Ep #148: How to Pass the Series 7 Exam with Kyle Jahnke

Jason McGarraugh is a Financial Advisor with BentOak Capital based out of Houston, TX, and he joins the show today to share his journey from growing up on a farm to becoming a financial planner. After overcoming academic challenges to excel in graduate school, pass the CFP exam, and succeed in a succession plan with a retiring advisor, Jason's unique path proves that hard work and determination can truly move the needle.

Listen in as he opens up about his early introduction to the field through his grandparents' estate planning, as well as how he transitioned into financial planning after an initial career in the food service industry. You'll hear powerful insights, valuable advice for new planners navigating their careers, and more.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/4bZmB9k

Maria Sotomayor and Drew Friesen are the 2022 and 2023 recipients of the New Planner Recruiting Tuition Reimbursement scholarship, and they join the show today to discuss their respective journeys into the financial planning profession. If you are a new or soon-to-be college graduate, this is an episode you won’t want to miss!

Listen in as Maria and Drew discuss their entry into the field, including their educational paths and future aspirations to utilize their degrees to help others. They also share insights into their understanding of financial planning, their roles within it, their biggest fears about joining the profession, and what excites them the most.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/49shD2Q

Deven Patel is a Financial Advisor at Windsor Wealth Planners and Strategists based out of Gainesville, GA, and he joins the show today to share what he does each day as he splits his time between helping senior planners serve existing clients and building his own book of business. If you are seeking more of a hybrid role where you support an existing set of clients but also bring your own, this is an episode for you!

Listen in as Deven shares his journey toward securing a role with a unique structure, highlighting his methods for gaining entry into the field. We also discuss his strategies for client acquisition, his focus on a specific niche client, and how his prior work experiences—coupled with his achievements in passing the series 65 and CFP exams—have rapidly advanced his career, allowing him to take the lead in planning meetings in under two years.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/49A1Fn5

Becca Phillips is an Associate Financial Planner with Horst & Graben based out of Portland, OR, and she joins the show today to discuss her "why" for pursuing a career in financial planning. From her initial exposure to the field that cemented her passion to breaking into the industry and her pursuit of the FPQP designation, you'll get to hear about her journey through networking, certifications, and more.

Listen in as Becca opens up about how she overcame feelings of inadequacy to secure a position at her current firm, her challenges during the transition, and the supportive team environment that has welcomed her. You'll discover how she got to where she is today and the key lessons she learned along the way.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42lBA8S

Jen Pritchard is a Lead Financial Advisor with Bannerman Wealth Management Group. She joins the show today to share her progression through the financial planning industry, detailing her experiences with multiple internships, her first job, and the challenges she faced in finding the right fit. If you are struggling to find that sometimes elusive right-fit firm, then this is an episode for you.

Listen in as Jen talks about her transition from working in a back office planner role to becoming a lead advisor, highlighting the importance of communication and finding a role that matches one's career aspirations. She also offers insights on the importance of networking, being proactive in career development, and finding a firm that aligns with both your personal values and professional goals.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/47Q8xLO

Today, we welcome back Jesse Lineberry to interview Caleb on his new book, Finding your Path: The Roadmap from Student to Successful Financial Planner. If you are looking to excel in the financial planning field, this is an episode you won’t want to miss!

Listen in as we dive into the purpose behind the book, how to navigate the profession, and the various career paths that are available. We also discuss how to avoid common pitfalls, making this a valuable episode for both fresh graduates and career changers interested in financial planning.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3SdD9kw

Nathan McDuffee is a Financial Advisor with Oliver Wealth Management based out of Towson, MD, and he joins the show today to share his journey from working as a painter and Assistant Manager at a paint store—and struggling with personal finances—to becoming a successful financial planner. If you are considering a career change from a completely unrelated industry, this is an episode for you!

Listen in as Nathan discusses his path to obtaining CFP certification, the challenges and mistakes he made along the way, and his progression from a paraplanner to a lead planner role in three years. You'll learn the transferable skills from his previous career that enabled his success in financial planning, insights into handling difficult client situations, and tips for new planners.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/48DVrCN

Taylor Bell is the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Compliance Officer for Colton Groome Financial based out of Asheville, NC, and she joins the show today to share her story of transitioning into the financial planning profession. If you aren't quite sure yet whether you want to be on the advisory or operations side of the business, then this episode is for you!

Listen in as Taylor opens up about her experience climbing the ranks in a small family business, the pursuit of new opportunities leading to her discovery of an opening at her current firm, and her resilience after initially being turned down for a position. You'll hear about her decision to obtain the CFP designation (despite her operations-focused background), as well as how this choice enhanced her role in shaping the firm's operations and client experience. Taylor also discusses the evolving dynamics between front-office and back-office roles in the industry, her recent advancement to COO and CCO positions, and more.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/47Bbb83

Daniel Yerger is the Founder and President of My Wealth Planners based out of Longmont, CO. He joins the show today to discuss his journey to becoming a financial planner, including how he transitioned from active military service, became aware of the profession, and secured his first position in financial planning. If you want to know what it is like to start in the dually registered RIA channel and transition to the fee-only RIA model, this episode is for you!

Listen in as Daniel discusses his insights on the necessity of an MBA for new planners, the criteria he used to choose his first employer, and his experiences with the dually registered RIA model (both advantages and drawbacks). He also talks about how he successfully built a client base during challenging initial years, the evolution of his service model and pricing strategy, and the process of transitioning clients to his newly established independent firm.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3TRyO9m

Scott Edwards, an Associate Financial Advisor at Rovin Capital in Lehi, UT, joins the show today to share the twists and turns that shaped his path to becoming a financial planner. In this episode, he opens up about the pivotal moment when a meeting with his parents' financial planner sparked his interest in the field. He also explains his current role's intricacies, offers tips for working with clients at a young age, and imparts words of wisdom for aspiring planners.

Listen in as Scott candidly talks about the challenges he faced, including multiple attempts to pass the Series 65, providing commentary on the lessons learned from each setback. You will hear about his decision to switch firms early in his career, his biggest challenges along the way, and the unexpected turns that led him to his current role.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/48uP8Rw