Military to Financial Planner Podcast

In this episode of the Military to Financial Planner Podcast, I sit down with Doug Longo to explore his unique journey from his time in the Marine Corps to his established career in the financial industry, specifically within Dimensional Fund Advisors. Doug provides a fascinating glimpse into his transition from military to civilian life, sharing how his experiences and personal network played pivotal roles in shaping his career path. He highlights the virtues of being a veteran in the finance world and discusses the importance of networking, education, and strategic decision-making in today's financial landscape. Doug shares his personal experiences with Dimensional Fund, emphasizing the firm's unique culture and the professional respect it instills in its employees. Together, we delve into the importance of hard and soft skills in finance, the merits of specialization, and the critical decisions he made along his journey—like attending a target school for his MBA and finding a firm whose values align with his own. His insights are invaluable for anyone considering a move into the financial sector, especially veterans who can leverage similar experiences. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the dynamics of career progression, financial market intricacies, and the benefits of aligning personal and professional values in one's career. Tune in to gain insights into the evolving role of investment strategies and client relations at Dimensional, and how veterans like Doug successfully transit into the finance world.   Links - Dimensional Fund Advisors Careers (https://www.dimensional.com/careers) - LinkedIn Profile of Doug Longo (https://linkedin.com/in/douglongo) - Tune Out the Noise - Errol Morris Documentary (https://www.dimensional.com/documentary/tuneoutthenoise)  

I'm thrilled to welcome Clayton Quamme to today's episode of Military to Financial Planner! Clayton shares his fascinating career journey, starting with an unexpected gift—a personal finance book from his mom—back when he was 16. It sparked his lifelong passion for personal finance and wealth-building. From his time in Army ROTC to an influential moment in college that solidified his career path, Clayton recounts how these early experiences shaped his focus on becoming a Certified Financial Planner™. Clayton's story is all about intentional career pivots—often stepping backward financially to move forward strategically, gaining essential skills and expertise along the way. Throughout our conversation, Clayton provides incredible transparency. He details salary expectations at different stages of his career, from his initial struggles transitioning from active duty, taking a significant pay cut, balancing numbers as the family's primary income-earner, to becoming a partner at a successful RIA managing over $300 million. Come prepared to hear about the practical realities of financial planning careers, salary expectations, and what transitioning service members can anticipate as they navigate this exciting yet challenging profession. If you're coming out of a military background and wondering how to break into financial planning, Clayton shares helpful resources, thoughtful insights, and actionable advice born from personal experience. Clayton's journey illustrates that sometimes progress isn't linear, but every step backward can position you for greater growth and success ahead.  https://www.linkedin.com/in/claytonquamme/ The Automatic Millionaire by David Bach https://davidbach.com/books/the-automatic-millionaire/ The Millionaire Next Door https://www.themillionairenextdoor.com/  

Welcome to a special bonus episode of the Military to Financial Planner Podcast! I'm Daniel Kopp, and today I'm joined by my SkillBridge intern, Russ Meyer, for the inaugural session of our PME Book Club. We're diving deep into "Advice That Sticks: How to Give Financial Advice That People Will Follow" by Dr. Moira Somers—one of my hands-down favorite books for any financial planner, and honestly, for anyone who wants to make their advice more impactful in any area of life. Russ and I explore what makes advice "stick," the science and psychology behind why people don't always follow sound, technically correct advice, and how we as professionals—and humans—can help bridge that gap. We discuss Dr. Somers' FACTS framework (Facts, Acknowledgement, Curiosity, Timing, and Support), the importance of open-ended listening, the stages of client change, and the sometimes surprising emotional complexities in the planner-client relationship. This episode isn't just for financial planners! Whether you're a parent, spouse, mentor, or just someone who genuinely wants to help others—this conversation reveals how to move from simply giving advice to fostering real, lasting change.  

I was thrilled to have my longtime friend and colleague Kate Horrell join me on the podcast. We've known each other for years—through mastermind groups and the broader military financial community—and I've always admired the work she does to support military families through education and advocacy. In this episode, Kate shares her incredible journey from being a new military spouse struggling with bills and benefits to becoming a trusted voice in the world of military personal finance. What started with checking out library books and reading Military Times columns turned into a career filled with purpose, creativity, and impact. She talks about reinventing herself with each PCS move, the moment she realized she was running an actual business, and how volunteering and community-building helped her gain clarity and confidence along the way. We also dig into her personal experience with military transition and retirement, and what she learned through her husband's retirement—even as someone who spent years preparing, Kate was surprised by how hard it really was. Lastly, we talk about her new book, College Planning for Military Families, which brings together everything she's learned about navigating education benefits and financial aid in the military world—especially helpful if, like her, you're trying to send multiple kids to college on a tight budget. This conversation is packed with honest reflections, laughs, and wisdom for anyone walking the line between military life and financial clarity. Whether you're a spouse, service member, or fellow financial professional, I know you'll walk away inspired by Kate's story and encouraged to carve your own path. https://www.linkedin.com/in/katehorrell/ https://www.katehorrell.com/books/  

In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Ashley Quamme, a licensed marriage and family therapist and the founder of Beyond the Plan. Ashley is someone I've admired for a long time, and this conversation is packed with powerful insights into the intersection of psychology, relationships, and personal finance. Ashley shares her unique journey—from launching a private therapy practice focused on couples, to navigating military life as a spouse, to eventually blending her clinical background with the world of financial planning. We explored what financial therapy really means and how deeply emotional and relational our financial decisions truly are. Ashley's passion for helping people understand the "why" behind their money behaviors is infectious, and her ability to make that practical for both advisors and clients alike is a real gift. We also talked about how Ashley collaborates with financial advisors as a Chief Financial Behavior Officer and what it means to create emotionally safe planning spaces. I loved her thoughts on how validation, curiosity, and even open-ended questions can transform client meetings. Whether you're a financial professional or someone navigating your own money story, Ashley's insights are so relevant. Ashley's wisdom and vulnerability in this episode are incredibly encouraging. She also reminds us that you don't need to be a therapist to be therapeutic. If you care deeply about the people you serve, there are ways to show up with empathy, insight, and skill—even when money is emotional. https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-quamme/ https://www.beyondthefp.com/  https://www.planningandbeyond.com/