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!

Jul10

Ep #287: Immigrating to the USA and Launching a Firm Serving Immigrants with Imade Iyamu

What does it take to move to a new country, earn an MBA, become a CFP®, and launch a wealth management firm—all in under four years? In this conversation, Imade Iyamu shares how she built Arusha Wealth after immigrating to the United States, and why her mission is focused on helping immigrants and cross-border clients navigate some of the most complex financial systems in the world. We explore the real challenges behind building financial stability in a new country, from credit systems and ...

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Jul03

Ep #286: Transitioning from Tech to RIA Firm Owner with Jamie Clark

What happens when a software engineer decides to start over and build a career in financial planning? In this episode, Jamie Clark shares their journey from a successful career in technology to becoming a CFP professional and founder of their own financial planning firm. You'll learn how they navigated a major career transition, prepared financially for a significant pay cut, built confidence in a new profession, and discovered that financial planning was the right fit for their long-term ...

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Jun26

Ep #285: 11 Years into a Financial Planning Career with Brooke Jackson

What does it really take to grow through every stage of a financial planning career—from intern to advisor, from small firm to large firm, and back again? In this episode, Brooke Jackson, an advisor at Painted Porch Advisors, shares her 11-year journey in the profession and the lessons learned through every transition. Brooke walks through how she discovered financial planning at Texas Tech, what drew her into the profession, and how early mentorship shaped her foundation. She also shares ...

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Jun19

Ep #284: 1 Year into a Financial Planning Career with Krystal LaFollette

What really happens in your first year as a financial planner when you move from the classroom into real client meetings? In this episode, Krystal LaFollette, Financial Planning Associate at Schulz Wealth in Mansfield, TX, shares her journey into the profession and what it was really like transitioning from student to practicing advisor. From early nerves and imposter syndrome to finding her footing inside a small, hands-on firm, Krystal reflects on the highs, lows, and unexpected lessons of her ...

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Jun12

Ep #283: College Student to Partner in 3 Years with Hanna Molta

What if your first job in financial planning didn’t just lead to experience but to a partnership in under three years? In this episode, Hanna Molta, Partner at Seven Hills Financial, shares her unusual and fast-tracked journey into the financial planning profession, starting with zero financial literacy and a chance conversation at a restaurant. Listen in as Hanna walks through how mentorship, initiative, and a willingness to start with administrative work helped her move from student to ...

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Jun05

Ep #282: Banker to Director of Financial Planning with Preston Henry

What does a successful financial planning career actually look like behind the scenes? In this episode, Preston Henry, Director of Financial Planning at Sugarloaf Wealth Management, shares the winding and unconventional path that took him from golf course conversations and banking roles to becoming a leader inside a growing RIA. Along the way, Preston opens up about the risks, career pivots, mentors, and mindset shifts that shaped his journey through multiple areas of the financial services ...

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May29

Ep #281: From Academia to Starting Own Firm with Andy Baxley

What happens when a psychology major discovers financial planning and decides to completely rethink how advice can be delivered? In this episode, Andy Baxley shares his journey from teaching English in South Korea to working at large financial institutions, discovering the fee-only RIA world, and ultimately launching his own firm, Two Trails Financial Planning. Andy opens up about the career pivots, self-doubt, and entrepreneurial lessons that shaped his path, along with the mindset shifts that ...

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May22

Ep #280: Lifelong Educator and Financial Planner with Gary Clement

What does it really take to build a successful financial planning career, and how much of it comes down to education, persistence, and understanding human behavior? In this episode, Gary Clement shares his unconventional journey from a math major with an interest in investments to an experienced financial planner, educator, and PhD holder. He walks through his early days in the industry, the lessons learned from working in high-pressure sales environments, and the pivotal experiences that shaped ...

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May15

Ep #279: Building a Book Straight from a CFP Program with Evan Fears

What does it really take to build a successful financial planning career when you’re starting from scratch? In this episode, Evan Fears, CFP at Vision Financial Group Georgia, shares how he entered the financial planning industry straight out of college with no guaranteed salary, no inherited client book, and plenty of obstacles standing in his way. From being mistaken for a high school student while meeting with clients to navigating the pressure of building trust as a young advisor, Evan opens ...

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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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