After serving his country, Scott was unsure which career path to pursue. Although he studied biology, he knew that this career path was not his calling. While Scott was paying down debt, he participated in a financial course for families that he discovered that financial planning was his true calling. However, he was unsure how to begin his journey, so he decided to talk to a financial advisor who worked in the Marine Corp. The financial advisor provided industry knowledge, the career aspect, and which paths were available to pursue financial planning. Therefore, he decided to research which programs were accredited and counted as the education portion for the CFP requirement. Scott shared that “California Lutheran University was one of the best programs out there because CLU was the only program that had the CFP courses embedded into the MBA.” 

While studying for this MBA, Brian mentioned that the behavioral finance course was the most impactful for his career. Although Brian did not appreciate that relationships came first before math and planning, this course was eye-opening to change his perspective. He realized that “building a relationship with a client is important because it helps construct trust and discuss the biases that influence human emotion, leading to financial decision-making.” When taking behavioral finance or any course from the Financial Planning Program, Scott’s advice is to “make sure to engage with the faculty since they are a wonderful resource.”

Although the MBA Financial Planning Program was challenging at times, Scott learned immensely from each course. The real value was seeing every puzzle piece come together for each class. Scott shares that “the pace was very tough especially when balancing work and family. There were times I spent the weekends studying and completing coursework. Also, I spoke with my administration person to schedule my meetings Monday – Thursday to give myself more time to study.”

While serving in the Marine Corps, there were many skills any recruit could learn while serving their country. Some of the skills he learned from the Marine Corp that will help him with his career in financial planning are planning and building flexibility. Scott shares that “the Marine Corp gave me several assignments that involved writing detailed plans that my team and I would share with our general.” Writing detailed plans for clients will come in handy because financial advisors must prepare clear deliverables when presenting to clients. Creating flexibility was another skill he learned in the Marine Corp that came in handy when balancing his life between school, work, and his family. 

The final piece of advice Scott offers to students is “to network and ask lots of questions about financial planning, and specifically ask questions about the difference between RIA, Broker-Dealer, and Independent Firms.” 

About Brian Scott: 

Brian Scott is a student who will soon graduate from California Lutheran University with his MBA in Financial Planning. He plans to start his independent firm or partner with an RIA after graduation. Before deciding his career path, he served as a pilot for the Marine Corps and studied biology.

About the Author: 

Rafael Nieves Rios is a graduate student at California Lutheran University, graduating in 2024. He is studying for an MBA in Financial Planning. 

Her financial planning career journey began in the early stages because she loves numbers and working with people. However, she was unsure if her clients would take her seriously because her clients would be working with a young financial advisor. Furthermore, while studying for her undergraduate degree, she knew that she loved people, numbers, and establishing a relationship with clients. She chose the MBA Financial Planning Program at California Lutheran University because the program will advance her knowledge. Also, “during my undergraduate, I did not have real-world experience. With the advancement of technology and the rise of fintech companies, I wanted to stay ahead of the curve. I love education and learning too because we never stop learning.” Several reasons to attend CLU are “the flexibility the program offers, the advancement of the courses, and the price of the program.” The most impactful course for her was the small business planning course because it was a learning experience, and the course was eye-opening when working with small businesses clients. Also, the applied research in financial planning because the course is eye-opening. She is writing a research paper on financial literacy in children and the available tools for children to learn financial topics. Finally, she advises students to “be ready to roll up their sleeves and do not think about it too much. Taking one course at a time allowed me to focus on that particular topic.” 

To prepare for the CFP®, she mentions that she completed her course work at UC Berkeley and purchased a “robust crash course from Kaplan.” After studying through the course, she felt more prepared to take the six-hour exam. Also, she advises that “you do not need to learn everything in the tax code; only the conceptual basis will be enough to help you answer the questions in the exam.”

Cristina Campbell, CFP®, is a Lead Advisor at Empirical Wealth Management. A typical week at Empirical Wealth Management begins with scheduling quarterly client meetings and client reviews to meet with clients to stay up to date with their current situations. If some of her clients went through life-changing events, she would map out how it would change their overall financial situation. Also, she spends a third of her time prospecting for new clients, and some of her clients are referred directly from Charles Schwab. 

In the next 5 to 10 years, she wants to continue working at her firm and someday become a partner. The final pieces of advice that Campbell offers to students are, “It does not happen overnight; incremental changes make a huge impact over the course of your lifetime. What I learned is that adding small amounts over time adds value.” Also, “it is important not to get stressed out about the little things. Focus on the big picture, work hard, and be kind to people.” 

About Cristina Campbell, CFP®: 

Cristina Campbell, CFP®, is a student at California Lutheran University studying for her MBA in Financial Planning. She is a Lead Advisor at Empirical Wealth Management, who assists clients reach their financial goals, creating and implementing their financial plans, and developing effective investment strategies. With over 13 years of experience, she specializes in retirement planning and strategies.

About the Author: 

Rafael Nieves Rios is a graduate student at California Lutheran University, graduating in 2024. He is studying for an MBA in Financial Planning. In February 2020, he created a personal finance blog called Financial Crumbs. 

Cristina Campbell, CFP®, is passionate about assisting her clients in reaching their financial goals by creating effective financial plans and investment strategies. She has over 13 years of experience in the financial services industry and specializes in retirement planning. While studying for her MBA in Financial Planning, Campbell had the opportunity to work at Empirical Wealth Management. Campbell has worked for several companies, including Charles Schwab and Fidelity Investments. Her previous experience and the CLU program have prepared her to continue servicing her clients. 

