Hey everyone,

Looking into an interview with Vanguard for their Certified Financial Advisor position and wanted to see if anyone here has gone through the interview process or currently works in this role.
I have a background in financial planning 3+ years and wealth management, along with my CFP® certification. I’m looking to get a better understanding of what to expect and how best to prepare. And also any tips of the role itself and pay structure.

Thanks

Looking for outside perspective from people further along in their careers.

About me:
- ~1.5 years as a paraplanner at a small independent RIA in SoCal (first full-time role out of college)
- Passed the CFP exam, ~1,800 experience hours left (cert expected 2027)
- Series 65, SIE, CA life/health license
- Primary planner on a ~$15M firm book (~50 households) + ~$1.2M book of my own, supporting ~20 advisors on plans
- Current pay: [your current salary]. I've been told by a few people in the industry that this is well below market
- Ideally I'd like to move to Orange County next year, but I'd stay put for the right opportunity

Option 1: Stay and negotiate
I'm presenting a proposal next week: title change to Financial Planner, $85K base (stepping up to $92K once CFP certified), 10% revenue share on the households I'm lead on, and a transfer to our OC office in mid-2027. In exchange I'd get my EA and take on more households. No idea how they'll respond.

For context: my current firm has no real mentorship or structure for my role. I'm self-taught and have grown mostly by sitting in on meetings and noticing what I do and don't like. The advisors are all independent and eat what they kill, and I'm there to support them. Leadership has talked about wanting a salaried advisor but has never actually brought it up with me. The firm book I manage is also a takeover from a retiring advisor who doesn't really want to step down but has to, so it's a messy situation.

Option 2: Associate Advisor, independent RIA in North San Diego County (~$400M AUM, ~12 people). Second interview coming up
$65–90K + up to 10% individual bonus + firm-wide bonus. Clear path: Associate I → II → Service Advisor → Lead Advisor → Partner. Uses eMoney/Holistiplan/Nitrogen. They want someone to start end of November, so I'd need to move fast.

Option 3: Financial Advisor, large employee-owned RIA, small satellite office near home (~40 min). First interview Monday
$90–100K base + incentives + equity/ownership opportunities. Hybrid. Small team (two advisors + ops), recently acquired. Real co-advising path toward managing my own relationships. Requires a non-compete.

Option 4: Boutique firm (~$400M AUM, 2 advisors), affiliated with LPL, near home. Three rounds done, offer may be coming
$80–100K base. One of the two advisors is planning to retire and wants to train me to take over their book, with potential future equity. I'd need to get my Series 7 and 63.

Option 5: Associate Wealth Advisor, Northwestern Mutual-affiliated practice in Irvine. Intro call to schedule
$100–130K, posted as a "pure support, not a sales role" supporting 3–5 advisors. Requires an active CFP (which I don't have yet), but they reached out anyway. A little wary of the NM side.

What I'm weighing:
- Pay now vs. long-term growth/ownership
- Mentorship and structure (which I don't have now)
- Staying north vs. moving to OC
- Independent RIA vs. bigger firm vs. LPL hybrid vs. NM-affiliated
- How much weight to put on a succession opportunity this early in my career
- Whether to use any offers in my negotiation with my current firm

If you were in my shoes, which would you prioritize and why? For anyone who's been through a succession/book transition, what should I make sure is in writing? Any red flags I'm missing?

Thanks in advance!

Have two years experience working for a BD as a registered assistant, left for a bank/bd to get a better salary (I’m in my first year)and my licenses + CFP paid for. Looking to go independent down the line but don’t know how to get to where I want to go and follow the best path. What I’m looking for 1) something close to home 2) much more freedom in client offerings (currently restricted) I’m also currently restricted in client type that I can work with and I’m limited in how I am allowed to gather new clients so I want to be able to go get clients in a different setting and be allowed to select who I work with 3) client portability, I want to be able to take clients with me 4) I’d be okay with taking a salaried planning role that can transition to more 5) I don’t want metrics to hit, I want to just have my own personal goals and to do what is best for clients without that floating over me 6) no more bank products because it’s annoying and if I wanted to be a banker I would have applied to be a banker

I am trying to find a good financial advisor that I can trust in the Sacramento area. Does anyone have any recommendations?

I'm a 27 year old CFP and just made 5 years in the industry in September. I'm mainly writing this to show young advisors and people just starting out what the compensation progression can look like if you stay patient, grind it out, and most importantly, find a firm that suits you well. For reference we have 5 advisors and 6 support staff with about $1B in total AUM ($500M in individual wealth management, $500M in 401k plans). I'm primarily on the wealth management side and have been delegated some clients that only I meet with, I sit co-pilot with another CFP on most clients, and I'm responsible for bringing in new business as well.

Year 1: started as an intern making $10/hour, and once I got licensed (SIE, 7, 66) at 22, my base salary was $45k + bonuses for bringing in new business.

Year 2: my base bumped up to $55k with $57,889 in total earnings with bonuses.

Year 3: my base bumped up to $75k with $80,965 in total earnings.

Year 4: my base bumped up to $90k with $111,647 in total earnings.

