Ep #414: From Set to CFP®: Reinventing Your Career From Scratch

Speaker A: Welcome to behind the Advisor with xypn, your behind the scenes look at the challenges and victories Fioni advisors encounter as they launch, run and grow their independent firms. Join us for a deep dive into real life stories, frontline insights and the actionable strategies it takes to build a thriving, purpose driven firm on your terms. Today we're joined by Greg Voitanik, the founder of Fade In Financial, a uh, firm dedicated to serving screenwriters and directors in the entertainment industry. Greg's path into financial planning didn't follow the traditional playbook. He came from a completely different industry, launched with zero clients, no spousal financial support, and relied on a carefully planned Runway to make the transition work. In this episode we're focusing on the career changing side of Greg's story. What it actually takes to leave one industry behind, how to trust the process and how to build something sustainable from the ground up. Greg, welcome to the show. Thanks so much for being on.

Speaker B: Uh, thank you for having me, Alan. I'm, I'm such a fan of the podcast. So it's a bit, it's a bit surreal being on this side of it, but I'm really excited to talk to you.

Speaker A: Yeah, thank you. So let just give me sort of the, the quick backstory on your, your pre financial planning career. What, what, what did you do? Obviously we said entertainment industry but like what does that mean?

Speaker B: I was a theater major in my undergrad, so in a small, uh, Lewis University outside of Chicago. And after college I moved out here to LA with fellow actor friends and tried to make my living out here. So I was out here for five years and actually the fifth year I was out here was the year that I made more acting than I did anything else in my life. Any side gigs or anything like that. So a bit of a feather in the cap for there. Uh, but then I also realized all I like other things I want to do, I want to do more with my life. So I, I left here and started working in minor league baseball. So I was uh, I was marketing and promotions in minor league baseball. You know like the sumo wrestling on the field. Oh, sure, yeah.

Speaker A: Little axe and stuff.

Speaker B: All that craziness and the Simpsons clips on the video board, that, that was all, that was all me. Um, and then from there, actually that was my first introduction to a budget because I was in charge of this department and I got to see the spreadsheet and a budget for the first time and it kind of blew my mind. I was really interested in it and I actually started becoming a little more excited about the spreadsheet than I was, you know, the mascot racing around the bases or dressing up small children as various fruits and vegetables and sending them out in the field or whatever it was that I was doing that day. Um, yeah, so I thought that was really interesting. So it's always kind of in the back of my mind, you know, this, I, this budgeting and finance and that kind of stuff. But, but I pushed it aside. And this whole time, by the way, I was dating the same girl we had actually met doing children's theater in Chicago. Uh, we met doing um, Rumpelstiltskin.

Speaker A: Oh, fun.

Speaker B: In our 20s. Yeah. We just celebrated our 27 year anniversary.

Speaker A: Oh, congratulations.

Speaker B: Right here. Just, just a couple days ago. So this whole time I'm still dating her. I moved to la. She moved to New York with her twin sister because she's a musical theater actor. So I eventually found my way to Brooklyn, New York, which is where I started learning about the stock market. And again, my mind was blown. I was like, this is, this is amazing. I love this stuff. But kind of set it aside because I was a thin artist at heart, you know, as a creative person. And I think I'd only taken like one finance class in college and I hated it. Just hated it. So. But uh, but I also missed LA and I hated New York. And my brother in law who was uh, out here sold his first show to a network television. And so he, he's a, he's a writer. And so he called me and said, um, hey, I just sold my first show, I'm about to come into some money. Uh, admittedly I'm not very good at it, but you're the only person I know who is and the only person I trust. So do you want to come back out here, be my business manager and help me figure out this money thing? So that brought me back out to LA and became his business manager, which is really more like personal finance. And that's where I started learning more about personal finance, started learning more about taxes and personal budgeting and that kind of thing. And then I started focusing, uh, aside from that on, um, on writing. And I was fortunate enough to get into a, uh, Netflix writer's room show, which I actually, I don't want to oversell this. I was the bottom rung of the ladder. It was, I was the writer's production assistant. So like, that's it.

Speaker A: But you were in the room.

Speaker B: I was in the room. I got in the room. I was grateful for it. It was amazing. And that show got canceled. After one season. So I was like, oh man, I thought that was my in. Because now in the entertainment industry there's, there's no guarantees you're going to get a job again, actually, like, who knows when your next job is going to be? And so cut to four years later. I hadn't gotten another job and I was like, oh, uh, boy, m. Maybe I'm not built for this. And so eventually I, I finally listened to that voice in my head that was like, you know, you've been interested in finance this whole time. Something to do with money. I didn't know really what it was. I just knew money. I knew it was really interesting to me. So I decided to just rip the band aid off and pursue it.

