Laid off? Let go?

Just reconsidering everything?
If you’ve recently lost a job, or you’re staring at a career that no longer fits, financial planning might not have been on your “careers to research” list… but we think it should be.

Why consider financial planning?

Most people don’t “dream” of becoming a financial planner. They discover it through personal experiences, such as a financial crisis or encounters with a family advisor. But what you might not know about this profession is that:

  • It’s stable. This is relationship-based, long-term work. It’s not trend-based or cyclical (or entirely rooted in the performance of the markets!).
  • It’s growing. Thousands of advisors are retiring in the next decade. The demand for planners is outpacing supply.
  • It’s not just investing. Financial planners guide clients through cash flow, retirement, taxes, college, insurance, and major life transitions.
  • It’s meaningful. Money touches everything. You get to help people make clear, confident decisions about their lives.

Financial planning is about helping real people make real decisions…about retirement, taxes, college, investments, life transitions, and more. 

The profession needs more people who want to help!

Some of the strongest financial planners started as:
  • Military officers
  • Creatives
  • Nurses
  • Corporate managers
  • Teachers
  • Engineers
  • And more
Technical skills can be taught. Judgment, empathy, and real-world perspective? That’s harder to train… and that’s what your experience in your current or previous career offers!

Why join The Externship?

An 8-week, entirely virtual introduction to financial planning
When you’re in a transition season, you face real constraints: You need income. You don’t have industry experience. You can’t “just go intern somewhere.” And you need flexibility.
That’s exactly why we built The Externship. Before you pursue a certification, try to find a new job, start networking, or invest significant time and money in a new career… You can see the work.

The Externship is an 8-week, fully virtual experience running from June 1 to July 31. Expect to invest about 15–20 hours per week, where you will:

  • Watch real client meetings
  • See how planners think and communicate
  • Use industry-standard technology totally free
  • Hear from 50+ professionals about how they entered the field (and network with them!)
  • Understand what it actually takes to transition into this profession
  • Build a community of thousands of other Externs who are seeking a change just like you

After The Externship…

  • Decide you don’t love financial planning as a career? You’ll leave with tools that will help you with your own finances now and in the future.
  • Find that you love financial planning? Great news! You can earn 500 CFP Board standard pathway hours, which go toward your CFP® certification (the highest standard for financial planners).  
  • You’ll also add an industry-standard program to your resume. Firms tell us they look for The Externship in their new hires, and value the training that Externs receive!
  • Plus, Externs join our Alumni community after The Externship ends. You’ll get access to 6,500+ people who share resources, job postings, and networking opportunities to help you pursue your career in financial planning.

By taking The Externship this summer, you might just find what you’ve been looking for: a career you love, that makes an impact, and makes a good living.

And if not… at least you know what the difference between a 401(k) and an IRA is, and can create your own estate plan 😉

Financial planning is one of the most overlooked second-career professions in the country.

You don’t need to commit to a career change, but The Externship is the easiest way to take a peek behind the curtain to see if you’re interested.
Registration opens April 1st, and the program starts June 1st!
Interested in registering, but in need of some financial assistance? Apply for a scholarship here.

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