New Planner Podcast

Sometimes building a successful career means being willing to start again, take a step backward, and learn an entirely new skill set. Jonathan McQuade's career has taken him from practice management consulting and supporting wealth management firm owners to working his way up from a client service associate role, launching his own RIA, and eventually becoming a partner in an established firm. In this episode, he shares the unexpected challenges, career decisions, and lessons that shaped his journey, including why he realized consulting wasn't the right long-term fit and what it took to transition into working directly with clients.

Listen in as Jonathan opens up about the realities of starting and running an independent RIA, what became one of the best decisions of his career, and the challenges of learning business development skills as a new planner. You'll hear how genuine, educational conversations help build trust with prospective clients and why professional relationships and mentors can create opportunities years down the track. For aspiring financial planners and career-changers, this conversation offers an honest look at navigating career transitions, building confidence, and finding the right environment to grow.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://tinyurl.com/52jn7yuc

What does it really take to pass the CFP exam, and why can even experienced financial professionals struggle with it? In this episode, Tiffany Guy and Jerry Mee of Boston Institute of Finance discuss their journeys into financial planning, their passion for teaching, and what they've learned from helping students prepare for one of the profession's most challenging qualifications.

Listen in as Tiffany and Jerry share practical advice on building a consistent study schedule, applying financial planning concepts rather than relying on memorization, and knowing when to postpone an exam attempt. They also explain why CPAs, CFAs, and other experienced professionals can have knowledge gaps, how to approach repeated exam failures, and which study tools can help improve readiness. Whether you're entering financial planning, changing careers, or preparing to sit the CFP exam again, this conversation offers valuable insights into studying strategically and building confidence in your knowledge.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://tinyurl.com/5n7jh5hn

Today's guest has taken an unconventional path to building her financial planning career, from overcoming imposter syndrome to buying out her father's firm and introducing retirement coaching. Liz Hand joins the show to share how understanding clients' relationships with money can help them make more intentional financial decisions, why even diligent savers can struggle to feel financially free in retirement, and how planners can look beyond the numbers to help clients align their wealth with what matters most.

Listen in as Liz discusses navigating family business succession with her brother, as well as the thinking behind her book, Money Is a Mirror. You'll hear what new planners can learn from moments of uncertainty and advice for those entering the profession. Liz offers a valuable perspective on combining financial planning with deeper conversations about purpose, beliefs, and the lives that clients want their money to support.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://tinyurl.com/2ctbpsw4

What does it take to build a long-term career in financial planning without following the traditional path of becoming a lead advisor with your own book of business? Sarah Mouser, a financial planning specialist at Merit Financial Advisors, shares how she went from an accounting major and internship to building financial planning teams, developing next-generation advisors and taking on increasingly strategic leadership roles. She discusses the value of mentorship, why internships can shape a career, the different pathways available to planners and advisors, and how she built her confidence and expertise over more than two decades in the profession.

Sarah also explains how technology is changing the way new planners develop their skills, why the traditional six- to eight-year development runway could become shorter, and what she looks for when hiring emerging talent. You'll learn how she approaches professional designations, why interpersonal skills and curiosity can matter more than a candidate's GPA, how to think about finding your own lane in financial planning, and why firms need to rethink how they use technology to support both clients and the next generation of advisors.

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

Sometimes the best way to prepare for a career is to put yourself in situations that force you to grow. In this episode, we speak with Alex Healy, a financial planning student at the University of South Florida, about choosing financial planning as a career, building leadership experience in college, and finding opportunities to learn beyond the classroom.

Alex shares how he discovered financial planning and why he believes student-led organisations can help bring more people into the profession. You'll learn what he looks for in a potential employer, why development, mentorship and training matter when starting a career, how internships have helped him understand different areas of financial planning, and how leadership and public speaking have helped him build confidence. Alex also shares his advice for students entering the profession, including why putting yourself in uncomfortable situations can create valuable opportunities.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://tinyurl.com/4hy57t23

What happens when you apply for an administrative role in financial planning and unexpectedly find yourself on the advisor track instead? Nicole Burdick of Money Maven Financial shares how she went from wanting a safe, behind-the-scenes role to building a career as a financial planner, navigating the challenges of finding clients, learning the profession without a traditional apprenticeship, and developing confidence along the way. You'll learn how her earlier experience running a small business helped her adapt, why a collaborative workplace made such a difference, and what she learned from some of the most difficult years of her career.