Speaker A: So you said you went four years without, uh, once that show shut down, you had a four year break. Like, what were you doing during that time? Was it mostly applying for jobs or was it working side gigs or business manager for your brother?

Speaker B: Yes, yes and yes. It was, it was unemployment. It was a personal assistant to somebody not in the entertainment industry. It was still being a business manager. It was tempting. I was, I was tempting at, uh, I was temping at an hoa. I'll share that story here in a minute. But, uh, but yeah, just doing a lot of that work, just trying to pay the bills. And that's. Yeah, that's when. Well, yeah, here's what it was. So, so, uh, doing that. And then I realized, and I had friends who were writers, assistants, for example, and they had been assistants for six, seven, eight years and never became a right like that staff on a, on a show. Now, I know everyone's journey is different, but I'm looking at that going, am I going to be in my 50s and be an assistant? Am I going to be temping? I'm going to be temping in my 50s. And I'm like, this isn't where I thought my, my life was headed. So, yeah, so I was like, I got to. I'm not built for this. I thought it was built for this, but turns out I'm not.

Speaker A: Well, I just have to assume the grit that you developed to be able to kind of survive that career journey. I mean, that is a. That is like whiplash back and forth and you just never know when the next opportunity is going to come. Like the. Just the grit and resilience that it takes to get through that, I would assume has been part of your success story now with the ria. Um, and that's just not something I can Teach somebody in a college class. I mean, this is life experience. And you know, I like to joke with the team that I never really appreciated experience until I had some and now I appreciate a little bit more than I used to. Uh, but yeah, that's life experience that you can't, that you can't find, uh, you know, out on the show. You just, you have to, you have to live it.

Speaker B: That's very true. That is the one thing I kind of had going for me in my corner was that I've lived 20 years on, um, you know, ramen noodles and peanut butter. Like, I get it, I get that struggle. So for others who had, who have made changes and that kind of stuff, chances are they didn't live that life for most of their adult lives. So yeah, definitely had that going for me as well as the experience. And I've taken experiences that I've had in those previous jobs and pass them on my clients and it's been super helpful. So. Absolutely.

Speaker A: So talk to me about the shift into financial planning. I guess at what point did you realize this was actually a job, uh, that you could do and sort of what, I guess that, that decision process on should I launch? Should I do something else?

Speaker B: I was temping at an HOA office and I'm on the phone with a resident and he's yelling at me because there are vandals vandalizing the sidewalk in front of his property. Uh, turns out they were six year old children doing sidewalk chalk. So I'm on the phone with this guy as he's yelling at me and I'm going, what am I doing? Like I'm, Are you serious? And so literally, I'll never forget this, I hung up the phone and the very next thing I did was Google. How do I become a financial advisor? The very next thing I did. And that eventually landed me to xypn. And you know, at first it was, it was other, you know, the big brokers and that kind of stuff. And I was like, uh, oh, this isn't okay. I guess it's okay. It's not what I thought. But then I landed on xypn and, and that's when, you know, the clouds parted, the sun came out, the unicorn came galloping. And I was like, this, this is it. This is what I want to do. It's like, I can't believe this thing exists. I, I didn't know this was a thing. But, but discovering that and other people's stories and how they, how it's done, like again, blew my Mind for, for another time. And I was like, this is it. Like, I, I, I can, I can do this. I see my path forward here, and I see the end result of having my own firm, my own clients, working on my own time, being my own boss, only working with people I enjoy working with, who I can consider friends. Uh, like, I saw all of that in my future within, like, five minutes of finding this, and I was like, yeah, this. This makes sense. This is it. This is my path.

Speaker A: Yeah. I mean, I am so blown away by the courage that, that some folks like yourself have to launch a firm with no clients. And for most people listening, like, 95% of the time, somebody comes to me and says, I want to launch a firm, and I've never done it before, and I have no clients. I'm like, please don't do that. Go get a job. But, I mean, I'm often wrong, um, about the success of those firms. And so, um. And part of it is I just can't even imagine it. I sort of grew up in financial planning. I spent a lot of years in the, in the industry before ultimately launching my own business, launching my own firm, I should say. Spent a lot of time in financial planning, not the industry. I was, I was pretty young. Um, so it just seems like the obvious choice is to go get a job working for somebody else to learn, you know, to learn the business. Like, you didn't become a Netflix writer by just, like, starting to write and being a lead writer, right? Like, you kind of climbed your way up the ladder. So how did you assess that? And was that even an option? Could you not find a job?

Speaker B: Or.

Speaker A: It was like, no. Like, I'm at a point in my life where entrepreneurship is just. Is what I want to be doing.

