Wilson Liu is an associate advisor at Stone Steps Financial, and he joins the show today to share his transition from the tech industry to financial planning. If you're interested in switching industries, navigating a career transition into financial planning, or learning how to build confidence and contribute meaningfully as a new planner, this episode is for you!

Listen in as Wilson shares how his lifelong interest in personal finance and guidance from a friend in the profession helped him learn about different roles and channels, setting him on the path to transition into financial planning. He discusses his job search journey, including networking, interviewing, and navigating rejection, along with his early experiences in client meetings and mentorship at his firm. You'll also hear how Wilson has advanced in his career, the ways he adds value to his team, and his strategies for overcoming imposter syndrome.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/4lj9CmV

John Kiepe is a Founding Partner of Kiepe Wealth Management, and he joins the show today to share his unorthodox journey into the financial planning profession. If you're interested in building a career from the ground up, blending tax and financial planning, or learning how to grow a firm from scratch, this episode is for you!

Listen in as John shares how early roles in customer service - from Domino’s Pizza to a bank and call center - helped build the skills that laid the foundation for his success in financial planning. He also explains what motivated him to launch his own firm and acquire a tax practice, how he navigated the challenges of starting with zero clients, and what he's focusing on now.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/4ltOlY1

Shai Gothreau is the owner and a financial planner at Infinity Financial Services, and she joins the show today to talk about how she was led to financial planning from the desire to help her peers make better financial decisions. If you're interested in pivoting from a corporate career, building a financial planning firm while working full-time, or learning how to attract clients and plan for a future transition, this episode is for you!

Listen in as Shai shares how she began her career in Corporate America while coaching on the side, only to realize that coaching alone didn’t offer the depth she wanted. You'll hear how a few informational interviews helped shift her perception of financial planning, why she’s still in her corporate role, how she attracts clients, and the challenges she navigates while running her firm.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/449LLjB

Joseph Faucette is a financial planning student at Liberty University, and he joins the show today to share what inspired him to enter the field. If you're interested in pursuing a career in financial planning, getting involved in student-led initiatives, or understanding what today’s aspiring planners are looking for in employers, this episode is for you!

Listen in as Joseph shares how he discovered the financial planning major, the coursework he’s completed, and how he’s grown as a leader through involvement in his program. He also discusses his role in his school’s peer financial literacy initiative and how it’s shaping his future career. You'll hear what he’s looking for in an employer, what excites him most about joining the profession, and more.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3ZuV6ji

Today we are joined by two guests from Paradigm Advisors: Michelle Gass, Partner, and Kathleen Hood, Associate Financial Advisor. They both open up about how their career journeys brought them into financial planning, as well as how they’ve successfully collaborated and navigated imposter syndrome while growing the business. If you're interested in finding the right career fit or building strong team dynamics, this episode is for you!

Listen in as Kathleen shares how she got her start in financial planning through a campus job board, which eventually led her to realize the insurance channel wasn’t the right fit and brought her to Paradigm. Michelle discusses founding Paradigm and the thoughtful process of bringing Kathleen onto the team, highlighting the value she adds. Together, they offer a candid look at the challenges they've faced, how they've grown in their careers, and what they anticipate for the future of financial planning.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/4jYRCNf

Gloria Garcia Cisneros is a Wealth Manager at LourdMurray, and she joins the show today to share how she discovered financial planning and has grown her career over the years. If you're interested in breaking into financial planning, navigating career moves across different firm sizes, or hearing an inspiring story of perseverance and purpose, this episode is for you!

Listen in as Gloria shares how her experience growing up in a financially struggling immigrant family shaped her interest in financial planning. She talks about learning to manage her own finances after graduating from UCLA and how conducting informational interviews helped her land her first role in the industry. Gloria also walks through her career path from a small firm to a large one, her journey with the Series 65 exam, and her passion for giving back to her community.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3HN5Umx

Derek Notman, founder and CEO of Couplr AI and co-host of Rethink. The Financial Advisor Podcast, joins the show to share how he transformed a thriving advisory career into a mission-driven entrepreneurial journey. After his passion for investing and mentoring at-risk youth led him to financial planning, Derek ultimately launched his own RIA. In this episode, he pulls back the curtain on how identifying a persistent industry pain point sparked the creation of his fintech startup, where he sees the future of advice heading next, and more.

Listen in as he opens up about his early success in the insurance channel, how he overcame a fear of selling, and how he eventually launched his firm. If you're curious about blending purpose with profit, making the leap from advisor to entrepreneur, or using tech to drive meaningful change in financial services, you won’t want to miss this conversation.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/4kDuch1

Joey Loss is a co-founder of Strivus Wealth Partners, and he joins the show today to share how his career journey led him to start his own RIA and merge with another firm. If you're interested in starting your own firm, navigating career transitions, or learning what it's really like to go through a merger, this episode is for you!

Listen in as Joey shares how a free meal at an FPA meeting sparked his interest in financial planning, leading him to change his major and complete multiple internships during school. He also walks through how he landed his first full-time role, the career decisions that led him to start his own firm, and the eventual merger with another firm. You'll hear about the challenges he faced in both launching and merging a firm—and why the journey has been worth it.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/438MDo0