What A Wealth Advisor At Buena Vista Financial Planning Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Financial Planning Industry
AK, a founder and wealth advisor, wished for more upfront education on diverse career paths within the financial planning industry, specifically highlighting the possibility of independent practice ownership and the challenges involved. The experience taught them the value of seeing "case studies of how [successful practitioners] got there," emphasizing the importance of honest and sustainable practice building.
Financial Planning, Entrepreneurship, Business Ownership, Client Relations, Career Paths
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
AK Mashhoon
Founder / Wealth Advisor
Buena Vista Financial Planning
Cuesta College and Cal Poly, SLO
N/A
Business Management & Admin
Finance (Banking, Fintech, Investing)
Finance
Worked 20+ Hours in School, Transfer Student, Student Athlete, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. The path into the wealth advising industry is multifaceted and includes paths such as owning an independent practice.
2. The ability to provide truly objective advice may necessitate business ownership to avoid conflicts of interest.
3. Building a successful and fulfilling practice involves learning from others' experiences and finding mentors who have built honest and sustainable businesses in the field.
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone would have told you before you entered the industry?
The problem is, I think if I had learned more, I might have been too scared. I don't know if I would have stuck it out long enough.
I would have liked to know about the different paths into this industry. I'm a business owner of my own independent practice, but a reluctant one.
I'm a business owner because I feel I have to be to provide objective advice for clients. If I were employed by someone else, I feel that objectivity would be tainted.
I think some things like that might have been overwhelming when I graduated at 23. I don't think I would have been willing to attack it then.
I would have wanted to know about good people who had built happy, honest, and not stressful practices. I'm looking for honest practices.
I would have loved to see case studies of how they got there. I've learned that over time, and seen they first had to work for an insurance company, then do other things. I think that would have given me hope that I could have done it.