One of the best things about being a financial planner in the age of the internet is easy access to countless resources and trainings that help you hone your skills. There are also many communities of like-minded professionals ready to encourage and learn from each other.
However, the internet is also home to lots of misinformation, sketchy “professional development” roles or training, and financial “experts” who are just there to make money off new planners. And it can be hard to tell the difference between a legitimate resource and a money-making scheme, especially when you’re new to this profession.
So we’ve put together this list of legitimate, helpful resources for new financial planners. You can use it to find some ways to expand your financial planning education and get different perspectives on various aspects of this profession.
Your Local FPA Chapter
There are many benefits to joining the Financial Planning Association (FPA), which is a professional society for financial planners. Membership gives you access to job postings, career advice, conferences, and learning materials, along with plenty of other resources.
But one of the biggest advantages to joining the FPA is the chance to participate in your local FPA chapter. There are 80 active chapters across the country, so chances are you can find one in your area. This is a fantastic way to connect with other financial professionals in your local area and build a robust network as you advance your career.
ThinkAdvisor
ThinkAdvisor is an excellent online source for members of various finance professions. It caters to financial planners as well as those in wealth management, regulation/compliance, technology, insurance, and retirement planning.
The website includes a range of news articles and commentary about relevant topics. You can also find details about trade shows, events, and webcasts. Along with the site itself, ThinkAdvisor offers newsletters, several podcasts, and an online research center featuring whitepapers, e-books, and case studies.
Dominique Henderson JumpStart YOU University
More of a video learner? The Jumpstart Community for Financial Professionals is a great place to start. Dominique’s YouTube channel is organized based on where you are in your career — whether you’re just starting out, a career changer, or an established financial planner.
Most of the videos are pleasantly short, packing tons of information into an efficient and enjoyable format. Subjects range from financial planning career advice to financial management topics such as investing.
Michael Kitces
Michael Kitces offers a ton of technical advice and extensive knowledge in practice management and career advancement. His blog, Nerd’s Eye View, is a great resource for everything from technical investing news to how to improve your financial planning brand. He also hosts the Financial Advisor Success Podcast, which has a ton of great hosts and even more insights into how to advance your career and your skills.
The Wall Street Journal
Perhaps one of the most well-known and influential publications about financial issues, The Wall Street Journal has content on just about every topic related to money. Readers can learn about everything from gold prices to international politics and their effect on wealth throughout the world.
You can subscribe to the classic print edition of the paper or the online version, and there are also WSJ videos and podcasts. The range of content includes news stories, opinion pieces, and research data. Whether you’re a brand-new planner or a seasoned professional, chances are you can find something to read about in the WSJ just about every day.
You can subscribe to the classic print edition of the paper or the online version, and there are also WSJ videos and podcasts. The range of content includes news stories, opinion pieces, and research data. Whether you’re a brand-new planner or a seasoned professional, chances are you can find something to read about in the WSJ just about every day.
DealBreaker
DealBreaker is an online resource designed for young professionals in the finance world. It covers some of the most cutting-edge financial topics, such as cryptocurrency.
Most DealBreaker content focuses on current financial industry trends and personalities, so it offers a unique perspective that’s an excellent complement to a traditional source like the WSJ. Along with news and commentary, the site offers some comedic content for entertainment.
The FPA Virtual Externship
Finally, if you’re looking for an “event” that can really help you launch your career, consider participating in the next FPA Virtual Externship. An eight-week experience designed for motivated students and new financial planners, the externship can also be an excellent choice for seasoned professionals transitioning into financial planning from other industries.
The Externship is completely online, so you can access it from home, school, or wherever you have an internet connection. It’s taught by Certified Financial Planner™ experts who offer varied perspectives and tried-and-true advice. The curriculum is designed around real-world financial planning scenarios and gives students the chance to get some hands-on planning experience.
Amplified Planning CORE
You didn’t think we’d go through this whole article without talking about our program, did you?
Amplified Planning CORE is a monthly video training resource, where you get to “sit in” on one of our client meetings — recorded and virtual, of course! You’ll get access to videos that walk you through our financial planning process, and even have “play-by-plays” that reflect on:
- Why a certain recommendation was made
- The thought process the planner went through
- Any unique circumstances the clients are bringing to the table
Plus, for just $30 a month, you’ll be able to execute on a financial plan and any relevant needs for the client. If you submit all the materials for the month, you can get 20 CFP® experience hours, or 2 CE hours! Learn more about Amplified Planning CORE here.
