Ep #11: Finding Your True Passion In Financial Planning with Mary Carlson

Mary Carlson is a speaker, author, professor, and blogger for Chief Financial Mom. Today Mary joins the show to share why she pursued a career in financial planning, as well as why she thinks it is the perfect career for working mothers. She also opens up about her education progression, explaining why she pursued a Ph.D. and how she fell in love with the financial counseling aspect of financial planning.

Listen in as she gives examples of how she had to hustle to get her start in politics before changing careers. You will learn what happened earlier in her career that caused her to feel like she was being held back, her strategies for always keeping the door open for new opportunities, and her thoughts on the future of the financial planning profession.

What You'll Learn In Today's Episode:

Why Mary pursued this profession. (1:21)
The key question to ask potential employers. (4:24)
What an AFC is and why it’s beneficial. (10:22)
Why it's important to keep strong relationships. (16:34)
The difference between financial planning and financial counseling. (22:48)
The relationship between money and emotion. (25:55)
Where Mary sees the financial planning profession going. (29:55)

Ideas Worth Sharing:

“Take advantage of those opportunities that your school offers.” - @ChiefFinanceMom Share on X “This is what’s been key in my life, Caleb—it's connecting and networking and reaching out and keeping good relationships with people … don’t burn those bridges.”- @ChiefFinanceMom Share on X “Find what you love and make that your niche.”- @ChiefFinanceMom Share on X

Resources In Today's Episode:

Mary Carlson: Blog | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Caleb Brown: LinkedIn | Twitter
AFCPE Career Paths
AFCPE Accredited Financial Counselor
Chief Financial Mom Free Guide
Coaching in The Field of Finance
Dorothy Durband
Bill Gustafson
New Planner Recruiting, LLC on YouTube

Download your free copy of the New Planner Career Roadmap!

In this roadmap, you'll be guided through the details of various stages of your financial planner career, including position descriptions, licensing, skill and experience level requirements, and compensation ranges.