Building the Future of Advice

The financial planning profession is at a turning point.

With seasoned advisors retiring in record numbers and client demand continuing to rise, the firms that thrive will be the ones that attract, develop, and retain the next generation of planners.

This exclusive research brief, brought to you by Amplified Planning and Schwab Advisor Services, shares insights from over 1,800 aspiring and new financial planners who participated in the 2025 Externship.

Through surveys and focus groups, we uncovered what students, career changers, and financial services professionals are really looking for in a firm. These insights can help you attract the right talent, reduce turnover, and build a stronger pipeline for the future.

Who makes up the next generation of talent
The 3 main pathways into the profession
What new planners value most, based on their pathway
The real drivers of retention (and turnover)
Why planners leave firms and what makes them stay
Attraction, training, and retention strategies from real firms

Get the inside perspective on today’s (and tomorrow’s) advisors

Hear directly from students, career changers from other industries, and current financial services professionals sharing their real experiences trying to break into firms like yours. Their stories reveal what attracts them, what turns them away, and what ultimately keeps them engaged.

Alongside these voices, you’ll see case studies from RIAs already putting solutions into practice. These firms have strengthened recruiting pipelines, accelerated advisor development, and improved retention by making intentional changes, and they’re sharing what they did with you.