Her financial planning career journey began in the early stages because she loves numbers and working with people. However, she was unsure if her clients would take her seriously because her clients would be working with a young financial advisor. Furthermore, while studying for her undergraduate degree, she knew that she loved people, numbers, and establishing a relationship with clients. She chose the MBA Financial Planning Program at California Lutheran University because the program will advance her knowledge. Also, “during my undergraduate, I did not have real-world experience. With the advancement of technology and the rise of fintech companies, I wanted to stay ahead of the curve. I love education and learning too because we never stop learning.” Several reasons to attend CLU are “the flexibility the program offers, the advancement of the courses, and the price of the program.” The most impactful course for her was the small business planning course because it was a learning experience, and the course was eye-opening when working with small businesses clients. Also, the applied research in financial planning because the course is eye-opening. She is writing a research paper on financial literacy in children and the available tools for children to learn financial topics. Finally, she advises students to “be ready to roll up their sleeves and do not think about it too much. Taking one course at a time allowed me to focus on that particular topic.” 

To prepare for the CFP®, she mentions that she completed her course work at UC Berkeley and purchased a “robust crash course from Kaplan.” After studying through the course, she felt more prepared to take the six-hour exam. Also, she advises that “you do not need to learn everything in the tax code; only the conceptual basis will be enough to help you answer the questions in the exam.”

Cristina Campbell, CFP®, is a Lead Advisor at Empirical Wealth Management. A typical week at Empirical Wealth Management begins with scheduling quarterly client meetings and client reviews to meet with clients to stay up to date with their current situations. If some of her clients went through life-changing events, she would map out how it would change their overall financial situation. Also, she spends a third of her time prospecting for new clients, and some of her clients are referred directly from Charles Schwab. 

In the next 5 to 10 years, she wants to continue working at her firm and someday become a partner. The final pieces of advice that Campbell offers to students are, “It does not happen overnight; incremental changes make a huge impact over the course of your lifetime. What I learned is that adding small amounts over time adds value.” Also, “it is important not to get stressed out about the little things. Focus on the big picture, work hard, and be kind to people.” 

About Cristina Campbell, CFP®: 

Cristina Campbell, CFP®, is a student at California Lutheran University studying for her MBA in Financial Planning. She is a Lead Advisor at Empirical Wealth Management, who assists clients reach their financial goals, creating and implementing their financial plans, and developing effective investment strategies. With over 13 years of experience, she specializes in retirement planning and strategies.

About the Author: 

Rafael Nieves Rios is a graduate student at California Lutheran University, graduating in 2024. He is studying for an MBA in Financial Planning. 

Megan Duarte’s passion is helping clients with their financial needs while assisting them with their financial goals. While studying for her MS in Financial Planning, Duarte had the opportunity to work with her father at Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC. She spent time advising clients on reaching their financial goals within their specific time horizons. Her father’s influence and support inspired her to pursue today’s career.  

Financial Planning was introduced to Duarte at a very young age by her father, who was running a successful financial management firm. He would tell her that she was his “retirement plan,” meaning that she would someday take over his business once he retires. Duarte will be a 2nd generation planner who will take over the company and continue the legacy from where her father left off. Duarte mentions that being a 2nd generation planner can bring a sense of “pressure to live up to the 1st generation’s knowledge and experience.” Furthermore, she mentioned that “I would like to implement some ideas once I take over the business. Some of those ideas include focusing more on the multigenerational relationship in addition to my current tasks at hand.” Finally, she differentiates herself in the financial service industry by providing “quick response times, accuracy in information, and consistent contact.”

After interning for her father, she decided to pursue her MS in Financial Planning. Her father influenced her career in becoming a financial planner. She grew up around the financial services industry because she spent time with him and the industry. While studying for her MS in Financial Planning, Duarte shared that the tax planning course was necessary for her career because “I was able to plan for myself and look at my tax return while applying the knowledge to my current situation. Also, use this information for future conversations with clients.” Duarte recommends that students who will be taking the tax planning course now or in the future “understand the concepts and the numbers that change and don’t in each client’s tax returns.” Furthermore, “paying attention in class” is crucial to succeeding in this course because there are many regulations and tax rules that future financial practitioners can educate clients with, potentially minimizing tax liabilities.

While she was deciding which career to pursue, her father would exemplify her career choices and explain the career aspects. Her father was very supportive about which career she wanted to pursue. For example, her father will explain what a day in life would be like as a pediatrician and provide examples of the daily demands in the job. Once she decided that financial planning would be the career of her choice, she began to learn the industry from her father. Since then, her father would bring her to the office to learn and observe her father’s responsibilities. Also, her father would share with her the benefits of being a financial practitioner because “the career is about helping people and making sure that clients trust our advice.” Duarte exemplifies that “people need financial help whether they recognize it or not” because clients who need financial help will achieve financial success. 

As a financial advisor, it can be challenging to assist clients who do not implement the advice you offer to them and guide them in the best way possible. Therefore, finding ways to work with them and change interactions can be positive. Duarte has had several experiences with demanding clients and situations during her client meetings, such as “being overconfident in their knowledge or not understanding ramifications of their decisions. Also, clients that do not want to take your advice and do not act upon the advice can be frustrating.” As a result, clients that do not take your advice seriously can be unmotivating to continue offering advice to these clients. Duarte provides solutions for demanding clients to be likable and answer all clients’ questions before giving financial advice. 

