Advisor Research, Awards & More

It’s been a busy (and exciting!) season here at Amplified Planning.

From wrapping up another incredible year of The Externship to being recognized nationally for our work in diversity and inclusion, to unveiling new research at Schwab IMPACT… we’ve had a lot to celebrate.

Here’s a look at what’s been happening and what’s next for the Amplified Planning community.

The Externship 2025: Our biggest year yet!

This summer, we welcomed 2,078 Externs from around the world into The Externship, and we’re thrilled to share that 1,300 completed the full program, earning a 66% completion rate. That’s over 650,000 CFP Board standard pathway experience hours earned! Congrats to our Finishers!

Each year, The Externship gives students, career changers, and aspiring planners real exposure to financial planning through real client meetings, expert interviews, and hands-on assignments. But beyond the coursework, this year’s Externs built something even bigger: community.

Many of them met each other in virtual meetups, joined study groups, and even connected in person at events like the CFP Connections Conference this fall.

If you’ve been curious about The Externship or want to see why more than 6,500 people have joined since 2020, join our Insider List to get early access when 2026 registration opens.

CFP Connections

In October, Hannah spoke at the CFP Board’s Connections Conference, where she delivered two sessions that got to the heart of what’s next for this profession.

In one session, she spoke to college students about how to build their skills before they find their first job, from developing curiosity and communication to applying financial planning knowledge in real-world ways.

In another, she spoke directly to firm leaders about how to train and retain talent, especially those with unconventional backgrounds. She also talked to firm owners about how they might be filtering out great people because they don’t look like traditional candidates.

And one of our favorite parts of the conference was meeting dozens of Externs in person! Many who came up to share how The Externship helped them get their first job, change careers, or finally feel like they belong in this field. It was great to meet you all!

Recognized for advancing diversity & inclusion

We’re deeply honored to share that Amplified Planning has been named the 2025 InvestmentNews Women to Watch winner for Excellence in Gender, Diversity & Inclusion.

Representation matters — not just for our profession, but for the clients we serve. When more voices, perspectives, and lived experiences are part of financial planning, we all win.

Here at Amplified Planning, we believe equity and inclusion aren’t side projects. They’re central to how we build a profession that reflects the people we serve. Every planner who feels seen and supported is another client who gets better advice and a better life.

This award reflects our belief that training should be accessible to everyone, not just those with a foot already in the door. Through programs like The Externship and CORE, we’re creating more equitable pathways into the profession and giving new planners the confidence and context they need to thrive.

New research: What planners really want (and why)

We talk to new and aspiring financial planners every single day through The Externship, CORE, and The Accelerator. We’ve always had a front-row seat to their challenges and ambitions, but this year, we wanted data to match those stories.

So, we launched a research study in partnership with Schwab to understand exactly what new and emerging talent wants from the profession and what firms can do to attract, retain, and train them better.

The results were unveiled on stage at Schwab IMPACT, where Hannah presented alongside Leslie Tabor from Schwab Advisor Services. You can read the full report at amplifiedplanning.com/research, but here are a few highlights:

Nearly 40% of new planners are career changers. Talent isn’t just coming from colleges; it’s coming from other industries and experiences.
94% of respondents said they want to do holistic financial planning, not just investment management.
Culture, clarity, and career progression were identified as the three most important factors when evaluating firms.
And the most powerful insight of all? 91% of Externs said they joined the profession to help people.

That’s why firms can’t just focus on hiring for technical skills or AUM goals. They need to invest in training, mentorship, and human-centered development. This research is the first step in a broader initiative we’re building for 2026 to help firms connect with emerging talent more effectively, and to help planners showcase the skills firms truly need.

What’s next for 2026

As we look ahead, we’re designing new ways to train aspiring and early-career planners. We don’t want to just teach what to do. We want to help you show your value through practice, reflection, and real-world insight!

We can’t share all the details yet, but we can say this: what we’re cooking up is going to help you bridge the gap between knowing and doing, and help firms see the incredible potential in the next generation of planners.

If you want to be the first to hear what’s coming next, join our newsletter list.