Retirement is supposed to be a finish line, but for a lot of people, it’s really a transition, identity, purpose, relationships, and what you do with your time when the calendar finally opens up.

In this episode, Jude Boudreaux and Caleb Arringdale discuss retirement, legacy, and what it looks like to build a people-first planning career with John Longstaff, founder of The Planning Center’s Fresno office. John shares his unexpected path from pharmacy to financial planning, his leadership experience during the early CFP organization years, and what he learned after decades of guiding families through real-life money decisions. He also reflects on succession, trust, and why consistency matters more than perfect timing.

Here’s what you can expect:

• John’s transition from pharmacist to planner, and why service always came first
• What it was like helping shape the CFP profession through the ICFP and the eventual merger into today’s landscape
• The real drivers behind moving a firm to fee-only, and how client trust made the transition work
• Retirement realities, purpose after work, and how a chef gig became a second calling
• And more!

Connect with Jude Boudreaux CFP®:

• The Planning Center
• LinkedIn: Jude Boudreaux
• jude@theplanningcenter.com
• Phone: (504) 717-4862

Connect with Caleb Arringdale:

• LinkedIn: Caleb Arringdale
• caleb@theplanningcenter.com
• Phone: (309) 797-4030

Connect with John Longstaff:

• LinkedIn: John Longstaff

About our Guest:

John Longstaff is the retired founder of The Planning Center’s Fresno office and a longtime financial planning practitioner with more than three decades of experience. He has served in leadership roles within the CFP profession, including as president of the Institute of Certified Financial Planners (ICFP), and has been deeply involved in the evolution of the planning community. In retirement, John stays active through service and community work, including leading meal preparation for events at his church.