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Reflections from a Career Changer on My First NAPFA Conference
By Angella Welcome, CFP®
This past May, I had the incredible opportunity to attend my first NAPFA conference in Fort Worth. Having recently made the leap from a career in investment management marketing to financial planning, I was excited when my new colleagues recommended joining NAPFA. I had admired the organization from afar for several years, and I was fortunate to join a firm that fully supports membership and active participation.
In my previous role, I had attended industry conferences as a relationship manager but this was different. Not only was this my first NAPFA event but it was also my first experience at an event tailored exclusively to Fee-Only financial advisors. My only task was to immerse myself in the field, connect with peers, and soak up as much knowledge as possible. Needless to say, I was excited.
As a “mid-career” career changer (read: no longer in my 30s), the decision to pivot into financial planning wasn’t taken lightly. It was a journey that spanned several years, filled with reflection and careful evaluation of what attracted me to this profession and what it would take to succeed. Through this process, I came to a few key realizations:
- I hold a deep respect for financial advisors and the transformative impact they can have on the lives of their clients.
- I feel a strong sense of duty to thoroughly understand the technical aspects of financial planning to ensure I have the tools and knowledge I need to serve my clients well.
- As a career changer and busy parent, I knew formal educational opportunities like degree programs or internships might be harder to access, making it crucial to seize every learning opportunity available.
As an ambitious career changer, I set some lofty expectations for this conference to provide me with a wealth of learning opportunities—and I can honestly say it delivered. Each morning felt like being a kid in a candy store as I reviewed the session offerings and set my agenda.
Day 1: Navigating the complexities of IRA rollovers and transfers. Avoiding common tax planning pitfalls. Learning how to serve small business owners during ownership and through liquidity events.
Day 2: Senior economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas provides economic forecasts. Planning nuances for special needs families. Implications of the TCJA sunset on tax and estate planning.
And so on.
The breadth and depth of content felt similar to a college course but delivered in a more relaxed and accessible atmosphere. I left Fort Worth with pages of notes, valuable new contacts who specialize in tricky areas like estate planning, and best of all, new friendships.
For anyone new to the financial planning profession, passionate about the field, and hungry to learn, I wholeheartedly recommend attending a NAPFA conference as early in your career as possible. It is likely to accelerate your learning, provide immediate takeaways that enhance your financial planning skills, and help you build lasting relationships with fellow advisors.
Angella Welcome, CFP®, an advisor at Pioneer Wealth Management Group in Austin, Texas, enjoys helping clients design their financial futures with intention and purpose. She previously held marketing and business development roles in investment management, including at Dimensional Fund Advisors.
image credit: Adobe Stock Images