Duarte mentions that her next career steps are obtaining her CFP and strengthening her team to create capacity and market themselves better. The final piece of advice Duarte offers to students is, “To pay attention in class. Patience and work on your communication skills because there are different types of people. Learn how to be likable and deliver financial information to clients that can understand what you are saying and make sure that the deliverables you present do not sound rude.” 

About Megan Duarte: 

Megan Duarte is a financial planning professional working with her father in the financial planning business. Duarte and her father serve and advise clients at Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC. She is currently studying to obtain her MS in Financial Planning from California Lutheran University. 

About the Author: 

Rafael Nieves Rios is a graduate student at California Lutheran University, graduating in 2024. He is studying for an MBA in Financial Planning. 

When Andrew Martz was an undergraduate at Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey, he was also an athlete swimmer. Any time he wasn’t swimming or training, he was studying for his degree in Business and Technology. Swimming is an individual sport, Martz explained, but it is scored as a team. Martz said it is similar to working in financial services as you have individual clients, but you are a part of a bigger team. Over the years, he has taken these principles of dedication to a craft and he continues to live by them today. 

Finding His Career Path

In 2017, Martz founded WIS Advisors Inc. a boutique wealth management financial planning firm that is associated with a larger broker-dealer RIA International Securities. He has offices located in LA, Denver, and Dallas. When searching for a CFP® program, Martz found California Lutheran University who meets the CFP® education requirements and students can earn an MBA at the same time. “I started this journey in pursuit of a CFP® and looked at all the certificate programs. I knew somebody who went through the program and had a lot of good things to say about it,” he said.

Born and raised in New York, Martz started his career in investment banking on Wall Street. After working there for three years, he discovered he didn’t enjoy the high-pressure sales environment so in 2008, the year of the financial crisis, he joined JP Morgan.  Taking the opportunity to become an advisor at their private client group, he moved to Los Angeles. During the time, Martz said he was 24 years old and one of the youngest advisors with JP Morgan in California.

In a matter of “right time, right place” Martz found himself working in Hollywood and attracted a pretty big client demographic in the sports and entertainment world. In 2017, after a shift in the industry, Martz left his job and partnered with Western International to create his own firm. Working on Sunset Boulevard in the heart of Los Angeles, Martz fulfills his passion for working with people every day. “We like to say that we are the nexus of finance and lifestyle in the sports and entertainment industry,” he said. “Understanding that money is not the most important thing to most people, money just fuels power, people, places and things which are the most important to most people.”

The Importance of a CFP®

Another reason Martz pursued earning a CFP® certification was that he wanted the firm to be the best it could be. “I knew by having both real-world experience and an academic background to understand all the nuts and bolts are critically important,” he said. “If you have the vision of being an independent practitioner or building your own business, California Lutheran University MBA program in financial planning is an absolutely essential part of that journey to have the education, the background, and the network of people who are like-minded,” he said. 

As the financial planning industry evolves, Martz believes that the standards and expectations of those working in the industry are evolving too. “I believe the CFP® is quickly becoming the gold standard in the financial planning industry. In my opinion, the financial services industry is demanding more professionalism and the CFP® is a basic requirement for entrance into that profession,” he said. California Lutheran University allowed him to gain both academic and real-life experience. “California Lutheran University is a place where I can get practical experience for what I need for a CFP® but also insight into launching a firm, management experience, marketing, and operational pieces I’m going to need,” Martz said. 

Learning From Real-Life Examples

One of Martz’s most valuable experiences in the program was the relationships and collaborations with his peers and the faculty. “One of the things I love about the program that I didn’t necessarily anticipate is that so much of the faculty are currently in the industry in different areas,” he said. As a result, the faculty brings everyday experiences to the classroom, which allowed him to implement them with his clients, he explained.  

“Dr. Chien is incredible. I took two courses with her, my capstone course was an eye-opening experience and the other class I took with her was financial planning for small businesses. Our industry is so interesting because there are so many different business models. That course really gave me a lot of clarity of what the next five to ten years are going to look like. Those courses by far had the biggest impact on my career and my life and translating how to deal with people,” Martz said.

The Future of Financial Planning 

In five to ten years’ time, Martz wants to see a lot of growth within his firm providing advice to as many people as they can. “We want to be a small part in a big movement of trying to educate America’s next generation on how to manage money well,” he said. One of Martz’s biggest influences is Josh Brown, a CEO of a wealth-management firm in New York. He is an inspirational leader in retail wealth management working to further the conversation of personal finance to consumers and encouraging more people to build a great understanding of wealth management and create financial independence. Martz wants to be a part of the professionals that are changing and shifting the conversation of personal financial management and what it means.  

Martz’s advice to others thinking of pursuing a career in financial planning is to practice patience. After 15 years of education and experience, he believes that he now truly has developed an understanding of where his path is heading. He advises others “to fall in love with learning because there’s so much to learn in this industry. You will get exposure to so many opportunities in financial planning,” he said. 

Spending Time Away From Finance 

When Martz isn’t working he enjoys spending time with his wife and two young children. He also enjoys fitness and being active outdoors including competing in 5K’s, triathlons, and bike events. 

