Podcast
New Planner Podcast
Hosted by Caleb Brown · EN
Join Caleb Brown, CFP and Co-founder of New Planner Recruiting to learn how to enter the profession and find your right fit. Whether you're a CFP program student or transitioning from another career, this podcast is designed to help new Planners gain a solid understanding of the profession, the career options available, and how to accelerate their success in the long term. Tune in weekly for new episodes! Find more tools and resources for Planners and get the free Financial Planner Career Roadmap at NewPlannerRecruiting.com/Roadmap.
20episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Ep #281: From Academia to Starting Own Firm with Andy Baxley
May 2900:23:59Tap to summarizeWhat happens when a psychology major discovers financial planning and decides to completely rethink how advice can be delivered? In this episode, Andy Baxley shares his journey from teaching English in South Korea to working at large financial institutions, discovering the fee-only RIA world, and ultimately launching his own firm, Two Trails Financial Planning. Andy opens up about the career pivots, self-doubt, and entrepreneurial lessons that shaped his path, along with the mindset shifts that helped him finally make the leap into business ownership. We also dive into how Andy is using AI to create more personalized, high-quality client experiences rather than simply automating tasks or reducing costs. He explains how advisors can use AI tools to build bespoke solutions for clients, why understanding psychology and communication is becoming even more important in the age of AI, and how newer planners can find the right career path based on their personality, strengths, and long-term goals. If you're interested in entrepreneurship, career growth, financial planning, or the future of AI in advice, this episode is packed with practical insights you won't want to miss. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://tinyurl.com/mrxxx5jw
Transcribe →Ep #280: Lifelong Educator and Financial Planner with Gary Clement
May 2200:25:25Tap to summarizeWhat does it really take to build a successful financial planning career, and how much of it comes down to education, persistence, and understanding human behavior? In this episode, Gary Clement shares his unconventional journey from a math major with an interest in investments to an experienced financial planner, educator, and PhD holder. He walks through his early days in the industry, the lessons learned from working in high-pressure sales environments, and the pivotal experiences that shaped his transition into financial planning and education. Listen in to learn why behavioral finance is becoming central to the future of advice, how advisors can help clients overcome suboptimal decision-making, and why understanding human behavior is just as important as technical knowledge. Gary also unpacks how real-world experience, licensing, and continuous education can shape long-term career success in financial planning. You'll hear about career strategy for new planners, the importance of early job experience, and how to build momentum in a competitive industry. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://tinyurl.com/3tk7yawv
Transcribe →Ep #279: Building a Book Straight from a CFP Program with Evan Fears
May 1500:27:34Tap to summarizeWhat does it really take to build a successful financial planning career when you're starting from scratch? In this episode, Evan Fears, CFP at Vision Financial Group Georgia, shares how he entered the financial planning industry straight out of college with no guaranteed salary, no inherited client book, and plenty of obstacles standing in his way. From being mistaken for a high school student while meeting with clients to navigating the pressure of building trust as a young advisor, Evan opens up about the realities of growing a business in the early years of his career. Listen in to hear how he found his niche working with educators, why grassroots relationship-building mattered more than flashy online marketing, and how he steadily built confidence, credibility, and a loyal client base that eventually led to becoming a partner at just 29 years old. Evan also offers insights on mentorship, culture fit, finding the right niche market, and what he says is one of the most important skills for new planners entering the profession today. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://tinyurl.com/mvk22jvs
Transcribe →Ep #278: Advice Only Model to AUM Model with Kaleb Paddock
May 800:38:16Tap to summarizeWhat happens when you stumble into a career you didn't even know existed and end up building a business entirely on your own terms? In this episode, Kaleb Paddock, founder of Ten Talents Financial Planning, shares his unconventional journey into financial planning and the lessons he learned along the way. From discovering the profession through third-party administration work to earning his CFP and gaining hands-on experience at an RIA firm, Kaleb walks through the pivotal moments that shaped his career. Listen in to learn how he made the leap to entrepreneurship, the challenges of starting from scratch in a new state, and how he evolved his business model into a virtual family office designed to better serve his clients. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://tinyurl.com/3ykhxaza
Transcribe →Ep #277: RIA to AI Startup with Brian Abatemarco
