New Planner Podcast

Join Caleb Brown, CFP® and Co-founder of New Planner Recruiting along with his guests to learn how to enter the financial planning profession and find your right fit.

* Would you like to be a guest or nominate someone to be a guest on the New Planner Podcast? Contact us at podcast@newplannerrecruiting.com with a note on why you or your nominee would be a great guest on the New Planner Podcast!

May08

Ep #278: Advice Only Model to AUM Model with Kaleb Paddock

What happens when you stumble into a career you didn’t even know existed and end up building a business entirely on your own terms? In this episode, Kaleb Paddock, founder of Ten Talents Financial Planning, shares his unconventional journey into financial planning and the lessons he learned along the way. From discovering the profession through third-party administration work to earning his CFP and gaining hands-on experience at an RIA firm, Kaleb walks through the pivotal moments that shaped ...

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May01

Ep #277: RIA to AI Startup with Brian Abatemarco

Could your strengths lie outside the traditional advisor path? My guest today is Brian Abatemarco, who navigated his career from financial planning into sales, and ultimately into the world of AI startups. From managing clients early in his career to discovering a passion for business development, Brian shares how leaning into your natural strengths can completely reshape your trajectory. Listen in to learn how AI is actually being used inside advisory firms today (and why it’s not replacing ...

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Apr24

Ep #276: Leveraging Hospitality Industry Skills to Develop as a New Planner with Cassidy Vines

What if the key to standing out in your career is starting before you feel ready? In this episode, Cassidy Vines, a financial planning student at Temple University and winner of the 2025 New Planner Recruiting Tuition Scholarship, shares how she took the initiative early to build real-world experience before graduating. You’ll learn how she discovered financial planning, why she made the switch from marketing, and how she turned curiosity into a clear career path. Listen in as Cassidy shares ...

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Apr17

Ep #275: Securing 2 Years of Experience Prior to College Graduation with Francesco D’Amore

What do you do when rejection, setbacks, and uncertainty hit early in your career? In this episode, Francesco D’Amore shares how he turned college rejection, uncertainty about his career path, and limited resources into a clear plan to break into the financial planning profession. From teaching himself to pass the SIE exam using only YouTube to transferring schools and landing internships through networking, Francesco explains how curiosity and persistence shaped his journey. Listen in to ...

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Apr10

Special Episode: Overview of The 2026 Amplified Planning Externship with Hannah Moore

What if you could experience multiple financial planning firms, real client meetings, and industry experts all in one internship? In this episode, Hannah Moore, CEO of Guiding Wealth Management and creator of the Amplified Planning Externship, shares how a unique program started during the pandemic and quickly grew into one of the most recognized learning experiences for aspiring financial planners. Listen in to learn how the Externship works, what participants actually do during the eight-week ...

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Apr03

Ep #274: Overcoming Career Setbacks to Succeed with Erin Varghese and James Conole

What happens when your career doesn’t go according to plan? Today, James Conole and Erin Varghese join the show to share their very different paths into the financial planning profession. They talk about career setbacks, getting fired, starting over, and ultimately finding the right firm and culture to grow their careers. Listen in to learn how Erin transitioned from banking into financial planning, why starting at a small RIA can accelerate your learning, and how James went from being fired ...

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Mar27

Ep #273: Transitioning from a Public Policy Career to Financial Planning with Lisa Schaefer

What does it really take to leave a stable, high-level career and start over in financial planning? In this episode, Lisa Schaefer shares her journey from working in public policy to becoming a financial advisor. You’ll learn how mentorship played a critical role in her transition, why starting with the Series 65 helped her test the waters, and how she navigated the uncertainty of breaking into a completely new industry. Listen in as Lisa opens up about the realities of taking a pay cut, ...

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Mar20

Ep #272: Building a Practice Working with School District Employees with Landon Warmund

How do you build confidence and a successful advisory business when you’re just starting in financial planning? In this episode, financial planner Landon Warmund shares his journey into the profession, from growing up with a father who was a financial planner to developing his own path in the industry. You’ll learn how an early curiosity about money, a chance discovery of a CFP program in college, and a willingness to put in the reps helped Landon begin building his own client base shortly after ...

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Mar13

Ep #271: Leaving a $240k Engineering Job to Start From Zero as a Financial Planner with Aubrey Williams

What would make someone walk away from a 21-year engineering career and a good salary to start a financial planning business from scratch? In this episode, Aubrey Williams of Open Path Financial shares the personal and professional journey that led him to leave engineering and pursue financial planning full-time. You’ll learn how his role gradually shifted from technical work to management and financial decision-making, sparking an interest in personal finance that would ultimately change his ...

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Mar06

Ep #270: Son and Father Duo Specializing in Planning for Military Members with Spencer and Joe Turkal

What happens when a retired military officer and his son decide to build a financial planning firm together and do it their own way? In this episode, Joe and Spencer Turkal, co-founders of Sierra Hotel Financial, share how they transitioned from the insurance channel to launching an independent firm aligned with their long-term philosophy and values. You’ll learn how they evaluated their next move, divided responsibilities based on complementary strengths, and built a client experience rooted ...

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Feb27

Ep #269: Building Confidence in Client Meetings with Annie Gray, Marianne Alagos and Tamsie Black

Tamsie Black, Annie Gray, and Marianne Alamos are recent graduates who have stepped into their first full-time financial planning roles at Wealthway Financial Advisors, and they join the show today to share their journeys into the profession. If you're interested in navigating the transition from student to professional, building confidence early, and preparing for the CFP exam, this episode is for you! Listen in as Tamsie, Annie, and Marianne talk about how each of them discovered financial ...

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Feb20

Ep #268: Setting Yourself Apart as a CFP Student with Brennon Holleb

Brennon Holleb is a Financial Planning and Wealth Management student at Virginia Tech, and he joins the show today to share why he chose to pursue a career in financial planning. If you're interested in how to intentionally prepare for a financial planning career from the very beginning, or what top students are doing to stand out in today's competitive hiring landscape, this episode is for you! Listen in as Brennon shares how his grandparents introduced him to saving, investing, and the ...

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