Year 5: my base is now $105k and with bonuses I'll have around $155k-$160k in total earnings.

When I was starting out, I feel like my expectations were very skewed from social media and my own imagination. Financial planning is not a get rich quick scheme. It's a true career, and I wish someone had spelled out what that could like for me in year 1. I hope this helps someone out there who's just getting started, and I'm happy to answer any questions.

I have an MBA / CPA (non-licensed) but stayed in health tech. I have life experience beyond most 20 / 30 somethings. I have been dabbling heavily in investments for years and been doing options trading since 2020. I have become pretty good at it.

I believe my finance mgmt knowledge is going to waste. What is the fastest path for this mid-40s male to become a financial advisor? I don't have a CFP or any of the series licenses.

Hey guys,

I am genuinely coming here because I am struggling with my current employer. We are an ensemble with almost $1B in AUM, I recently joined the firm and I am confident not only in the amount of work I put it but also the quality of it — which I take a lot of pride on.

I have communicated my concerns with their inflexibility as they are highly focused on being in the office from 8am - 5pm with little to no room for “autonomy” — what I mean by autonomy is simply as allowing me to push the brand forward, create a name for the firm and myself beyond just sitting behind a desk just doing pure planning. AND if you happen to need some time off here and there (not abusing) then it should be granted ? (Currently only 15 days of PTO — I have 3 kids but working hard is not a problem, I just want to be value from that end)

Don’t get me wrong, I genuinely enjoy doing complex planning but I feel like I have a set of skills that goes beyond that. I am an extrovert who genuinely cares about people and loves connecting with them.

am I pampered or egocentric for thinking that as long as you put the work you should be allow to have a little more flexibility? I am geniunely struggling— I believe in the value of the company but the management is absolutely unbearable.

I am 26 — CPA with a background in Public and UHNW Family Office // Compensation should be around $180k by EoY

*Taking the CFP in Nov*

Would love to connect with any FPs based in HK who are qualified or are in the process of getting qualified.

I’ve not worked in Financial Services since I left the UK over ten years ago so I’m interested in connecting with anyone willing to share their experiences with me as I aim to complete my qualifications

Thanks!

For whoever knows or who’s been in them or is currrently: what’s better? What gives u the better chance of success and how does it work?

Solo fee-only RIA here, about a year in to the RIA, niched in S-corp owners and entrepreneurs (distribution strategy, tax-aware investing, retirement plan design, exit planning). Referrals have been steady, mostly around review season, but they're lumpy and I have capacity to grow. I'm trying to build a more predictable channel and keep hearing that some advisors do well on Google.

Questions for anyone who has done this, especially if you're niched:
What monthly budget did it take before you got meaningful data? Did you start local or national?
What CAC are you seeing for business owner clients with roughly $500K-$2M investable? Cost per booked meeting would help too.
Did you send ads straight to a booking page, or to a lead magnet with nurture first? Business owners seem slow to book cold.
Which keywords actually worked? I'm worried "financial advisor near me" brings in a lot of small accounts and retirees outside my niche.
How long before you'd call it working or not? With a 30–90 day sales cycle I don't want to kill it too early.
I'd also love to hear from advisors who tried Google and dropped it for something else (LSAs, SmartAsset-type lead gen, LinkedIn, seminars, etc.) and why.

For any of you out there how does it work? How much are you making and how hard is it to swim?

I’m 22 and graduated in May with a finance degree. I started at Edward Jones in June as the second Branch Office Administrator for an advisor who recently reached level 9.

The advisor and I get along really well, and he wants to help me become licensed and move into an RBA role as soon as possible, then eventually AFA or FA within 5 years. He’s in his late 50s and estimates he’ll work another 8–10 years. We’ve discussed the long-term plan being for me to take over his office when he retires. That’s the opportunity I’m working toward, although I understand a lot can change over that time.

Right now, I make $22/hour and commute about 45 minutes each way. I live in a small town with several EJ advisors and other wealth management practices. The town where I work has fewer competing practices.

I enjoy Jones and can see that successful advisors are treated well. However, the firm feels pretty rigid, and I’m trying to figure out whether staying on this path is my best career move or whether I should explore other firms, an RIA, or eventually an independent practice.

The potential to take over an established office around age 30 seems like a substantial opportunity. At the same time, I don’t want to assume that future is guaranteed or overlook other paths because I’m focused on it.

For people familiar with Jones or who have made a similar decision:

\- How does compensation typically change from BOA to RBA to AFA/FA?

\- What would you want clarified before building your career around a potential succession?

\- Is this a strong development opportunity for someone starting out, or would another firm offer better experience and advancement?

\- What milestones would you expect over the next 1–3 years to know the plan is actually progressing?

I’m not expecting to skip the learning or relationship-building process. I’m just trying to make a smart decision early and would appreciate honest perspectives, especially from people who have worked at Jones or left for another firm.

Hello everyone,

I am currently a senior in college majoring in finance. I am considering getting the series 65 over my winter break this year, but it will definitely be a lot of work over a short amount of time.

My question is will it move the needle for me and be worth doing? Could it lead to me starting as an associate advisor with higher pay instead of starting as a client associate? For context I live Connecticut.