May 100:26:30Tap to summarizeCould your strengths lie outside the traditional advisor path? My guest today is Brian Abatemarco, who navigated his career from financial planning into sales, and ultimately into the world of AI startups. From managing clients early in his career to discovering a passion for business development, Brian shares how leaning into your natural strengths can completely reshape your trajectory. Listen in to learn how AI is actually being used inside advisory firms today (and why it's not replacing advisors anytime soon), how automation can transform client service and operations, and what it really looks like to take a risk on something new. If you've ever questioned whether you're on the "right" path or wondered how to pivot without starting over, this episode offers a practical and honest look at building a career that works for you. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://tinyurl.com/p4c5dy7n
Transcribe →Ep #276: Leveraging Hospitality Industry Skills to Develop as a New Planner with Cassidy Vines
Apr 2400:26:12Tap to summarizeWhat if the key to standing out in your career is starting before you feel ready? In this episode, Cassidy Vines, a financial planning student at Temple University and winner of the 2025 New Planner Recruiting Tuition Scholarship, shares how she took the initiative early to build real-world experience before graduating. You'll learn how she discovered financial planning, why she made the switch from marketing, and how she turned curiosity into a clear career path. Listen in as Cassidy shares how she secured multiple internships (including through cold outreach), how hands-on experience accelerated her learning, and what she's looking for in a future employer. From leveraging part-time jobs into transferable skills to building confidence in interviews, this conversation is packed with practical insights for anyone looking to break into financial planning and stand out while doing it. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://tinyurl.com/2s43d7np
Transcribe →Ep #275: Securing 2 Years of Experience Prior to College Graduation with Francesco D'Amore
Apr 1700:25:37Tap to summarizeWhat do you do when rejection, setbacks, and uncertainty hit early in your career? In this episode, Francesco D'Amore shares how he turned college rejection, uncertainty about his career path, and limited resources into a clear plan to break into the financial planning profession. From teaching himself to pass the SIE exam using only YouTube to transferring schools and landing internships through networking, Francesco explains how curiosity and persistence shaped his journey. Listen in to learn how to stand out as a student or career-changer, why networking conversations matter more than formal applications, and how internships actually turn into opportunities. You'll hear Francesco's long-term plan for becoming a financial planner, pursuing the CFP certification, and building a career in the industry. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://tinyurl.com/3jha4f6b
Transcribe →Special Episode: Overview of The 2026 Amplified Planning Externship with Hannah Moore
Apr 1000:20:07Tap to summarizeWhat if you could experience multiple financial planning firms, real client meetings, and industry experts all in one internship? In this episode, Hannah Moore, CEO of Guiding Wealth Management and creator of the Amplified Planning Externship, shares how a unique program started during the pandemic and quickly grew into one of the most recognized learning experiences for aspiring financial planners. Listen in to learn how the Externship works, what participants actually do during the eight-week program, and why the community and real-world exposure make such a big impact on career direction. You'll learn who the Externship is for, what skills participants develop, and what to expect this year in terms of timing, pricing, and registration. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://tinyurl.com/727erpwe
Transcribe →Ep #274: Overcoming Career Setbacks to Succeed with Erin Varghese and James Conole
Apr 300:41:25Tap to summarizeWhat happens when your career doesn't go according to plan? Today, James Conole and Erin Varghese join the show to share their very different paths into the financial planning profession. They talk about career setbacks, getting fired, starting over, and ultimately finding the right firm and culture to grow their careers. Listen in to learn how Erin transitioned from banking into financial planning, why starting at a small RIA can accelerate your learning, and how James went from being fired to starting his own firm from scratch. You'll also hear what it takes to build a strong company culture, attract top talent, and embrace imposter syndrome to become a better advisor. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://tinyurl.com/yxa685fy
Transcribe →Ep #273: Transitioning from a Public Policy Career to Financial Planning with Lisa Schaefer
Mar 2700:27:03Tap to summarizeWhat does it really take to leave a stable, high-level career and start over in financial planning? In this episode, Lisa Schaefer shares her journey from working in public policy to becoming a financial advisor. You'll learn how mentorship played a critical role in her transition, why starting with the Series 65 helped her test the waters, and how she navigated the uncertainty of breaking into a completely new industry. Listen in as Lisa opens up about the realities of taking a pay cut, working in a high-pressure, commission-based environment, and ultimately finding the right firm fit that prioritized mentorship and long-term growth. You'll hear about the pivotal moments that helped her make the leap and get practical insights for anyone considering a career change into financial planning. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://tinyurl.com/bdz8p7dm
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