The Blueprint: An FPA NexGen® Podcast

The Blueprint | FPA NexGen® Podcast opens season five with a candid career conversation featuring Mike Zarrelli, CFP®, EA, Alison Miller, CFP®, and Executive Producer Jadah Riley. Rather than a traditional guest interview, the team reflects on lessons from season four and shares what they are learning as their own careers continue to evolve. For early-career advisors focused on financial planning career growth, this episode gets practical about landing a first financial planning job, building a professional network, translating past experience into relevant skills, using AI more intentionally, and finding the right environment for continued development. The team also discusses career transitions, promotions, volunteering, mentorship, and why getting meaningful “reps” can compound over time. “You need some reps because it’s all about the story that you can tell.” What You’ll Learn Build a stronger network by getting involved with professional organizations and creating relationships before job opportunities appear. Translate experience from another career, college job, or service role into skills that financial planning firms can recognize and value. Strengthen your candidacy through education, industry involvement, informational interviews, and proactive professional development. Use AI to practice communication, learn new technology, organize information, create training resources, and prepare for client conversations. Evaluate whether your current role provides the environment, challenge, and client exposure needed for continued career growth. Develop confidence by deliberately seeking repetitions in client meetings, interviews, presentations, leadership, and volunteer work. Key Takeaways Do not rely exclusively on applications; relationships can put you closer to the people making hiring decisions. Frame previous experience around the value it can create for clients, teams, and financial planning firms. Career growth often happens below the surface before the results become visible. AI is most useful when it strengthens human communication and frees time for higher-value work. The right professional environment becomes increasingly important once you have developed foundational advisor skills. Peers, mentors, volunteering, and professional communities can provide perspective during major career decisions. Episode Timestamps 00:00:00 – Building your network to break into financial planning 00:00:55 – Season five kickoff and introductions 00:01:35 – Favorite lessons from season four 00:08:30 – How to land your first financial planning job 00:12:05 – Career changers, networking, and interview preparation 00:17:15 – How financial advisors are using AI 00:24:20 – Promotions, career transitions, and professional growth 00:30:15 – Why reps and discomfort drive career development 00:34:25 – Season five preview and Mike’s final season Executive Producer: @Jadah Riley

In this episode of The Blueprint | FPA NexGen® Podcast, hosts Mike Zarrelli, CFP®, EA and Alison Miller, CFP® sit down with Andrew Mirolli, CEPA® Co-Founder and Head of Client Services at buyAUM.com, to explore one of the financial planning profession’s biggest opportunities: RIA succession planning. Andrew explains how early-career financial planners can position themselves to become trusted successors, build more valuable advisory practices, and earn the confidence of senior advisors. The conversation covers the importance of earning the CFP® certification, developing recurring revenue, delivering exceptional client service, and proving that you are prepared to protect relationships built over decades. “Don’t wait for things to be handed to you. Take the stairs.” What You’ll Learn How young financial advisors can identify succession opportunities in their local markets Why earning the CFP® certification can strengthen your position as a potential successor How to prove that you are ready to inherit important client relationships Why recurring fee-based revenue can increase the long-term value of an advisory practice How financial planning, client service, and trust contribute to stronger client retention The practical differences between internal and external RIA succession plans Key Takeaways A succession opportunity must be earned through consistent performance—not assumed from a promise Senior advisors want successors who will protect their clients and preserve their legacy Bringing in new clients and building professional relationships demonstrates readiness for leadership Recurring advisory and planning revenue generally creates a more durable business than transactional revenue Exceptional service helps build the client loyalty buyers value during a transition The best succession structure depends on the goals of the owner, successor, team, and clients Episode Timestamps 00:00:00 – Introduction and Andrew Mirolli’s path to buyAUM 00:04:40 – The RIA succession opportunity for NextGen advisors 00:09:20 – “Take the stairs” and prove you can lead client relationships 00:13:15 – Building a financial planning practice with long-term value 00:18:30 – Niches, trust, financial planning, and client retention 00:22:55 – What retiring advisors want in a successor 00:27:05 – Internal versus external succession plans 00:32:02 – Why financial planning is a career worth building Executive Producer: @Jadah Riley

Taxes influence virtually every financial planning recommendation, yet many advisors hesitate to make tax planning part of their client experience. In this episode of The Blueprint | FPA NexGen® Podcast, hosts Mike Zarrelli, CFP®, EA and Alison Miller, CFP®welcome Stephen Jarvis, CPA, founder of Retirement Tax Services, for an in-depth conversation about bridging the gap between financial planners and tax professionals. Stephen explains why every advisor should incorporate tax awareness into their planning process—even without becoming a tax expert. He shares practical advice on building stronger CPA relationships, requesting tax returns from clients, creating successful referral partnerships, evaluating tax designations, and developing communication skills that accelerate career growth. The discussion also explores why experience matters more than additional credentials, how advisors can confidently begin offering tax planning, and why taking action on new ideas is the key to long-term success. Whether you're an aspiring financial planner or an experienced advisor looking to strengthen your tax planning process, this episode is packed with actionable insights you can implement immediately. Executive Producer: Jadah Riley What You'll Learn Why tax planning belongs in every financial planning engagement The easiest way to start incorporating taxes into your advice process How to build stronger relationships with CPAs and tax professionals Why requesting tax returns can uncover planning opportunities Strategies for creating long-term referral partnerships The pros and cons of tax designations for advisors Communication techniques that separate top advisors from the rest Why implementation matters more than information Key Takeaways Every financial decision creates tax consequences. Advisors don't need to become CPAs—but they do need tax awareness. Strong CPA relationships begin with understanding each other's value. Asking for tax returns is one of the simplest ways to improve client outcomes. Real-world experience develops tax planning skills faster than collecting credentials. Difficult conversations are a career-defining skill for advisors. Recording and reviewing yourself is one of the fastest ways to improve communication. Knowledge only creates value when it's followed by action. Episode Chapters 00:00 Introduction & Stephen's Favorite Tax Code Oddities 02:20 Stephen Jarvis' Journey into Tax Planning 06:00 Why Every Financial Decision Has Tax Consequences 10:00 Building Better Relationships Between Advisors & CPAs 15:15 The First Step Into Tax Planning 19:10 Breaking the Ice with Tax Professionals 24:10 Building Referral Partnerships That Actually Work 29:10 The Future of Tax Planning in Financial Advice 33:00 Should Advisors Pursue Tax Designations? 35:10 How to Get Clients to Share Their Tax Returns 37:10 Career Advice: Communication & Difficult Conversations 38:15 Podcasting as a Communication Tool 39:13 Knowledge Only Matters If You Take Action

