Stephen Maggard is a Financial Planner with Abacus Planning Group based out of Columbia, SC. He joins the show today to discuss his background and how he made the transition to financial planning from the military. If you are serving our country and eventually want to transition to the financial planning profession, then this episode is for you!

Listen in as Stephen describes why he became interested in financial planning, as well as how he got his foot in the door. You'll learn why he was drawn to the fee-only model and how he has found his right-fit firm. He also opens up about how his military experiences and skills have carried over to add value in a financial planning firm, which has accelerated his success after only a few short years in the business.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3pvMS8p

Matt Elliott is the CEO of J.F. Williams & Company based out of Denver, CO. He joins the show today to talk about making the leap to financial planning from a career in IT, including how he secured a job with a firm he had previously been rejected from.

Listen in as Matt shares how he secured his first job in the industry and why he left that position to pursue an employee career path at an ensemble firm. We also discuss how he was able to develop his skills throughout his career, how he eventually bought into his firm to become the majority shareholder, and how he continues to use the original founder's mentorship and advice to steer the firm forward.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3HeeB3x

Jason Black is a Financial Advisor, and Lee Strongwater is a Senior Advisor and Partner, both at Colorado Capital Management in Boulder, CO. Jason and Lee join the show today to share their individual career journeys, including how they got started in the industry and the pivots they've made along the way.

Listen in as they discuss what brought them to financial planning from other careers, as well as how they overcame the challenges that come with a career change. You'll hear their advice for anyone looking to switch careers and great tips for new planners on achieving success in this field.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3v0Al0o

Nate Nassif is a Talent Management Consultant with a specialty in organizational design, career development, diversity and inclusion, performance measurement, and employee life cycle management. He joins the show today to share his perspective on hiring, culture, and leadership within a large RIA firm.

Listen in as Nate shares why culture and culture fit are crucial elements to a successful employment relationship, how job seekers can find the best opportunities with top firms, and how they can negotiate for a larger compensation. If you want to know what it takes to get hired by a large RIA firm, this episode is for you!

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3gTlGM2

Jayla Blakemore is an Account Executive at New Planner Recruiting, and she joins the show today to talk about how she made her way into financial planning at the University of Georgia—and eventually found her way to my team. If you're in a CFP program and are looking at alternative career paths outside of the lead advisor role, this is an episode you won't want to miss!

Listen in as we discuss what made Jayla change her major from psychology to financial planning, what made her realize she didn't want to become an advisor but still wanted to be involved in the profession, and what she has learned in her transition from student to professional. You'll learn some of the characteristics that set top candidates apart from the rest and how to know when you come across a good opportunity with a good firm.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3gm01fc

Paul Brown is the Founder of Clearstone Wealth Management and Clearstone Business Advisors based out of Spokane, WA. He helps clients manage and grow their entire net worth through comprehensive and strategic financial planning, and he has helped me immensely with my own business over the years!

Listen in as Paul shares how he first got started in financial planning, how he eventually became a consultant to financial advisors, and why he pivoted to start his own financial planning firm. You'll learn how he structures his firm, how he finds and charges clients, and what he believes are the keys to success for new planners just starting in the profession.

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

Welcome to part two of my conversation with Antonio Tovar, an Associate Wealth Manager with Stone Wealth Management based out of Austin, TX. We pick up the conversation by discussing what role Antonio began in at the large financial services firm where he started, how he was able to move up within that firm, and the valuable skills he was able to hone while there.

Listen in to learn why he chose the CFP, how he passed the exam on his first try, and what a typical day at an RIA now looks like for him. If you are a recent graduate just starting out with a large firm and are wondering whether it's the right fit for you, this is an episode you can't afford to miss!

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

Antonio Tovar is an Associate Wealth Manager with Stone Wealth Management based out of Austin, TX. He first got his start in financial planning during a tough job market caused by the coronavirus pandemic. If you are a recent college graduate that joined a large financial services firm but are wondering if it's the right fit, this episode is for you.

Listen in as Antonio discusses how he overcame the difficult job market—including what he said to potential employers once he got them on the phone—and how he secured a full-time position after graduating. You'll hear about the ups and downs of being a new advisor in an entirely virtual environment, why the large broker-dealer firm wasn't the right fit for Antonio, and why he wanted to pursue a position within an RIA.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3FHCu2A

Matt Goren is the Program Director for the American College of Financial Services, and he joins the show today to discuss his transition into financial planning from his previous background in psychology. If you are a career-changer looking to get into the financial planning industry, this is an episode you won't want to miss!

Listen in as Matt shares what his career trajectory was like prior to getting into financial planning, as well as the struggles he faced while changing careers. He also shares how saying "yes" helped to jumpstart his financial planning career, how to turn your prior career experience into assets that firm owners would value, and his thoughts on some of the designations that new planners should consider pursuing.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3zBwvv0

Carol Ann Casebolt is a Wealth Advisor at Martin & Company Tax and Wealth Advisors based out of Valencia, CA. She joins the show today to share what led her into the financial planning field, as well as how her career has evolved since securing her first internship.

Listen in as Carol Ann opens up about her career trajectory, from starting at a large investment company to moving to a broker dealer firm, then ultimately landing at a small, family-owned RIA. You'll learn how her experiences at those organizations helped to shape the ideal client experience she was striving to provide, what new planners can do to free up time for their senior planner, and what the industry can do to attract more women to the profession.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3HtTM4N