FP CAREER RESOURCES — CAREERS

Updated February 17, 2025
I. COMPENSATION, BENEFITS, SATISFACTION
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Compensation Trends and CFP® Professional Salary Calculator — "CFP Board conducted a comprehensive study to see how financial planners are compensated. The study addresses many areas of compensation including salary, job satisfaction and benefits... $198,500 median 2022 total compensation for financial planners." — "Check out our salary calculator to see what you can earn as a CFP® professional."
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New Planner Recruiting - Compensating New Planners — "In most markets throughout the country, firms can expect to pay $50-65k for a new college graduate from a CFP program, $70-90k for someone with a few years of experience, and $80k + for a CFP®."
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New Planner Recruiting — "Earlier this year we surveyed 665 Generation Y planners and 275 Generation Z planners to get their thoughts on their career satisfaction, and what drives that satisfaction (and from the firm’s perspective, their retention!)."
II. CAREER PATHS
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"Real Personal Finance - Episode 017 - What to Look For When Selecting a Financial Advisor" — (Full disclosure: The founder of our firm is one of the hosts of this podcast) — "Are they a fiduciary? Are they a CFP® Pro? What types of clients do they work with? How do I pay you? How else are you paid? Should you go with big firm or an individual financial planner?" — View the full list of 200+ podcast episodes
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"Choosing Your Financial Advisor - A Nonprofit Guide to Choosing and Interviewing a Financial Planner" — Explanations of a fiduciary, fee-only vs. commissioned vs. fee-based, comprehensive financial planning, and licenses and certifications
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"Real Personal Finance #181 - What's the Best Way for a Career Changer to Get Into the Financial Planning Industry?" — (Full disclosure: The founder of our firm is one of the hosts of this podcast and mentions this website) — "Listener Question: I've had a 10-year career in nonprofit development, but I've had a passion for investing and personal finance since I was a little kid. I'm trying to pivot into wealth management." — View the full list of 200+ podcast episodes
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New Planner Recruiting — "Our recruiting firm was founded with one goal in mind. We want to positively shape the financial planning profession by supplying top-level talent to high-growth firms so more consumers will ultimately have access to financial planning services... Caleb Brown and Michael Kitces, our two co-founders, have been long standing contributors to and advocates of the financial planning profession."
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New Planner Podcast — "Join Caleb Brown, CFP and Co-founder of New Planner Recruiting along with his guests to learn how to enter the financial planning profession and find your right fit."
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Compounding Careers: Finding Your Fit as a New Financial Planner — I had the opportunity to help Matt Fizell, CFP® and Jared Machen, CFP® with their course, Compounding Careers. I was super excited because I knew this was something that would have helped me on my journey as a Financial Planner. Instead of taking the heavily traveled path of selling products for commissions or starting as a client service associate, this course will show you a shortcut to your dream job in Financial Planning at your ideal firm.
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Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards YouTube channel — Informative videos from the CFP Board
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The FPA NexGen Development Pathway - "The financial planning profession can be overwhelming for newcomers looking to make it their calling. Fortunately, the FPA NexGen Development Pathway was created to provide guidance, empowerment, and resources for next-generation financial planners like you. The FPA NexGen Development Pathway encompasses the essential ingredients required for success as a financial planner in five phases: Discover, Prepare, Launch, Elevate, and Impact. Each phase offers a clear structure, knowledge, and recommended resources for your personal and professional growth — no matter the phase you're in."
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Kitces.com — A highly respected voice in the financial planning industry
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"When A Good Offer For A First Financial Advisor Job Really Isn’t" — "Why taking a position as a financial salesperson is not a good path to becoming a financial advisor, and how those who are interested in becoming financial advisors can pursue a better first job instead."
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"Financial Advisor Career Track Options When You’re Bad At Sales And Prospecting"
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"MailBag: Advice For A Career Changer Transitioning Into Financial Planning"
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"Why The New SIE Exam Is The Wrong Track To Become A Financial Advisor"
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"How Do Financial Advisors Actually Spend Their Time And The Limitations Of Productivity?"
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"10 Tips For New Financial Planners To Maximize Career Progression"
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"Why Life Planning Is Simply Financial Planning Done Right With George Kinder"
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"Creating More Buy-In To Change Financial Behaviors With A Life Planning Approach, with Scott Frank" — (Full disclosure: The founder of our firm is the guest on this podcast episode.)
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Jumpstart YOUniversity on YouTube (may require subscription) — "Everything you need to know about a career in financial services"
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"Unlock the Secrets to Becoming a C.H.A.M.P. Financial Professional" — Capacity for growth, High accuracy and attention to detail, Ability to collaborate, Master of the workflow, Progress toward professional development.
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XY Planning Network VIP Facebook Group — A super active and supportive community for RIAs, financial planners, and even career-changers — Free to join for anyone (just request access)
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"Curious what your thoughts are on going the Ed Jones route as an advisor"
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"Did any of you take a significant pay cut to career change into this industry?"
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"I’m getting close to my whits end with NWM. Not sure where to go from here."
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"I came from a wirehouse, BD type firm. Big and sales oriented for a few years (less than 5)"
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"Northwestern Mutual 'Financial Advisor' Review & Confessions" — "The first half was written by an ex-Northwestern Mutual financial advisor, Donovan J. Sanchez, ChFC®, CSLP®, CLU®... The second half is written anonymously."
