financial planner

Ep #180: From Unpaid Intern to Firm Owner in 5 Years with Alden Shmerling

Alden Shmerling, a Partner at Elwood and Goetz in Atlanta, GA, joins the show today to share her path from a business major to a sought-after financial planner. Reflecting on the challenges of securing an entry-level position in a competitive market, Alden reveals the pivotal moments that shaped her career and how she navigated unpaid internships, reached out to mentors, and made bold career moves. Listen in as she offers insights into seizing opportunities, overcoming fears, and ultimately ...

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Aug04

EP #144: A PATH TO STARTING YOUR OWN FIRM AT 26 WITH MATT GARASIC

Matt Garasic is the Founder of Unrivaled Wealth Management based out of Pittsburgh, PA, and he joins the show today to discuss how he found his way to financial planning—despite thinking it was only insurance sales. If you feel stuck and need someone to take a chance on you, even if you might not have the level of experience they are looking for, then this is an episode for you! Listen in as Matt shares his unique journey from an initial pursuit in Petroleum Geology to becoming a financial ...

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Jun17

Ep #86: Turning Down an 8 Figure Offer to Keep Building with John Fennig

John Fennig is the Co-Founder of KFA Private Wealth based out of McLean, VA, where they serve over 800 households with $700 million in AUM. He joins the show today to share how he got his start in the financial planning industry, as well as what eventually led to him starting his own firm. Listen in as John opens up about his journey, including why he pursued the CFP and CPA designations, how he managed a large transition during a period of market and economic volatility, and the challenges he ...

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Mar25

Ep #75: From Property and Casualty Agent to Financial Planner with Sandy Russ

Sandy Russ is an aspiring financial planner based in Raleigh, NC. She joins the show today to talk about her career path and the transition she is going through right now to become a financial planner. She also shares what led her to start her own property and casualty insurance agency, the challenges she had to overcome with the PNC business, and what it is like to shut down a successful business because it's not your passion. Listen in to hear how Sandy's CPA has helped her throughout her ...

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Mar11

Ep #73: Transitioning from the Military to Financial Planning with Stephen Maggard

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 ...

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Dec03

Ep #59: Immigrating to the US and Becoming a Financial Planner with Juan Guevara

Juan Guevara is a Financial Planner with JF Williams & Co. in Denver, CO. After immigrating to the US from Ecuador, Juan finished off his last year of high school, began college, and got into the financial planning profession. He joins the show today to share his journey and the success he has found in the profession. Listen in as Juan talks about how he got his start in financial planning, why the first channel he started in was not the best fit for him, and how he secured his position ...

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Nov05

Ep #55: Pivoting Away From Tax Accounting to Financial Planning with Cole Christian

Cole Christian is a Wealth Strategist based out of St. Louis, MO, who initially began his financial planning career pursuing an accounting degree and becoming a Certified Public Accountant. He joins the show today to share his journey into the financial planning world and how his career has pivoted from accounting to financial planning. Listen in as Cole shares his beginning in financial planning, including the very unique internship situation he found himself in and why he chose to work for a ...

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Oct22

Ep #53: From Admin Assistant to CEO with Tina Mistry

Tina Mistry is a Financial Advisor with Portfolio Advisors in Fresno, CA. She joins the show today to share how she found her first job in financial planning while she was still a college student, as well as what she did to progress to become a Lead Advisor and, ultimately, the owner of the firm. She also describes how she passed the CFP exam and gained confidence as a newer planner. Listen in as Tina opens up about the challenges she faced and how she overcame them, plus specific ideas for ...

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Oct15

SPECIAL EPISODE: Bringing Minority Planners into the Profession with Emlen Miles-Mattingly and Luis Rosa

Luis Rosa and Emlen Miles-Mattingly join the show today to discuss the BLX internship program they co-created with Chloe Moore and Shawn Tydlaska. In this episode, Luis and Emlen share the "why" behind the BLX program, which stems from their personal struggles in entering the financial planning profession, a desire to increase the number of Black and Latino financial planners, and wanting to make advice more accessible to Americans who desperately need it. Listen in as they share the ...

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Oct01

Ep #51: New College Graduates to Lead Planners in 4 Years with Emily Boyd and Brandon Gutierrez

Emily Boyd and Brandon Gutierrez are Financial Advisors with Browne, Draper & Land Financial Concepts in Dalton, GA. Today they join the show to discuss how they learned about the profession, including what intrigued them to become involved in the industry, what their roles look like day-to-day, and how these tasks have changed as their careers have progressed. If you are in an associate planner role and want to move into a lead planner role, then this episode is for you. Listen in as ...

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Aug13

Ep #44: Joining a Firm to Serve LGBTQ+ Clients with Pietro Messina

Pietro Messina is a financial planner with Christopher Street Financial in New York City. As a part of the LGBTQ+ community, Pietro wanted to join a firm that matched his values, and today he shares his path into financial planning, including why he chose the career, what education he pursued, and how he secured his internships. Listen in as we talk about how his professional goals changed as his career progressed, as well as what he enjoys the most about being a financial planner. You'll hear ...

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Jul14

Timing Your First Hire

Much of our time in hiring engagements with financial planning firms involves discussing team structure, role development, and overall hiring strategy. In particular, we spend a lot of time discussing with business owners about when they should hire, and for what role at various points in their business. Obviously, every firm is different and there are some variances, but many successful firms have followed this path. Nonetheless, below is a chart to help ensure you are considering ...

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