Sometimes the best way to prepare for a career is to put yourself in situations that force you to grow. In this episode, we speak with Alex Healy, a financial planning student at the University of South Florida, about choosing financial planning as a career, building leadership experience in college, and finding opportunities to learn beyond the classroom.

Alex shares how he discovered financial planning and why he believes student-led organisations can help bring more people into the profession. You'll learn what he looks for in a potential employer, why development, mentorship and training matter when starting a career, how internships have helped him understand different areas of financial planning, and how leadership and public speaking have helped him build confidence. Alex also shares his advice for students entering the profession, including why putting yourself in uncomfortable situations can create valuable opportunities.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://tinyurl.com/4hy57t23

What happens when you apply for an administrative role in financial planning and unexpectedly find yourself on the advisor track instead? Nicole Burdick of Money Maven Financial shares how she went from wanting a safe, behind-the-scenes role to building a career as a financial planner, navigating the challenges of finding clients, learning the profession without a traditional apprenticeship, and developing confidence along the way. You'll learn how her earlier experience running a small business helped her adapt, why a collaborative workplace made such a difference, and what she learned from some of the most difficult years of her career.

Listen in as Nicole explains how she built a planning-led business model, balanced growing her practice with motherhood and family life, and decided what to delegate as her business evolved. She also discusses charging separately for financial planning, setting an investment minimum, using boundaries to shape her client base, and the role the CFP curriculum played in filling gaps in her knowledge. For newer planners and career-changers, Nicole shares practical lessons on building confidence, knowing what you don't need to do yourself, and giving yourself room to pivot when things don't go according to plan.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://tinyurl.com/bdcfw4en

Changing careers after more than a decade in one profession is a big leap, but starting over doesn't necessarily mean starting from scratch. Zachary Zwillinger spent 12 years as a securities litigator before leaving the legal profession to build his own fee-only financial planning firm, bringing skills and experience from his legal career into an entirely new field.

In this episode, Zach shares how he transitioned from lawyer to financial planner, why he launched his own firm rather than join an established practice, and how his legal background helped him tackle CFP education, compliance, and client work. Listen in to learn how he developed a flat-fee model for young lawyers, found his first clients, and built a niche. Zach also discusses the financial preparation that gave him the freedom to change careers, what he's learned from his first year in business, and his advice for planners considering a career change or launching their own firm.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://tinyurl.com/4zc5828t