A Little Extra Work Can Pay Off Big
Taking the time to augment your working experience and formal education with extra knowledge can help you grow your career and build a valuable network of other financial professionals. It may take a little time to learn which type of resources (videos, blogs, magazine articles, professional communities) are most helpful for you, but that is time well spent.
One of the best ways to learn more about this profession is from other financial planners. Do you have some excellent resources to share? Or advice about sites that are best avoided?
There are plenty of tools that you can incorporate into your financial planning practice to give your clients the best possible experience. Along with traditional programs like Quicken and eMoney, there are numerous other software options and mobile apps to consider.
We’ve compiled a list of some of our favorites for you to consider. Some of these tools are specifically related to financial planning whereas others are more general and useful for optimizing your workflow and automating time-consuming administrative tasks.
There are many apps and programs that provide similar functionality, so it can take some trial and error to find the ones that you like best. Fortunately, many of these tools have free versions that allow you to test out the interface and features before you commit to paying for them.
MoneyGuidePro
MoneyGuidePro (MGP) is the most popular financial planning software based on market share/usage among financial advisors. It’s a popular choice for both large firms and individual planners. This software takes a “goals-based” approach to financial planning, so it may be a good choice if that’s how you interact with your clients as well.
This software has an attractive interface that’s easy for clients to use. As the advisor, you can provide this tool to your clients while still retaining control and determining how your clients can use the program. For example, you can allow your clients to input changes to their income or spending to see the effects on their overall wealth.
eMoney Advisor
The main competitor to MoneyGuidePro, eMoney Advisor is the second-most-popular financial planning software. Many financial professionals consider eMoney Advisor to be the program with the best client portal. It’s also the most expensive financial planning software, so make sure you love it before committing.
While MGP focuses on financial goals, eMoney Advisor is designed around cash-flow-based planning. If this is the approach you take with your clients, this program can be a great choice. It allows easy collaboration between you and your clients, so you can do interactive planning together.
StockTwits
The StockTwits app makes it easy to get stock market news. You can follow key stocks, get news about the market and investment trends, and learn what other financial advisors are seeing and talking about. This app also includes crypto news, so it’s a good option if you have clients who are interested in virtual currencies.
NestEgg Estimator
This Google app is a great option for financial professionals who work with retirees or clients preparing for retirement. Simply enter your client’s financial details, and the app will provide predictions of the client’s future income, debt, assets, and taxes. It’s an easy way to help you show your client how current financial decisions can affect their future wealth and stability.
Calendly
Administrative tasks can take up a lot of your precious time, so any tool that automates those jobs can be helpful. Calendly is a great option for automating scheduling, especially when it comes to setting up meetings with your clients (or potential clients). The website and app version work seamlessly together.
Calendly integrates with your online calendar and takes care of scheduling for you. Just share the scheduling link with your clients, and they can see a calendar of your availability and set up an appointment at a time that works for them. Along with the basic free option, there are paid versions of Calendly that offer more functionality and even integrate with Salesforce and similar software.
ShareFile
Like Calendly, ShareFile is an app that’s not necessarily finance-specific but is extremely useful for financial professionals. It’s a cloud-based file-sharing tool that makes it easy for you to send documents to your clients.
For example, you can send contracts for signatures and give your clients easy access to other files that would be too difficult to attach to an email. The desktop version syncs with tablet and smartphone apps, so you can access files and sharing options when you’re away from your computer.
Zoom
A lot of us didn’t know about Zoom before the pandemic, but it’s become a household name since 2020. This is probably the most well-known video conferencing software for professionals, and there’s an app version too.
Zoom makes it easy to connect with your clients through video conferencing, which is something many younger clients prefer. If you decide to use the app version on your mobile device, remember to disable notifications from other apps during calls and use a headphone/microphone system for better audio.
Figure out what works for your practice
There are hundreds of financial planning apps and software programs available to you. Some are objectively better than others, but there are many that are great choices for financial professionals. How do you choose the right ones? Remember, the best app or program for you is the one that you enjoy using and that aligns with the services you offer your clients.
What are your favorite financial planning programs and apps? Let me know in the comments below!
If you don’t want to spend a lot of time and money trying every app and program to figure out which one is right for you, we’ve got an easy solution: Amplified Planning CORE. Our in-depth financial planning course allows you to watch actual sessions with real clients and get behind-the-scenes feedback from expert financial planners. You can see apps and software in action, so you know exactly how they work and whether they’re right for you. Join CORE to take your training to the next lev
The Amplified Planning online community is a wonderful resource for financial planners in all stages of their careers. Add your email address to get access to our weekly newsletter and online forum for deep discussions on relevant issues. Join today!