About Andrew Martz: 

Andrew Martz is a Los Angeles-based independent financial planner. He attended Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey earning a B.S. degree in Business and Technology. He started his career working on Wall Street before joining JP Morgan as a Private Client Advisor in Los Angeles. In 2017, he founded WIS Advisors Inc. working with professionals in the sports and entertainment industries. Martz has earned his MBA in Financial Planning at California Lutheran University as well as working toward his CFP®.

About the Author:

Rosie Baker graduated Magna Cum Laude from California Lutheran University in May 2021 with honors and departmental distinction. Her bachelor’s degree is in Communication emphasizing PR and Advertising, minoring in Creative Writing. In July 2020, she published her first book, Mirrors & Windows: Unlocking a New Framework to Envision Your Success, with New Degree Press.

Returning to His MBA

Fast forward to the present and Padilla has now had his CFP® for about seven years but he did not finish his MBA. After COVID-19 began, Padilla decided it was time to return to California Lutheran University to finish the program. “I’m so glad I did return. I’ve seen a difference in the program on what I had to learn the hard way with clients and employees. There’s a lot of soft skills, selling skills, and empowering associates and employees skills to help you with what to do. It made me really want to finish my MBA!” he said. 

Padilla’s Key Values of the Program

Working in the financial service industry for over 20 years, he sold his practice and naturally found himself going down the route of entertainment and sport through his young children and their activities. Previously he earned an undergraduate degree in business administration, marketing at California State University, Northridge. “I went back to start my MBA as I only had a few classes left. I see the value in the program. If I was just starting out or starting another financial service practice, I would definitely want to do this program. It provides value and it’s really practical. I highly recommend anyone in the financial services to go through this program,” he said. 

One of the key values that Padilla found in the program was the topic of financial counseling. “As an advisor and business owner, I never thought about financial counseling. I didn’t know you could earn a certification in it,” he said. Padilla also mentioned that he recently started thinking about succession planning due to a class and wished he had known more about it to use in his previous financial services business. 

Padilla also found value in the practical learning and skills that he developed from the program. “Before I was going through the motions to get the piece of paper, but now I’m really finding a use for it and I’m learning from it. I wanted to go back and get my MBA to also show my kids there is value in education,” he said. 

Earning an MBA and CFP ® 

California Lutheran University meets the CFP ® education requirements and students can earn an MBA at the same time. This was the main reason why Padilla chose the program, what’s more, the classes were convenient for his schedule and also local to where he is based. To Padilla, it was important for him to earn the CFP® to help clients and be respected in the financial services industry. 

To the Future

In five to ten years time, Padilla sees his company, MVP Sports & Entertainment Management, as one of the biggest firms that provide a variety of services for athletes and entertainers. “I feel the program is very revolutionary and it provides a lot of value to relay the direction that financial planning services are going. This program gives people the tools to go in the direction of an ensemble practice,” he explained. An ensemble practice is a type of practice where multiple partners come together to provide more values to the clients instead of the traditional idea of just one advisor in a practice acting as a lone ranger. 

Advice to Others

Padilla’s advice to someone who is starting a career in financial planning is to find someone who is successful and to learn about what they do. “Continue to educate yourself, whether that is a program at California Lutheran University, getting coached, going to conventions to learn more and make connections. Model from those who know what they are doing,” he said. He also mentioned the importance of finding mentors that you can model.

Making Time for Sport

In his free time, Padilla enjoys coaching volleyball and being active in his children’s sports. He also enjoys traveling, particularly to cold, snowy places where he can snowboard. 

About Don Padilla: 

Don Padilla is CEO of MVP Sports & Entertainment Management, a Talent Manager, Certified Financial Planner™, public speaker, and published author of “Not Another Broke Athlete.” He was former National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) Registered Player Financial Advisor. Don has taught and lectured retirement and life planning courses at various universities and colleges. He has been in the financial services industry for over 20 years and has managed over a quarter of a billion dollars. He has two children, Naiya (10) and Elijah (8), and enjoys coaching volleyball and snowboarding during his free time. 

About the Author:

Rosie Baker graduated Magna Cum Laude from California Lutheran University in May 2021 with honors and departmental distinction. Her bachelor’s degree is in Communication emphasizing in PR and Advertising, minoring in Creative Writing. In July 2020, she published her first book, Mirrors & Windows: Unlocking a New Framework to Envision Your Success, with New Degree Press.

Tamika Moye has spent her whole life moving around the world living in different countries and cultures. This is one reason she chose California Lutheran University to earn her MBA in Financial Planning as it allows her to participate from Germany and still fulfill her passion for traveling COVID-19 permitting.

Growing up in various countries, Moye learned to love languages, speaking both German and English. Straight out of high school she worked in the military for 11 years as a linguist in Farsi and Spanish. Her love for learning translated into her education and career. Moye studied for her undergraduate degree in business administration at the University of Maryland, later completing her MBA in Financial Planning at California Lutheran University in 2009 for the purpose of self-education not thinking that one day she would pursue a career in financial planning.

Discovering Financial Planning 

For the past 11 years, Moye has worked for the U.S. government and is currently a program manager in Germany. At the time of preparing to leave the military, Moye wanted to discover what part of the business she enjoyed the most to pursue as a career. “How are you managing your money and why are you managing money the way you are?” she said was the questions that sparked her interest. She wanted to learn more about the process of financial decisions but still include the financing aspect from her previous knowledge, which is why she chose California Lutheran University’s financial planning program. 

