Sara Stollberger is the Director of Financial Planning at Bridgewater Advisors based out of New York, and she joins the show today to share her story of how she began her financial planning career after spending more than five years as an actress. If you are a career changer seeking to enter the financial planning profession, this is an episode you won’t want to miss! Listen in as Sara shares how she knew it was time to pursue something outside of acting (despite having had success in the ...
Ep #93: Helping Grow a Small Fee-Only Firm with Frank Fernandez
Frank Fernandez is an Associate Planner with Weingarten & Associates, a planning-centric fee-only firm based out of Trenton, NJ that is led by a husband and wife team. If you are seeking to add value to a small yet growing firm, this is an episode you won’t want to miss! Listen in to hear how Frank initially found the CFP program, why he pursued three voluntary internships, and how he approached taking both the CFP and the Enrolled Agent exams. We also discuss why he sought out a ...
Ep #92: How to Make Yourself More Marketable with Louis Diamond
Louis Diamond is the President of Diamond Consultants, a financial advisor recruiting firm based out of Morristown, NJ. He joins the show today to discuss the recruiting landscape from a mergers and acquisitions perspective, including how the various channels are vying for established financial advisors in a highly competitive market. If you think your firm might be acquired, this is an episode you definitely won’t want to miss! Listen in as Louis shares the top reasons that financial planners ...
Ep #91: Pivoting from a Failed Succession Plan with Cecil Staton
Cecil Staton is the President and Wealth Advisor with Arch Financial Planning. He joins the show today to chat about his journey in the financial planning industry, including how he got started and why ultimately decided to start his own firm. Listen in as Cecil shares why the fee-only RIA model was the best fit for him, as well as how he was able to leverage his network to find an opportunity that best aligned with his career goals. You'll learn the catalyst that led to him establishing his ...
Ep #90: Finding the Right Path After Changing Careers with Steve Kampschmidt
Steve Kampschmidt joins the show today to share how he got started in the financial planning industry, including what it was like trying to enter the profession in a down market. After transitioning from his job to the bank channel, Steve used that position to leverage his way into an entry-level opportunity in a wirehouse training program before ultimately building his own RIA. Tune in as he shares what he learned from his time in the corporate world that has helped him in his financial ...
Ep #89: How to Pass the Series 65 Exam with Shane Kozusko
Shane Kozusko is a recent graduate from the University of Georgia’s Financial Planning degree program. He joins the show today to talk about how he passed the Series 65 exam, including why he chose to take it, even though it wasn't a requirement for him. If you are planning to take the Series 65, this is an episode you can’t afford to miss! Tune in as Shane shares the materials that he found the most helpful through the exam, as well as insider tips on the type of questions that he saw most ...
Ep #88: Exhibiting Passion, Determination, and Grit to Get Hired with Jake Smail
Jake Smail is a Financial Planning Associate at Demming Financial Services based out of Cleveland, OH. He joins the show today to discuss his entry into the financial planning profession, including the approach he took when trying to get hired in early 2020 during the beginning of the pandemic. If you are a middle-of-the-pack job seeker and want to have success in financial planning, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. Take a listen as Jake shares how his experiences have helped him ...
Ep #87: Pivoting From History Professor Path to Financial Planner with Matt Trogdon
Matt Trogdon is a Financial Planner with Craftwork Capital based out of Washington, DC, and he joins the show today to share his unexpected journey to becoming a financial planner. If you are considering changing careers to become a financial planner, you definitely don’t want to miss this episode! Listen in as Matt shares why he pursued a history degree despite having an interest in financial planning from an early age, and how a chance meeting with a friend made him start to seriously ...
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 ...
Ep #84: Moving Your Family Across the Country for a Good Fit with Stephen Nelson
Stephen Nelson is a Senior Financial Planner with Mills Wealth Advisors based out of Southlake, TX. He joins the show today to talk about his path into the financial planning profession and how it led him to his current firm, which he knew was the right fit for him and his family. Listen in as Stephen shares why he pivoted away from pursuing a career in law, as well as how his early years in the insurance channel positioned him for success. You'll learn why he walked away from six years of ...
Ep #82: What Firm Owners Look For In Their First Hire with Kali and Eric Roberge
Eric Roberge is the Founder and and Kali Roberge is the COO of Beyond Your Hammock, a fee-only independent financial planning firm based out of Boston that serves professional clients in their 30s and 40s. They stop by the show today to share how they have grown their business from scratch almost 9 years ago. Listen in as we discuss why they chose to focus on a younger clientele with high incomes, what it’s like working with your spouse, and what the very first role they hired for was, ...
Ep #80: Transitioning from the Hospitality Industry to Financial Planning with Chloe Denning
Chloe Denning is an Analyst with Wealthstream Advisors based out of New York City, and she joins the show today to talk about how she pivoted from a successful career in the hospitality industry to jump into the financial planning profession. If you are in a career that serves people but are looking for a more rewarding and fulfilling role, this is an episode for you! Listen in as Chloe discusses how she first found the financial planning industry, how she was able to complete the CFP education ...