Speaker B: You've said this before, and I think that was the first time I had heard it. I'm unemployable. When you said that, When I heard you say that, I was like, yes, I get it. I become restless. If I get a job, I become restless. You know. You know, I'll be a good employee for, like, six months or so, and then I just become restless. And, uh, I don't like it. So, no, I've always had that entrepreneurial spirit in my bones. I always knew that I just wanted to do my own thing, and maybe that's where, you know, the writing and the acting came from. It's like, oh, it's. I'm my own boss. I can do my own thing. Um, there's probably something in there that, that Equates to that as well. Um, so. So, yeah, so that was always there, and then again, but seeing and listening to these podcasts and hearing people hearing their journey and how they did it, and it just. The confidence in me just grew tenfold. I was like, I can do that. I know I can do that because I have some of those skills. I have some of the marketing skills that are required. I have the drive. Um, yeah, I don't want to work. I can't imagine sitting in an office 9 to 5 wearing a shirt and tie at some big box firm. Like, that just grosses me out. I can't even think of that. That sounds horrible. So. So, no, that really wasn't even an option. Um, but I also knew that I do. I did need to learn something. So I got a job. A friend of mine's a CPA, so. So I got a job at a CPA's office. And doing is mainly tax preparer. So learned I was. I worked for him while I was learning, while I was becoming a cfp, um, doing the classwork. I took the externship with Hannah Moore. Um, another great crash course. Um, and then I was a paraplanner for another XYPN member, John Bovard. So he's in Cincinnati. I'm out here in la. So I was his parap planner for about a year. So. So I was learning a little bit, you know, within the business while I was also learning vcp, do it all, that kind of good stuff, because I knew I couldn't just completely start from scratch with nothing, and I didn't want to do my clients any kind of disservice.

Speaker A: Yeah. And. And you sort of mentioned this earlier, but, you know, we. We tell folks that it's not the business expenses that that get you during that launch phase, it's the personal expenses. And you had spent quite a few years living a pretty frugal life and not really knowing where the next paycheck was going to come from. And so that is, in and of itself, an incredible skill set. Now, I understand if we go back and do it over, probably would rather have a little more money. Uh, but, like, that's an incredible skill set to have when you're launching a firm, because it just gives your Runway more months. Right. It just gives you longer with what you have.

Speaker B: Yeah. And the Runway. The Runway thing was super important. So, um. Yeah. So mathing it out in my head, and again, just trusting the process, listening to you and Michael and Carl and. And Arlene and Maddie Roche at the Time and just like saying, hey, here's, here's what you need to not guarantee your survival, but to increase your odds. And one of the things was the Runway. So, so I'm mathing out of my head. I'm like, okay, uh, if I have, you know, 18 to 24 months of expenses, um, in my life, uh, that, that's, I think then I have to make it. I, I gotta make it in, you know, 18 months or so. But knowing that 18 months with zero clients is what that means. So I also knew as I'm doing the math, I'm like, all right, I'm. I should pick up some clients along the way. And with each client I get, that's just gonna increase that Runway by, you know, another week, another, another month, and then a few clients. Okay, now, now my 18 month stretches to 20, 21 months. And then eventually I'm not. It's going to be so long that I'm not really going to need the Runway. So I was mapping all that out in my head and, yeah, and the years of just saving and doing the right things was finally paid off. I didn't know it at the time, but it was all pointing towards, you're going to launch your own firm and you're going to need this money to survive for the first couple years if you want to make it. That's what it all culminated in.

Speaker A: So you talked about the, you know, 18 month Runway that sort of stretches into 24, uh, and, and beyond as you continue to grow. Like, what was sort of the turning point? Like, how many months did it take before you, you were able to flip that switch and go from, you know, spending out of savings to being able to, to actually feel, you know, like you were in a more sustainable position.

Speaker B: Uh, the Runway, as my friend said, he said, oh, you took flight. You no longer. I was like, oh, yeah, that's the, that's the analogy. I had the Runway and then I no longer needed the Runway. I took flight. Um, so. So I had the 18 months set aside. And again, I'll never forget it. On month 15, the 15th month was the final month that I pulled from my savings to, to help, um, all my personal expenses and business expenses and, and I haven't looked back. I've been flying ever since was after.

Speaker A: That's incredible.

Speaker B: Yep. So it worked again. It was just, it was trusting the process, trusting the things that you guys had said and the people that came before me said to do. And I put all my faith in it and it worked.

Speaker A: So I want to talk a little bit about the firm itself and the work that you're doing. So, I mean, even just the name Fade In Financial gives, uh, a pretty strong indicator of your, uh, niche. So obviously this is the sort of background that you had. But can you talk about, like, are the majority of your clients inside of this niche of. Of the entertainment industry? Are all of them there? Um, I guess. Tell me about sort of your typical client.

