FP CAREER RESOURCES — CAREERS

Updated March 8, 2026

I. OVERVIEW, COMPENSATION, BENEFITS, SATISFACTION

1. Guide To The 7-Step Financial Planning Process — What do financial planners actually do? — "CFP Board developed this Guide to the Practice Standards for the Financial Planning Process to illustrate how a CFP® professional might provide financial planning to a Client in accordance with the Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct."

2. ​"How Much To Pay An Associate Advisor? Using Industry Benchmarking To Design A Competitive Compensation Package" — "According to Kitces Research... associate advisors without CFP marks earn an average salary of $73,750.... an average of $73,808 for planners with 0–2 years of experience... Compensation also varies broadly by location.... an inexperienced advisor at a small RIA in the Midwest earns an average of $62,500, compared to $81,667 for an advisor with similar experience in the Northeast."

3. 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."

   • "Special Episode: Compensation Data Points for New Planners with Jesse Lineberry and Caleb Brown"

   • "Career Satisfaction Research Survey: Part 1​" — "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!)."

   • "Career Satisfaction Research Survey: Part 2" — "This month, we will look at the activities that they cited as the most fulfilling, what their expectations are for promotion to a lead planner role, and their view of management’s commitment to their career development."

   • "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®."

4. 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."

5. Planning Your Own Finance: A CFP® Salary Guide ​— "Thinking about becoming a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP®)? We totally think you should (note: we are slightly biased). You get to help people achieve their financial goals, which is pretty great, plus, you can increase your earning potential. But how much can you expect to earn with a CFP® professionals’ salary?"

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II. CAREER PATHS​​

1. 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."

   • Resources For Career Seekers

     • "Quick Guide To Understanding Main Financial Planner Career Entry Points"​

     • "How To Determine Which Channel Of Entry Is Right For You"

     • "Jobs Career Seekers Should Apply For"

     • "Should You Accept A Job Offer On The Spot"

     • "What To Do When You Are Feeling Discouraged In Your Job Search"

     • (YouTube Channel with all videos)

   • 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."

     • New Planner Podcast Episode 238: "Transitioning from an IT Career to a CFP with Wilson Liu"​

2. Amplified Planning — "How to Find Your Career in Financial Planning" — "So, you’ve decided you want to be a financial planner. But what does that actually look like?"

3. Financial Planning Association® (FPA®) — "The Financial Planning Association® (FPA®) is the leading membership organization and trade association for CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professionals and those engaged in the financial planning process."

   • The FPA NexGen Development Pathway — "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."

     • For detailed NexGen resources, listen to New Planner Podcast Ep #229: FPA NexGen Programs and Initiatives with Blake Pinyan

   • The FPA Competency Model™: Your Guide to Professional Growth and Mastery​ — "The FPA Competency Model™ is a practical, research-informed guide that defines the behavioral skills essential to success in financial planning. It complements technical knowledge by focusing on how professionals communicate, lead, build trust, and advance the profession."

4. Real Personal Finance podcast — Disclosure: The founder of our firm is one of the hosts of this podcast. View all 200+ episodes

   1. Episode 017 - What to Look For When Selecting a Financial Advisor" — "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?"

   2. Episode 181 - What's the Best Way for a Career Changer to Get Into the Financial Planning Industry?" — "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."​

5. ​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.

6. CFP Board of Standards — "CFP Board of Standards sets and enforces the requirements for CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certification — to uphold standards of competency and ethics for financial planners who are committed to CFP Board of Standards to putting their clients' best interests first."

   • "Guide to Financial Planning Career Paths" — A comprehensive guide to careers in financial planning

   • "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

   • "Looking For Your First Financial Planning Job?" — "FOLLOW THESE 5 KEY TIPS! Whether you’re looking for your first job out of college or considering a career transition, finding your first job can seem  like a daunting challenge. These tips can make it a little easier!"

   • "Leading the Future: Harnessing AI in the Financial Planning Profession" — Leading the Future: Harnessing AI in the Financial Planning Profession outlines four possible future scenarios and recommends actions that CFP® professionals, firms, Registered Programs and other stakeholders can take today to prepare.

   • Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards YouTube channel — Informative videos from the CFP Board

     • "What’s the Right Financial Planning Career Path for Me?"

     • ​"Building Your Financial Planning Career"

     • "Making a Career Change to Financial Planning"

     • "Starting a Career in Financial Planning: Internships, Entry-Level Positions and Training Programs"​​​​

   • 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.

     • "November Ask the Expert event: How to Navigate the Financial Planning Industry as a Career Changer"

     • "CFP licensing and business model" — Licenses: Series 7, Series 63, Series 65, Series 66, etc.

     • "Earning Experience and Finding a Job in Financial Planning" — Replies from 120+ folks describing their own "origin stories"

     • "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."

   • CFP Board Candidate Forum Blog — Road to Certification

     • "A Former IT Engineer's Path to CFP® Certification" — by Wilson (Guo) Liu

7. Kitces.com — A highly respected voice in the financial planning industry

   • "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."

   • "Financial Advisor Career Track Options When You’re Bad At Sales And Prospecting"

   • "A Career Changer’s Guide To Becoming A Financial Advisor: Career Paths, Preparation, Education, Costs, And More!"