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"Guide to Careers in Financial Planning" from the CFP Board — Page 50: Where to find financial planning jobs. — Page 55: Questions to ask on your job interview about the nature of the work, company culture, compensation structure, and career development
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"Guide to Financial Planning Career Paths" from the CFP Board — A comprehensive guide to careers in financial planning
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"So You Want to be a Financial Planner" by Nancy Langdon Jones — Great examples of finding work in the financial planning industry
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"Getting In The Door: Starting a Financial Planning Career" by Daniel M. Yerger — "This book is a guide for students and career changers looking to become professional financial planners."
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"Is Declining Advisor Headcount at a Tipping Point?" — "Nearly 40 percent of financial advisors plan to retire in the next 10 years, and overall advisor headcount growth is starting to decline. As a result, an opportunity could be at hand for younger advisors."
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"Why I Became a Financial Adviser at Age 40" — "I am incredibly lucky to have found a vocation that melds the satisfaction of developing personal relationships and helping others with my business and accounting background."
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CFP Board Candidate Forum — A community for current (and aspiring) financial planners studying to become CFP® professionals — Ask your questions about CFP® education and review programs, tips for passing the exam, and career advice. Anyone can create a free account to access the forums.
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"November Ask the Expert event: How to Navigate the Financial Planning Industry as a Career Changer"
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"CFP licensing and business model" — Licenses: Series 7, Series 63, Series 65, Series 66, etc.
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"Earning Experience and Finding a Job in Financial Planning" — Replies from 120+ folks describing their own "origin stories"
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"How did you finance your path to CFP® certification?" — Replies from 80+ people discussing how they paid for "the education coursework, exam review course and/or material, exam, final payment, or anything else."
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III. START YOUR OWN FIRM OR BE YOUR OWN BOSS
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XY Planning Network — "Launch, run, and scale the financial planning firm of your dreams with complete autonomy. XYPN makes it possible for fee-only financial advisors to advise who they want, how they want. Our integrated support system offers everything needed to succeed profitably: curated technology, customized educational resources, a vibrant support network of like-minded people, and business, operational, and client support services."
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"XYPN Sapphire: Be your own boss without the business burdens" — A corporate affiliation model where fee-only financial planners enjoy the freedoms of independent firm ownership without the tech, compliance and back office burdens.
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"5 Top Growth Takeaways from XYPN's 2023 Annual Benchmarking Study"
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Core Planning — "The ideal way to serve our clients is through an independent model where we advisors are free to run our practice in a more flexible and personalized manner. Our clients deserve our best work, and we recognize the immeasurable benefits of professional collaboration and support so that we have the space we need to give our clients the attention they deserve. Core Planning is a community of advisors who value independence within a powerful framework of generosity and support."
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Avise Financial — "Own your business. Not the other way around. Avise is an RIA co-op that helps you build your ideal business. Being a financial advisor should be more than a sales position. You should get to decide what your practice looks like. That starts with a support system that frees you up to do what you do best: Work with clients to achieve their goals. Avise takes the complexity out of starting and running your firm, so you can do just that."
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Fiduciary Financial Advisors — "Experienced Advisor? Looking for home?... We don't believe in non-compete contracts. They’re your clients, not ours.... Flexibility to be your own boss: You have the infrastructure of an established RIA firm along with leading custodians, solid support staff, and cutting edge technology - but you get to build, grow, and sustain your practice on your own terms."
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Nectarine — "Focus on what you do best: You’ll provide stellar financial advice, and we’ll take care of the rest. Just show up: No need for marketing or advertising. We find a good fit and send them your way. Set your own schedule: Make extra income in your free time. Just tell us your available hours. Less paperwork: Spend more time doing what matters. We’ll take care of billing, emails, and documentation."
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XY Planning Network VIP Facebook Group — A super active and supportive community for RIAs, financial planners, and even career-changers — Free to join for anyone (just request access)
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XY Planning Network VIP Facebook Messenger chat groups
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"Ready set launch" Facebook Messenger chat group for folks that are about to launch (their own firms) or launched within the last year.
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IV. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
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Kinder Institute of Life Planning — Registered Life Planner (RLP) designation — "Financial Life Planning Training: Life planning focuses on the human side of financial planning. It puts people, not products, at the center of analysis and advice, helping clients meet unique goals and unlock the greatest meaning in their lives."
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"Life Planning With Scott Frank, CFP®, CFA® (024)" — (Full disclosure: The founder of our firm is the guest on this podcast episode) — "Scott Frank, CFP®, CFA®, the founder of Stone Steps Financial, is doing the type of planning, known as life planning... and I’ve always walked away inspired to dig deeper with my clients after talking with him. I asked him to join me to talk about how life planning has transformed his practice and is allowing him to live the life he wants–just like he’s helping his clients do."
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Life Planning for You — "On this website, you will find all you need to uncover your most deeply held life goals and create a practical plan to make them happen, including a financial plan that supports your goals."
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Measure Twice Planners — Financial planning course by Cody Garrett, CFP®: "Develop a comprehensive financial plan and provide value to the families you serve through personalized education."
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Amplified Planning — "Unlock NEW monthly video trainings and resources that help you feel like a confident, capable CFP®... Virtual externship... Access a new real-life client meeting and in-depth reviews each month that you won’t find anywhere else."
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Amplified Planning Externship (formerly FPA Externship) — "Instead of working with just one firm, you get to peek behind the curtain and see over 25 firms and experts at work — and do the work yourself. You’ll also get access to over 20 deliverables and processes from these experts, so you can learn a new way to work that works for you... Join us this summer in The Externship for invaluable financial planning training and earn 500 CFP Board Standard Pathway Experience hours… in just 8 weeks!"
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XY Planning Network VIP Facebook Group — A super active and supportive community for RIAs, financial planners, and even career-changers — Free to join for anyone (just request access)