Moye enjoyed the financial planning program so much, she decided to take advanced financial planning courses at California Lutheran University. When the interview took place, she had completed two extra classes in the program, including the research class and behavioral science class. “The behavioral science class introduced me to the psychology of money. It asks questions like why do I think about money in this way? Why do I have an attitude? Why do I make emotional decisions? I’ve really enjoyed the program so far!” she said. 

Moye’s Future

In a couple of years, Moye wants to retire and pursue a new career as a financial counselor. “Essentially it’s taking a behavioral finance mindset in approaching attitude, money-relationship, and money-imprinting and how it impacts your financial decision making,” she explained. Being a financial counselor involves more of a psychological approach to financial decision-making. It’s about looking at interactions and finding ways to improve to be more aware and make better decisions with finances, she explained further.

“This program has helped me immensely with my own financial planning in order to set myself in a good position. I’m going to retire at 45. It enables me to have a third career if I want to but I still have time to go out and enjoy life as an individual,” Moye said. 

In the next two years, Moye wants to retire from civil service and take a sabbatical for the few following years, “I want to do some altruistic volunteering and then I’ll probably start a new career at some point,” she said. 

Advice to Others

Moye’s advice to others who are thinking about the program is to approach it with an open mind. “It’s not like any other program I’ve ever done because of that explorational learning piece. There are multiple levels of application versus just asking what you do with the information,” she said. Both of the courses she has taken are her highlights within the program so far, “they helped me gain an understanding and learn more about myself,” Moye explained. 

Growing up in a versatile childhood, forever having changing scenery and new faces, Moye said the experience gave her the exposure she needed to know what she didn’t want to do, despite being unsure about exactly what she did want to do. Also, her supervisors helped broaden her vision, “they always opened my eyes to additional opportunities for both personal and professional growth and wellness,” she said. Much like trying new classes and learning new subjects that Moye has been exposed to at California Lutheran University. Without taking the behavioral science class, Moye noted she would not have necessarily found her interest in wanting to be a financial counselor versus a financial planner. 

About Tamika Moye: 

Tamika Moye graduated from Maryland University with a degree in Business Administration. She spent 11 years working in the military and another 11 years working in the U.S. government. She also has an MBA in Financial Planning from California Lutheran University. 

About the Author:

Rosie Baker graduated Magna Cum Laude from California Lutheran University in May 2021 with honors and departmental distinction. Her bachelor’s degree is in Communication emphasizing in PR and Advertising, minoring in Creative Writing. In July 2020, she published her first book, Mirrors & Windows: Unlocking a New Framework to Envision Your Success, with New Degree Press.

From air control to money control Parker Jackson is moving into a new career as a Certified Financial Planner. Graduating with his undergraduate degree from the United States Air Force Academy, Jackson has been an Officer in the Air Force for six years. His position is responsible for field operating satellites and conducting satellite launches. It was during this time he became interested in the financial planning profession and the idea of obtaining the CFP®  designation while also accomplishing an MBA, “That’s what drew me towards the Financial Planning MBA program at California Lutheran University,” Jackson said. 

He particularly liked the California Lutheran University MBA program as he thought it provided a great application of financial planning topics integrated with the financial planning industry. Jackson chose California Lutheran University to earn his CFP®  designation with his MBA as he believes that the CFP®  allows you to be informed about a broad range of topics to influence a client’s life.

Developing a Passion for Finance

Jackson has always had an interest in finances ever since he was a child. His business owner father taught him and influenced him the most about money. At a young age, he father learned from his father to separate the money from his lawn mowing earnings into three different envelopes; saving, giving, and spending. His interest in finances continued throughout college and he took classes such as investment to explore and learn more about this topic. His greatest influence and mentor is his father who provided him the financial values and spiritual values that he lives with today. His other greatest influence is Parker Inabnet. A CFP® who opened his eyes to the process of financial planning and what he means to be a CFP®. Jackson had the opportunity to intern at his firm to learn about both the art and science aspects of financial planning.  

In five to ten years time Jackson hopes to be an experienced CFP® “helping clients achieve their lifetime goals through the process of financial planning,” he said. Jackson explained his dream job is to be an elite advisor with the ability to work with clients who want to transition their careers.  

Learning With Other Financial Planning Professionals

“I think the California Lutheran University program was very valuable, not only the knowledge that I’ve gained going through all of the classes but also the fellow students I was able to work alongside with who are experts in their field,” Jackson said. A key part and highlight of Jackson’s experience in the program has been getting to know the professors and fellow students who have a variety of different specialties. Having a network where everyone shares a common goal of being able to serve their clients in the best way possible was an important aspect for Jackson. “I think it’s been a great experience based on the instructing aspect of the course. They are small and intimate class sizes where the professors are invested in your success and are available to answer questions to help you truly understand concepts. As well as the professors having experience as financial planning practitioners, which brings in real-world applications to an academic environment,” he said. 

Jackson described the program as challenging, but it allows you to apply yourself and put in the effort to understand the concepts and implications of applying concepts to a client’s life, he explained. After passing the CFP®  exam all the hard work is worth it, he said. Jackson hopes to graduate in Summer 2021. “I believe being a CFP®  is truly the best approach to serve a client’s needs in terms of financial planning. The financial planning program at California Lutheran provides a path to accelerate your own knowledge and understand how we can best serve clients,” Jackson said. 