   • "MailBag: Advice For A Career Changer Transitioning Into Financial Planning"

   • "Why The New SIE Exam Is The Wrong Track To Become A Financial Advisor"

   • "How Do Financial Advisors Actually Spend Their Time And The Limitations Of Productivity?"

   • "10 Tips For New Financial Planners To Maximize Career Progression"

   • "Hiring Next-Gen Associate Advisors: A Guide To Recruiting, Training, And Retaining For Your RIA" 

   • "Training Resources And Programs To Help New CFPs Gain Real-World Expertise: The Small-Firm Guide To Associate Advisor Development"

   • "Why Life Planning Is Simply Financial Planning Done Right With George Kinder"

   • "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.)

8. ​Jumpstart YOUniversity on YouTube (may require subscription) — "Everything you need to know about a career in financial services"

   • "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.

9. 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)​

   • "Will the wealth management industry survive from AI?"

   • "Curious what your thoughts are on going the Ed Jones route as an advisor"

   • "How did you all know that financial planning was the career for you? Did you do an internship first, find a mentor..."

   • "Did any of you take a significant pay cut to career change into this industry?"

   • "What’s the pay rate (salary) for a new grad with [some] financial planning classes already completed?"

   • "I’m getting close to my whits end with NWM. Not sure where to go from here."

   • "I came from a wirehouse, BD type firm. Big and sales oriented for a few years (less than 5)"

   • "Why would a CFP professional NOT joint their local Financial Planning Association (FPA) chapter and/or participate in the local chapter's annual symposium?"

10. Books

    • ​"So You Want to be a Financial Planner" by Nancy Langdon Jones — "Finally, together in one place, a comprehensive step-by-step process for launching your career as a financial planner. Here is everything you need to know - from getting the right credentials to getting the right clients."

    • "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."

11. Articles

    • ​"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​

    • "‘Friends end up blocking you’: Northwestern Mutual sold college grads a dream job. They left in ruin and debt." — "But when it came to the interview for his internship, the questions felt more like a fraternity recruitment... The worksheets, seen by the Guardian, required Jeremy to interview 10 friends or family members about their finances – listing their names, occupations, phone numbers, and asking each of them to refer him to 10 more people he could contact about their financial planning."

    • "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."

    • ​"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."

    • "AdvizorPro: More Advisors Left the Industry Than Joined in 2025" — "Looking at net change in advisor headcount, the RIA channel continues to gain market share, and that trend has grown over the years. In 2021, the channel had a net win of about 8,000 advisors. Last year, it gained over 17,000 advisors."

    • ​"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."​​​​​

III. START YOUR OWN FIRM OR BE YOUR OWN BOSS

1. 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."

   • "XYPN’s 2025 Benchmarking Study Highlights — LIVE" — "Co-founders Alan Moore and Michael Kitces took the stage at XYPN LIVE to unpack nine years of benchmarking data on Behind the Advisor. Pulling from thousands of data points across member firms, they chart the real journey from launch to scale: what stalls growth, what accelerates it, and where firms find leverage."

   • "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.  

   • "Top Myths About Starting an RIA That Need Debunking"

   • "Top 5 Growth Hacks from XYPN's 2024 Annual Benchmarking Study"

   • "Calculate your cost savings! Build out a better bottom line for your RIA with our cost savings calculator."

2. 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."

3. 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."

4. 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."

5. 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."

6. 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)

   • "Been at this game for a loooong time but on my own almost 4 years... I have no pipeline, no leads, but do have enough to keep the lights on..."

   • "What is the work experience actually like at large financial firms?"

   • "...when you’re at a big firm, they make sounding going independent and starting your own RIA like the wild West and make it sound like it’s the riskiest move you can make."

   • "I am coming up on 8 years independent... I feel great about where I am at, but I am absolutely not in the 1% of advisors that are killing it."

   • "How old were you and how many years of experience in the industry did you have when you went solo?"

   • "How long did you work as an associate planner/advisor before jumping off and doing your own thing/taking on your own clients?"

   • "The First Year: what were your goals and expectations? What do you know now, that you wish someone had told you back then?"

   • "For those of you who started from scratch when you launched, how much revenue did you make your first year?"

   • "I’m interested in hearing from women (or men) who have started their own firms while also taking care of tiny humans..."

   • "'I think I picked the hardest job possible.' - Me to my wife recently."

   • "Question time. How did you tell your spouse that you wanted to start your own RIA?"

   • "But we were both taken aback by some of the "myths" we heard about launching an RIA"

   • "Career transitioner about to commit to XYPN- I am curious about your take on due diligence process."​

IV. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

1. 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." 

   • "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."

   • 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."

2. ​​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."

3. 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."

4. 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!"

   • Financial Planning Discovery Courses bundle — "Are you curious about financial planning? Wondering if the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certification is right for you? Join CFP Board and Amplified Planning as we guide you through how a financial planning professional would support three unique clients. Inside our exclusive (and free!) Financial Planning Discovery Courses, you’ll be able to do the work of a financial planner and see what CFP® professionals do every day… beyond spreadsheets and investment advice. JOIN FOR FREE"​

5. 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)

   • "I'm looking for your favorite educational podcasts/lectures/audio entertainment, especially if it will hold my interest..."

   • "Here is a list of what i currently have (&love & can highly reco)."

   • "...if y'all have other great podcast recommendations given what I shared, that would be appreciated!"

   • "A client is asking for book recommendation to improve their financial literacy. Not just investment management but also planning..."