Page 48 - Investment Advisor April/May 2022

THE NEW SCHOOL

By Caleb Brown

How to Spot Talent That’s Taken an

Unconventional Path

There are hidden gems when looking behind several resumes.

Here’s one example.

he resiliency and adaptability
of our profession can continue
Tonly with solid new talent to fill
the ranks and grow the business. And
though it’s great to see people within the
profession step up to lead, it’s equally
satisfying to see more new people join
the financial planner ranks and make
positive impacts on the profession.
Case in point: Alisa Nguyen, a stu-
dent at Utah Valley University who is
one of those aspiring to do great things
in our profession. who had not managed their family’s for the profession — attending classes at
Nguyen is the winner of the 2021 financial affairs and were overwhelmed UVU, working part time and raising her
New Planner Recruiting Tuition with the anxiety of suddenly having to five children. She is honing her skills in
Reimbursement Scholarship. The fend for themselves. Nguyen shared that her part-time position at the UVU Money
selection committee — made up of several of her friends were so paralyzed Management Resource Center, where
Geoffrey Brown, CEO of NAPFA, Michael by financial stress that they couldn’t financial planning students give presen-
Kitces, founder of Kitces.com and XYPN, open their mail. After some reflection, tations to classes and provide one-on-one
and myself — was pleased to award her she realized that she wanted to be able counseling to other UVU students.
$3,000 toward the cost of her journey to to help these friends sort out their finan- This has allowed her to immerse her-
becoming a certified financial planner. cial affairs more thoroughly than she self in learning the craft that she knows
As a divorced single mother of five, was equipped to. She decided to pursue will be paramount to helping her pro-
Nguyen is no ordinary student, and her further training. But what to do next? vide the advice she needs to ease her
path is unconventional. While vaguely It wasn’t until she took a self-reli- clients’ anxiety. Nguyen plans to take the
aware of “financial planners” whom ance class and the facilitator, Robert CFP certification exam in November and
she and her ex-husband had met over Christensen, a retired certified financial wants to find a position in an established
the years, she was always skeptical due planner, showed her the consultative and firm where she can focus on a women-
to the pushy, sales-based nature that collaborative fiduciary side of financial in-transition clientele after graduation.
she encountered. planning. She fell in love with it and knew Her ideal position is in an established
Feeling discouraged, she set out on her it was something she wanted to pursue. In firm where she can learn the business
own to learn to handle the family’s financ- addition, she had conversations with Jenie without pressure to bring in clients
es, which she has done successfully for Connors, a local CFP who helped her immediately — preferably an in-person,
the last few decades. When Nguyen got understand the service offerings of various part-time role that transitions to full time
divorced, however, she felt as if she had firms and potential career paths. Excited when her children are older and become
little choice financially and vocationally. about her new possibilities, she quickly more self-sufficient. She is also pursuing
She planned to go back to work and use found the Utah Valley University Board the accredited financial counselor desig-
her English degree to become a teacher, Registered CFP program near her home. nation and wants to see how the softer
but realized that it wasn’t her true passion. Nguyen is a testament to someone who side of money is being integrated into
As time went by, she found herself could have pursued an easier path, but financial planning. We look forward to Adobe Stock
surrounded by other divorced friends instead is demonstrating a true passion Nguyen accomplishing great things!

46 INVESTMENT ADVISOR APRIL/MAY 2022 | ThinkAdvisor.com