Jackson lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado with his wife who is studying to become a nurse practitioner, and their young son, Hudson. In his free time, he enjoys camping, skiing, and working on his personal physical fitness. 

About Parker Jackson: 

Graduating from the United States Air Force, Jackson is an Air Force Officer. Jackson is on track to graduate with an MBA in Financial Planning at California Lutheran University in 2021. He passed his CFP® exam while studying for his MBA. 

About the Author:

Rosie Baker is an undergraduate student at California Lutheran University, graduating in May 2021. She is studying Communication with an emphasis in PR and Advertising and has a minor in Creative Writing. In July 2020, she published her first book, Mirrors & Windows: Unlocking a New Framework to Envision Your Success, with New Degree Press. 

When Kris Etter was young his dream job was to be a major league baseball player. However, after an injury, he could no longer pursue it and needed to switch careers. While he may no longer be hitting home runs on the field, now as a financial planner he spends his time helping others plan their home runs.

Etter graduated from Austin College in Sherman Texas with a degree in Business Administration. During his senior year, he completed an internship at A.G. Edwards where he was introduced to the world of financial services, there he learned the newer advisors made the majority of their income through insurance commissions to help build their practice. After graduating he started at Northwestern Mutual as a registered representative and later moved to an independent broker-dealer where he practiced holistic financial planning for a number of years and earned his Certified Financial Planner (CFP ®), Charted Financial Consultant (ChFC ®), Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP ®) before starting his own Registered Investment Advisory firm (RIA). 

Being a Young CFP® Professional

In 2008, Etter earned his CFP® certification. He said it took the burden of proof off of him since he did not have any grey hair…yet. As a young person in the industry, the credentials demonstrated experience, knowledge, and understanding of the complexities in financial planning explained Etter. 

When he decided to earn an MBA in Financial Planning, Etter already had his CFP® certification. His deciding thought behind choosing the California Lutheran University MBA in Financial Planning was because it was “leaps and bounds ahead of everybody else doing it interactively online.” This program has accountability as you don’t complete it at your own pace and you have live interaction with other fellow grad students he explained. “It went hand in hand in helping me truly manage my practice versus just focusing on the numbers,” Etter said. 

To the Future 

Etter loves his job and considers it his dream job. It allows him the flexibility to manage his own schedule balancing family, work, and now school. “I get to do what I want when I want, and at the end of the day I get the satisfaction of knowing I helped people and have no regrets in the way I helped them,” Etter said. In five years time, Etter would like to have a junior planner doing the work he currently does and additional staff for support. In ten years time, he would like to have a partner or multiple juniors, and possibly even acquire some firms to expand his practice. 

Taking the Program Outside of the Classroom

“Right off the bat it pointed out how many holes I had in my practice,” Etter said. The Financial Planning Program has been extremely valuable to Etter to teach him what he could be doing more efficiently and how to improve his clients experience. It taught him to “Leverage my time, technology, and staff which ultimately allows me to put more money into the company to give clients a best in class experience,” he said. 

The experience in the program has been a multitude of emotions. “It’s been great, frustrating, rewarding, it’s everything you need and more, it pushes you,” Etter said. Part of taking a course like this is it makes you study and learn how to manage your time being a student all over again. This is not a “pay for paper” program. Whether you want to earn a Ph.D., grow your practice, earn your CFP® certification, or just learn about financial planning, Cal Lu is the place for you, Etter said. 

The highlight of the program for Etter was working and interacting with the other professionals as well as the professors who he said “bend over backward for you to help out” have been amazing. Close relationships that are built with other students and professors due to small class sizes are the “things you can take away beyond the program.”

“I would recommend this program if you’re interested in growing a practice. The CFP® exam is just a bonus that comes with this program. For those that already have the CFP® certification, you have to take this class and learn how to grow your practice and do your own thing your way. I promise it doesn’t matter how successful you are, you can always improve,” Etter said.  

Free Time

During his free time, Etter enjoys being active and outside with his family. He likes to do Orange Theory Fitness, golf, and scuba dive with his wife. He plans to return to some of his favorite locations and go to new ones after the pandemic, locations such as Hawaii, Grand Cayman, and Australia. He also enjoys reading when he has the time. 

Biggest Influences in Etter’s Life 

There have been two big influences in Etter’s life. The first being his father – a successful entrepreneur with a lifetime of experience in several business ventures. He helped him throughout college offering advice and mentorship while taking business classes. Another big influence in his life are his fraternity brothers. They are a strong support system for each member and together they took pride in holding the highest GPAs on campus, not that Etter had a lot to do with that he joked. 

About Kris Etter:

Kris has an undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Austin College, Sherman Texas. In 2008 he earned his CFP® certification and is a candidate to earn his MBA in Financial Planning from California Lutheran University in December 2021. He has almost 20 years of experience in financial planning in both insurance and investments. Now, he owns an RIA practice with offices in Dallas, Fort Worth, and Houston in Texas where he lives with his wife and son. 

About the Author:

Rosie Baker is an undergraduate student at California Lutheran University, graduating in May 2021. She is studying Communication with an emphasis in PR and Advertising and has a minor in Creative Writing. In July 2020, she published her first book, Mirrors & Windows: Unlocking a New Framework to Envision Your Success, with New Degree Press. 