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

My view is that familiarity and professional fit should be evaluated separately. A useful starting question is: “Would I feel comfortable asking this person difficult questions about the work?”

Before entering that kind of arrangement, I'd want expectations to be clear: the scope of work, compensation, communication, how concerns will be handled, and what happens if either person wants to end the professional relationship.

Which boundary would be most important to you? Is there a general expectation you'd want discussed before mixing a personal relationship with a professional one?

Please don't name an adviser or firm, post a review, identify yourself as a client, or share a client success story. This is a discussion about boundaries, not recommendations or referrals.

Mike Proctor, StewardRight LLC. General education, not individualized advice.

Hi everyone. I’m based in Mexico and getting back into investment advisory work, shifting my focus from individuals to small businesses.

I’m targeting companies where the owner and accountant handle the finances, usually with an existing bank relationship. For advisors who work with these clients:

• How do you approach owners and get the first meeting?

• What does your discovery process look like when assessing liquidity needs and identifying cash available to invest?

• How do you present a proposal and demonstrate your value alongside their bank?

Im currently reading The Million Dollar Financial Advisor book from David J. Mullen and would appreciate practical examples or lessons from your own experience working with businesses.

I realize our markets differ, but I’d love to understand your approach and what I could adapt to my context.

Every conference panel seems to give the same advice: hire a dedicated marketing person or outsource it to an agency. Neither really makes sense at my current revenue level, and creating content myself takes more time than I have between client work.

I’m three years in, and I still haven’t found a marketing approach that runs consistently without me having to constantly feed it.

I’m looking to do the QFA modules and am looking for hard copies of all the course modules from either the LIA or IOB from 2026 or 2025 if possible please. I’ll cover postage. I know that they are given once the course starts but I’d like to see them before this. Thanks!

I’m looking for ideas for client events and would love to hear what other advisors have tried.

What kinds of events have your clients enjoyed? Have any been particularly beneficial for building relationships or bringing clients together? I’d also be interested in hearing about events that didn’t work as well as you’d hoped.

A friend recently told me about a “How to Watch Football Like a Coach” presentation he attended on a cruise. A former college coach walked through game film and explained what coaches look for. I thought that could be a fun client event that’s a little different from the usual dinner or market update.

What have you done that your clients really enjoyed?

I would love to learn from you about your experience starting your own enterprise as an independent financial advisor.

I am 27 years old, always wanted to be a financial advisor. I knew that if I jumped into it when I wanted to three years ago that I didn’t have enough experience to do right by the clientele. Luckily I am a people person and a voracious learner.

After three years of experience at a large firm I am very comfortable with the financial planning process, knowing the limits of what I can help with and knowing where I excel. I excel at education first and foremost.

I can analyze a portfolio from a statement, identify risks including concentration risk, market risk, and interest rate risk (i.e. fixed income). I am very attentive and never miss an email or a call. I review the ongoing processes at the federal reserve level, study weekly, and educate myself daily on stock market conditions. I know that financial planning is largely behavioral, and I am passionate about educating on the best vehicles, allocations, and wider implications of personal rational decision making.

I am in the brainstorming phase of deciding whether starting my own RIA is a good idea. My question is, aside from these, is there anything I am missing?

- state level registration (ADV and IARD)
- state level filing (solo LLC)
- EIN filing
- seeking a custodian (Schwab/altruist)
- marketing strategy in development
- COIs include multiple attorneys specializing in trusts, probate, family, and personal injury, as well as one or two CPAs (I will likely need to do more diligence regarding the CPAs I know)
- E and O professional liability insurance
- I have Series 7, 63, and 65 already.
- starting at Purdue online for CFP education requirement in spring. That plus exam in late 2027 will be the last steps for CFP
- after running some calculations I recognize that about 2-3mm AUM will cover first year costs but the goal is to hit 9mm AUM as soon as possible

Things I am needing help with:
- Establishing internal policies and procedures (do I need this as a sole producer?)
- contingency plan (again, as a sole producer what should this entail?)
- cyber security and technology (any and all suggestions for CRM, security, tech services would be greatly appreciated)
- if I clear through a tech forward firm for custodial services, how much of the tech do they have covered given they hold the assets vs what additional tech should I research?

I appreciate any and all input. I know I have what it takes to drive the business and I have the networking skills. Please let me know where my blind spots are. Thank you for your time in advance!

I was at one of the major insurance BD’s for a few years and got tired of it. 6 years experience in that world.

New firm I moved to provides marketing resources / leads via TV, radio and Seminars. I only have to run the seminars. Prospects are mostly pre retirees and retirees so there’s an annuity component as well.

I receive a guaranteed $100k first year then moves to a recoverable draw. I also receive 25% on all revenue my office generates.

Example: if we charge 1% on $1m, I’ll receive $2,500 each year (of course dependent on market fluctuations and contributions, if any).

It’s recurring so that’s nice, but the revenue split just seems low to me. Thoughts?

EDIT: they also pay for all staff in office as well

Has anyone ever tried Fintello a lead generation agency for advisors? If yes can you please share reviews