When I am out traveling the country speaking with new planners seeking to enter the financial planning profession and firm owners seeking to hire them, I often see many of the same mistakes being made. Recently, Carly Schulaka, Editor of the Journal of Financial Planning asked me 10 questions which I have included below that will hopefully assist all parties to experience a much smoother interaction. However, you must click here if you are interested in my answers. Enjoy!

1. One of your areas of expertise pertains to the hiring and successful integration of new planners into firms. What’s the No. 1 mistake you see firm owners make when bringing on a new planner?
2. Let’s say I am a college student who will be graduating from a CFP Board registered program in 2015. What advice would you offer me today to ensure my success landing a job at a planning firm upon graduation?
3. What advice do you have for firms that want to bring on an intern, but they just don’t know where to start?
4. You have mentored and coached career changers and college students. Are there differences between what career changers and new grads can bring to, or offer, a financial planning firm?
5. Do you feel the planning profession currently provides adequate career paths? If not, what do think the profession needs to do to improve the situation?
6. You were instrumental in creating the FPA Career Day program at the FPA of Dallas/Ft. Worth chapter, and that program has since been implemented at many other chapters around the country. What was your inspiration for creating this program, and what do you wish FPA members and chapters get out of it?
7. There seem to be some common perceptions—or perhaps misperceptions—in our culture about members of Generation Y. In your work with Gen Y planners, what do you see as common traits?
8. Part of the service you provide through New Planner Recruiting is pre-screening candidates for your clients who are looking to hire. You also help coach your clients on interviewing candidates. What’s one or two of your favorite interview questions?
9. You are also a Kolbe CertifiedTM Consultant. Do you incorporate Kolbe tests into your recruiting work? If so, what do hiring firms and job seekers gain from that?
10. You are a former president and chairman of NexGen, FPA’s community for planners age 36 and younger. What did you gain from that experience, and what would you consider your biggest accomplishment during your time in NexGen leadership?

Again, if these questions interest you, click here for the full article.