Kendyl Roundtree loves her job and helping others so much as a Certified Financial Planner that she genuinely feels she is not working! Roundtree is a well-accomplished young woman for her young age, working her way up the career ladder in financial planning.

Roundtree went to Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles to study for her undergraduate degree in Communication with a Sociology minor graduating Magna Cum Laude. As an undergraduate, she didn’t know what career she wanted, but she knew she wanted to have an MBA which she went on to earn at Pepperdine University after graduating. Roundtree then earned an MS in Financial Planning at California Lutheran University a few years later. 

Falling in Love with Financial Planning 

After interning with her father, she decided she wanted to earn an MS in Financial Planning. Her father, Daniel Roundtree, has been working in the industry for 40 years and is a Certified Financial Planner with his own practice in Westlake Village, California. Growing up she spent time around him and the industry. When stuck about what career she wanted to endeavor, she decided to interview her father about what his job is as a Financial Planner. 

Afterward, Roundtree spent six months interning for him. This is when she fell in love with being a CFP®. Fast forward to the present day and she has been working at her father’s practice for six years. The practice consists of four CFP®’s, one of which is an adjunct faculty at California Lutheran University and two have graduated from the program. 

Catapulting Into Her Career

Roundtree was recommended by many CFP® professionals who had earned their MBA degree in Financial Planning at California Lutheran University, including her own father, to take the course. She also works with one of the MBA adjunct professors, Scott Nelson, in the practice. She described the  degree as the “catapult to my career.” 

“Having professors that are practicing in the field is really helpful to learn from. They did a fantastic job to apply the lessons to the real world. Going into the CFP® certification exam I felt confident because of the education I got at California Lutheran University. It’s the classes and discussion with the other classmates that got me to achieve my career goal of earning a CFP®,” she said. 

Roundtree described the MBA program at California Lutheran University as, “The perfect program because I could take the CFP®  certification course after taking the MBA. It really prepares you to be a certified financial planner professioanl, not only the knowledge but the how-to and the behavioral side when working with clients,” she said. Currently a Junior Partner at Roundtree Financial in Westlake Village, California, she has a goal to become a partner in the next few years. 

Being a Woman in Financial Planning 

The number of females in the financial planning industry has been gradually increasing over the past few years. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of female CFP®’s is now close to 23% as of 2014. Roundtree works at a practice where females are the majority, “Embrace being a woman. There are many people who just want to work with women,” she said. 

Roundtree also said to be confident in your knowledge and what you know from your education and previous experience. She also said to find a niche that you can become an expert in as financial planning has many areas and niches. At the end of the day, “Clients need to know that you’re someone who can help them,” she said. 

SOM Prime Competition Finalist

Recently Roundtree was a finalist in the School of Management PRIME competition. Her paper topic was “Discovering Behavioural Issues Related to Retirement Planning.” The focus of her paper was to help provide financial planners with communication skills to extract information from the clients so they open up about their relationship with money and their experience. This then allows the financial planner to understand why they make the decisions about what they do with their money. Having an understanding allows the planner to have a much deeper level of understanding with their client. It takes time to understand who you are working with and know what behavior needs changing if necessary Roundtree explained.  

Family Influences

Both Roundtree’s mother and father have inspired her as well as supported her throughout her education and career. Ever since she was a young child, her mother has had an occupational therapist business, watching her grow her business as well as look after her family-inspired Roundtree. “She is a successful business owner and a wonderful mom, she has inspired me being able to wear so many hats and be successful in doing something that she loves,” she said. Watching both her parents thrive in their jobs of helping others led Roundtree to ask the question, “How do we find a way to do what we love while also helping others?” Ultimately leading her to become a CFP® like her father. 

Roundtree has close relationships with her family eating weekly dinners with them as well as working with her father. Born and raised in Westlake Village, California she loves painting, being creative with her hands, camping, and a good glass of wine. Aside from financial planning, another passion of Roundtree is traveling across the USA and the world. She has had 24 hours trips to both Dublin and Tokyo! 

About the Interviewee:

Kendyl Roundtree has a degree in Communication with an emphasis in sociology from Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles. She has an MBA from Pepperdine University and an MS in Financial Planning from California Lutheran University. She currently works at Roundtree Financial as a Junior Partner. 

About the Author:

Rosie Baker is an undergraduate student at California Lutheran University, graduating in May 2021. She is studying Communication with an emphasis in PR and Advertising and has a minor in Creative Writing. In July 2020, she published her first book, Mirrors & Windows: Unlocking a New Framework to Envision Your Success, with New Degree Press. 

John Thiel has three passions; financial planning, deepening his knowledge, and salsa dancing. His path to being a financial advisor at Private Ocean evolved when he started university. Thiel earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in International Business at California State University of Sacramento. During this time, he spent nine months studying at Oxford Brookes University in Oxford, England. In the summer of his junior year, Thiel volunteered at a nonprofit, AIESEC, where he traveled to Columbia “to look for grants in our respective home countries that might be able to support the nonprofit.”

