!

Listen in as Kirsten shares how her career began at an intelligence agency before a career coach steered her toward financial planning, leading her to use informational interviews to solidify her interest and secure her first role. She also discusses the hardest part of her career transition, how she worked her way up in her firm to become a CFP, and what it was like to carve out her own career path.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/4ikZzNi

How can you kickstart your financial planning career and make an impact early on? In this episode, Associate Financial Advisor Connor Barbella-Roesler shares his journey from discovering his passion for financial planning in college to securing a role at a firm that matched his values. Connor opens up about preparing for and passing the CFP exam on his first attempt, adding value to his firm as a new hire, and navigating the challenges of working in operations.

Listen in to Connor’s advice for aspiring financial planners, including tips for thriving in a virtual work environment and strategies for firms to retain talent and maintain culture. Whether you’re an industry newcomer or a seasoned advisor, you’ll walk away with new ideas to advance your career and create meaningful client experiences.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://tinyurl.com/553mv6tt 

What does it take to ace high-stakes exams like the Series 65? In this episode, I sit down with Brian Lee, Founder of TestGeek Exam Prep, to explore his journey from high school science teacher to exam prep expert. Brian shares how his unique teaching approach, tailored for visual learners, bridges the gap between textbook publishers and the actual exam. You’ll discover why understanding the exam format, especially multiple-choice strategies, can make the difference between passing and failing.

Listen in as Brian provides practical advice on creating a structured study plan, tackling tricky exam sections, and avoiding common mistakes. We also dive into the NASAA and the Series 65, discussing what test-takers need to know to succeed. Whether you're preparing for securities exams or just want insight into effective study habits, this episode is packed with actionable tips to help you achieve your goals.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://tinyurl.com/3hesapzu   

Foster Hyde is a Senior Financial Advisor at the Welch Group based out of Alabama. He joins the show today to share his career journey, from law school to financial planning. If you're interested in learning how to navigate career pivots, overcome setbacks, and build a successful career in financial planning, this episode is for you!

Listen in as Foster recounts how his dream job fell through after college, how he found another position that eventually helped him secure his ideal role, and how his experience at the first firm facilitated the transition. Foster also discusses his initial struggles at his current firm, how he learned and created value, and how he worked his way up to become a shareholder.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/40Ws519

Augustus Christensen is the Founder and CEO of Scoops, and he joins the show today to share how he got into wealth management. If you're interested in the journey from finance to entrepreneurship, learning how to leverage early career experiences, or exploring ways to make financial literacy more accessible, this episode is for you!

Listen in as Augustus shares his college journey, from creating and selling an app to working at the largest student-run credit union at Georgetown University. He also details his first job out of college at JPMorgan, how his experience in wealth management inspired him to start his own company, and his passion for creating content and promoting financial literacy.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/4hR6UDK

Chris Grellas is the co-founder of ProsperPlan Wealth, and he joins the show today to share his wild college journey that brought him into the financial planning profession. If you're interested in hearing how to navigate career pivots, balance personal challenges with professional goals, or explore transitioning from large firms to small RIAs, this episode is for you!

Listen in as Chris talks about starting as a government major, then switching to business, then finance, before finding his ideal fit in financial planning. He explains how an internship with a local firm solidified his career choice, showing him that financial planning could be done without product sales or sourcing new clients. Chris also discusses how he turned that internship into a full-time role, creating value for his firm in various ways that helped him climb the career ladder.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/40Jn0Jw

Have you ever wondered how to turn a career shift into a successful business? In this episode, Kristin Harad, a Business & Marketing Coach for RIA Leaders and Independent Financial Advisors, shares her journey from corporate America to becoming a Certified Financial Planner with her own firm—while balancing life as a new mom. Kristin dives into how she went from attracting clients to discovering her true passion: coaching other advisors on developing a niche and creating growth strategies.

Listen in as Kristin shares what leaders look for in next-gen advisors and the value of understanding the "business development ecosystem" in financial planning. Her insights reveal the importance of business development at every level and how new advisors can contribute significantly to their firm's success.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://tinyurl.com/bdpbfdb4

What motivates someone to change their career path after a life-altering event? In this episode, Kaitlyn Laney, Lead Financial Advisor at Trek Wealth Solutions, shares her journey from studying civil engineering to transitioning into financial planning after a personal family tragedy. Kaitlyn talks about her early career, including internships with major firms and how she advanced despite feeling underqualified.

Listen in as Kaitlyn reflects on her decision to start her own financial firm, as well as the challenges of building a client base from scratch. You'll learn valuable lessons about perseverance, client relationships, and how to turn personal hardship into purpose-driven work.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://tinyurl.com/3c5acpwr