In this episode of The Blueprint | An FPA NexGen® Podcast, hosts Mike Zarrelli, CFP®, EA and Alison Miller, CFP® welcome Seth Streeter, Co-Founder and Chief Impact Officer of Mission Wealth, for an inspiring conversation about what it truly means to help clients build wealth. Drawing from his own entrepreneurial journey and decades of experience serving clients, Seth explains why the future of financial planning extends far beyond investment management. He introduces his powerful 12 Dimensions of Wealth framework, shares why authenticity is one of an advisor's greatest competitive advantages, and discusses how emotional intelligence, deep listening, and purpose-driven leadership will differentiate the next generation of financial planners in an AI-powered world. Whether you're an aspiring CFP® professional, an associate advisor, or an experienced planner looking to deepen client relationships, this episode offers practical insights that will help you become more than a technical expert—you'll learn how to become the trusted guide your clients need most. Executive Producer: Jadah Riley What You'll Learn How the 12 Dimensions of Wealth help clients define true fulfillment Why authenticity is one of the greatest competitive advantages for advisors The difference between being a technical "mechanic" and a trusted client "guide" How deep listening strengthens client relationships and builds lifelong trust Why emotional intelligence (EQ) is becoming more valuable than technical expertise How AI is changing financial planning—and where human advisors create the most value Practical ways early-career advisors can develop coaching and leadership skills How Mission Wealth built a culture focused on purpose, growth, and client impact Key Takeaways Financial planning is about helping clients build meaningful lives—not simply growing portfolios. The strongest client relationships are built through curiosity, empathy, and authentic conversations. Advisors who embrace their unique personalities attract more aligned clients and career opportunities. AI will increasingly automate technical work, making human connection even more valuable. Great advisors ask better questions instead of simply providing better answers. Developing guide skills today will become one of the greatest differentiators for tomorrow's financial planners. Episode Chapters 00:00 – Welcome & Meet Seth Streeter 02:45 – Building Mission Wealth from the Ground Up 08:00 – Starting a Firm with Purpose 13:30 – The 12 Dimensions of Wealth Explained 18:30 – Helping Clients Find Fulfillment Beyond Money 23:15 – From Financial Planner to Trusted Guide 27:30 – Deep Listening & Coaching Conversations 31:15 – Why EQ Will Matter More Than AI 34:15 – Hiring Future Financial Advisors 36:15 – Final Advice for Early-Career Planners

In this episode of The Blueprint | FPA NexGen® Podcast, hosts Mike Zarrelli, CFP®, EA and Alison Miller, CFP® welcome Nichole Graham CFP®, CDFA Financial Analyst at Wellspring Divorce Advisors and Financial Advisor at Regista Financial Strategies. Nichole shares how trusting her intuition transformed her career, allowing her to embrace remote work, contract opportunities, and a rewarding specialization in divorce financial planning. She opens up about moving across the country, building community through FPA NexGen®, balancing work across multiple firms, and developing the confidence to become the advisor she was meant to be. For early-career financial planners, this episode is packed with actionable advice on career development, networking, client relationships, and creating a career aligned with your values. What You'll Learn Why trusting your instincts can accelerate your financial planning career How remote work can create new opportunities for advisors The advantages and challenges of transitioning from W-2 employment to 1099 contract work How FPA NexGen® can help build your professional network Why empathy is one of the most valuable skills in financial planning How financial planners can better serve clients navigating divorce Tips for managing multiple firms and balancing competing priorities Building confidence while developing your own advising style Key Takeaways Career growth often comes from taking calculated risks. Your work environment has a significant impact on long-term success. Community and mentorship can dramatically accelerate professional development. Authenticity builds stronger client relationships than trying to imitate others. Financial planners create tremendous value simply by helping clients feel heard. Independent and contract work offers flexibility but requires intentional planning. Emotional intelligence is just as important as technical expertise. Episode Chapters 00:00 – Introduction & Meet Nichole Graham 01:25 – Moving Across the Country & Embracing Career Change 04:10 – Building Community Through FPA NexGen® 06:45 – Thriving in a Remote Work Environment 09:30 – Creating a Morning Routine for Success 12:15 – Transitioning from W-2 Employment to Contract Work 16:20 – Balancing Multiple Firms & Client Relationships 20:05 – How FPA NexGen® Accelerated Nichole's Career 23:30 – Volunteering, Travel & Avoiding Burnout 26:10 – Discovering Financial Planning as a Helping Profession 29:00 – Trusting Your Gut & Finding Your Own Voice 31:20 – Advice for Advisors Considering Independent Contract Work 32:25 – Final Thoughts on Supporting Clients Through Divorce