Choosing Financial Planning as a Career

Thiel’s interest in financial planning began when his parents sought a financial advisor during the 2008 financial crisis. Since then, Thiel has had open conversations between his parents and himself about finances and was able to sit-in on the meetings. The meetings allowed Thiel to have first-hand experience of watching a wealth manager and learn about financial planning. “I really enjoyed sitting and listening to those conversations, learning about investments, and how to manage portfolios. I think that was always something that inspired me in the back of my head. By the end of my undergraduate degree, I was torn between wanting to continue in financial services or go seek out international business,” Thiel said. After completing his internship during his senior year at a large insurance company, Northwestern Mutual, Thiel realized he liked the idea of meeting with people and helping them find solutions to financial issues. 

After graduating, Thiel spent more time working in the insurance industry. “I was enjoying that work, but I really wanted to expand what I was able to do,” he said. Thiel moved on to join an independent financial planning firm in Sacramento, where he worked for three years. “It was a lot of changes, but it was the engagement that I got to have with clients and offering that full-scale financial planning,” he said. Since the beginning of 2019, he has been working as a financial advisor at Private Ocean in San Rafael, CA.

Choosing the Right MBA Program

After some encouragement from his greatest influence, his father, who advocates, supports, and motivates his endeavors to continue higher education, Thiel agreed and sought a master’s degree that would also satisfy the educational prerequisites required to sit for the Certified Financial Planning (CFP®) exam. 

“The reason I chose Cal Lutheran is that it had a really great mix of the few things that I was looking for. It gave me a master’s degree with my CFP® certification. The other reason was the program is an MBA, which was more attractive to me. It is also very accommodating for working professionals,” he said. 

The Importance of Earning a CFP® Designation

Another driving force behind becoming a CFP® professional was that Thiel wanted “to learn more about financial planning to have some more foundational knowledge.” He regularly listens to two podcasts XYPN Live by Alan Moore and the Advisor Success Podcast by Michael Kitces. Both podcasts are huge advocates about getting the CFP® designation to promote yourself as you continue to deepen your learning, and it will create more career opportunities, Thiel said. 

“Studying financial planning helps build the right foundational understanding. What that does is it gives you certain confidence in yourself as an advisor as you understand the principles behind the things you’re doing. When you have that confidence, clients can see that, and it helps build more trust because you’ve taken the time and effort to study the things you are recommending,” Thiel said. Now a graduate of the California Lutheran University MBA program, Thiel says his understanding of financial planning has grown and strengthened. 

An aspect of the program that Thiel enjoyed was “Meeting multiple instructors who had lots of experience in their fields. It’s great to learn knowledge from them and their experiences,” he said. He has also enjoyed building relationships and making friends with the other students in the program. 

“I would say for others like myself who are already working in the industry and don’t want to slow the momentum in your career, I think this course really provides a powerful mixture of both earning an MBA and the CFP® certification. I definitely recommend it,” he said. 

Working on the VCLA Pro Bono Project

During his time in the program, Thiel had the opportunity to work on the Ventura County Lodging Association (VCLA) Pro Bono Project, which partnered with California Lutheran University to design, develop, and administer a Request for Proposal (RFP) of short term asset management services. He worked on a team of six graduate students alongside professionals. 

“It was rewarding. It was also challenging,” he said. Working with a live-organization with imperfect information was a different and useful experience compared to working on a textbook problem. Dr. Chia-Li Chien guided the team and helped them learn how to tackle the challenge and work together as a team. Thiel enjoyed the opportunity, collaboration, and working with others.

“Without question, I would recommend an opportunity like this to anyone. Doing a Pro Bono project outside of the university was super helpful in understanding what the next step will be like once you graduate. There are other benefits too with networking with the students, the professors, and the organization. It’s such a virtuous cycle,” he said. 

Looking Into the Future

In five years, Thiel would like to be still working at Private Ocean as a more skilled advisor, supporting clients, and helping mentor others. “I’m working in a great company right now that has a great culture and a lot of opportunities,” he said. 

He would also like to become an equity partner of the company. “I feel like I’m already in my dream job because it just has a mixture of all the things that I would look for when working with an employer. I think a dream job is part of the journey, not just a destination. It should be a place where you see the journey of your career unfolding in the best way possible with the most opportunities, challenges, and all kinds of adventures opening up to you,” he said. 

Last Thoughts of The Interview

Thiel’s other passion is dancing. In his last year at university, he started ballroom and salsa dancing, which he continues to enjoy doing today. For several years he has been participating in weekend-long salsa dancing festivals. He also enjoys hiking and spending time at the beach since moving to the Bay Area. 

Thiel ended the interview with some advice to other students who are doing online programs like the Financial Planning MBA. “I highly recommend visiting the campus at least once before you graduate as it gives you more connection to the program and the place,” he said. 

Thiel also said that he thinks it is important for students to learn how to budget and understand cash flow. Both are essential elements of financial planning that can be learned at a younger age. He also said young adults should take advantage of compound interest and learn how to invest, even if it is small.  

About the Interviewee:

John Thiel graduated from California State University of Sacramento with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and an emphasis in International Business. During this time, he spent nine months studying at Oxford Brookes University in Oxford, England. After graduating, Thiel worked in the insurance industry before joining an independent financial planning firm in Sacramento, where he worked for three years. Since the beginning of 2019, he has been working as a financial advisor at Private Ocean.

About the Author:

Rosie Baker is an undergraduate student at California Lutheran University, graduating in May 2021. She is studying Communication with an emphasis in PR and Advertising and has a minor in Creative Writing. In July 2020 she published her first book, Mirrors & Windows: Unlocking a New Framework to Envision Your Success, with New Degree Press.