Listen in as Nicole explains how she built a planning-led business model, balanced growing her practice with motherhood and family life, and decided what to delegate as her business evolved. She also discusses charging separately for financial planning, setting an investment minimum, using boundaries to shape her client base, and the role the CFP curriculum played in filling gaps in her knowledge. For newer planners and career-changers, Nicole shares practical lessons on building confidence, knowing what you don't need to do yourself, and giving yourself room to pivot when things don't go according to plan.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://tinyurl.com/bdcfw4en

Changing careers after more than a decade in one profession is a big leap, but starting over doesn't necessarily mean starting from scratch. Zachary Zwillinger spent 12 years as a securities litigator before leaving the legal profession to build his own fee-only financial planning firm, bringing skills and experience from his legal career into an entirely new field.

In this episode, Zach shares how he transitioned from lawyer to financial planner, why he launched his own firm rather than join an established practice, and how his legal background helped him tackle CFP education, compliance, and client work. Listen in to learn how he developed a flat-fee model for young lawyers, found his first clients, and built a niche. Zach also discusses the financial preparation that gave him the freedom to change careers, what he's learned from his first year in business, and his advice for planners considering a career change or launching their own firm.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://tinyurl.com/4zc5828t

Changing careers after 25 years in another industry is one thing. Starting again at the bottom of the ladder is another. Kimberly Keesler Herrera, Associate Advisor at Tessara Wealth, made that leap from a successful career in tech into financial planning, approaching the transition with plenty of research, a financial runway, and a willingness to be the "kindergartner" again.

Listen in to hear how Kimberly researched different firm models, why she chose the RIA path, how she prepared for the financial realities of starting over, and how she has used skills from her previous career to build confidence in a new one. She also shares why approaching firms like a prospective client can be a valuable way to learn about the profession and make connections. Her experience offers a practical look at what career-changers can expect when entering financial planning, so make sure to tune in!

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://tinyurl.com/4t6sypzv

What does it take to break into financial planning? Today's guest is Shawn Tydlaska, Founder & CEO of Tessara Wealth, who joins the show to share how he found his right fit in the industry after struggling to find the right opportunity. You'll learn why Shawn ultimately decided to start his own firm (without ever having been a lead planner or having a single client), why he pursued the CFP designation, and how he built a financial planning process designed around the needs of younger professionals.

Listen in as Shawn opens up about the lessons he learned from growing his firm too quickly, evolving his target client, and navigating imposter syndrome. You'll also hear how he found his first client and eventually built a team serving more than 130 people. And don't miss Shawn's advice for new planners and career-changers about finding your fit and building confidence.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://tinyurl.com/5t562es6

What does it really take to successfully change careers and break into financial planning without starting completely from scratch? In this episode, we sit down with Adam Van Deusen, Financial Planning Nerd at Kitces.com, to explore his journey from journalism and international relations into financial planning. Adam shares how he discovered the fee-only planning world, tested the waters through education and volunteer work, earned his CFP® certification, and prepared for an initial 50% pay cut to make the career change.

Listen in to learn how he identified the type of financial planning firm and role that suited his strengths, found his first paraplanner position, and gained valuable experience working alongside multiple lead advisors. You'll also hear why he eventually moved from client-facing planning to Kitces.com, how he gradually expanded his responsibilities by testing new opportunities, and how pro bono financial coaching has allowed him to continue working directly with clients. Plus, Adam offers practical advice for career-changers and new planners on building professional skills, networking, gaining client-facing experience, and leveraging strengths beyond technical financial planning knowledge.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://tinyurl.com/4nxemhj9