Speaker B: Yeah. And to make things harder on myself, I niche down, just like you guys said. And, you know, listen, and I had yours and Michael's voices in my head when I was thinking of launching. You know, at first it was just, um, entertainment industry. And I'm like, uh, Michael and Alan would probably say that's too broad. I got to niche down even further. So coming from the screenwriting, acting background, I was like, I'm gonna go with screenwriters and directors. And I know there's technically two in there, but in the entertainment world, they're synonymous. Like, screenwriters are often directors, directors are often screenwriters. So I just kind of said, okay, screenwriters, directors. Um, yeah, it's a world I know. It's, uh, it's a language I can speak. Um, being in that room, that Netflix room, was super helpful because eventually the conversation start. The writers start talking about plot and characters, and they just start talking about personal things. And one of the things they'll come around is. Is money. So sometimes they'll talk about money, and I'm off in the corner cringing because I know they're talking about. I'm like, oh, uh, that's just wrong. Like, at the back of my mind, I'm like, oh, you guys are making mistakes here. And these are super smart people. I mean, they're Emmy award winning writers and Ivy League graduates. And I knew they were just making mistakes with their money, but I couldn't. I was in no position to say anything. Again, bottom rung on the ladder. Um, so. So that was also in the back of my head. I'm like, when I decided to launch and really niche down to this was like, there's a service here. Like, I see it, I've witnessed it firsthand that they're not getting the service that they actually need in this business, in this industry. Um, and it's been validated since then. One of my first, um, actually, a current client of mine told me, he said, you know, the reason you're my advisor, he's a writer, by the way. He's a writer on a show. He said, the reason you're My advisor is. Because I don't have to explain myself to you. You, you get it. You get my lifestyle, you get what I'm going through financially. And you understand the shorthand, you know, because we start talking, picks up the phone and he starts talking, okay, we got a 13 week guarantee. There's nine on the back end. We got the hiatus coming from here to here. And I'm just not alone. Like, yeah, yeah, I get it. I know, let's go, let's move on. And in the back of my mind I'm like, there's no advisor in the world that understands what this guy's talking about. Um, so. So that was super validating when, when he told me that of, like, that's why you're my advisor. Uh, yeah. And you know, in the marketing, like, I know who I'm talking to. Like, you know, I got my niche clients, um, screenwriters and directors. I'm going to find out what their pain points are. I kind of already knew being in that industry. And I'm going to speak to that. I'm going to write blogs about it, I'm going to host webinars. I'm going to talk to them about their pain points because I know it. And pretty soon, after a bit, um, I'm going to start getting known in that community about, oh, this is the guy who knows us. Hey, if you have questions about, you know, your single S corp that all writers have, like, go to this guy. He knows. And that's exactly what's happening.

Speaker A: Quick pause. Behind the Advisor isn't just about inspiring stories. It's about real support. So we're taking a moment to share a few gems from the Advisor's toolkit to help you grow, save time, and make life a little easier. Stay tuned for some real life resources and then we'll be right back. Are you ready for a, uh, deeper connection with the stories and strategies shared on behind the Advisor? Subscribe now@joinxypn.com BTA and you will get first access to every new episode, plus bonus content that takes you behind the scenes of each episode, delivered straight to your inbox. If you found that tool useful, hang tight. We've got more coming your way. We're pulling more tools from the Advisors Toolkit to help you work smarter, connect deeper, and save serious time. Stick around, there's good stuff ahead. So if you had called me and said, hey, I'm thinking about entertainment industry, maybe that's too broad. Now I'm thinking screenwriters, what do you think? Like, my question would have been. Well, how big's the addressable market or the tam, the total addressable market? Like, how many writers are there in Hollywood that. That, I mean, are. Is this like, dozens, hundreds, tens of thousands? Like, how many people are in this industry?

Speaker B: Great question. Because this was. Again, your voice is in my head trying to figure out, like, you only need 1%, you know, or.01% of this, you know, this target market to be a successful advisor. So there's about roughly 7,000 members of the WGA, which is the Writers Guild of America. Of those 7,000, there's maybe 3,000 that are active members making, you know, actively, um, getting hours and pay in the Writer's Guild. So that's about 3,000. Um, the directors Guild is, I think, a little bit more. So that's why it was more like a combination of that. And I'm doing the math in my head, okay? I'm like, okay, even if there's only 3,000, you know, if I get 30 of them, like, I. I'm done. Because. Because I'm not going to have 100% of my, you know, my members are going to be in this market, but If I have 30 of them and then another 10 to 20 outside of that niche market, like, I'm. I'm done. Like, that's all I need. Just, you know, the 1%, the 0.1% of. Of whatever it is. So. So, yeah, that's about it. And. And having that niche is also, um. I actually have more freelance producers than I do screenwriters and directors. Not by design. It's just one of those, like, they have similar careers. Um, their incomes go up and down. They don't know when they're. It's all related. So I have freelance producers, editors, um, some actors, screenwriters, directors. So it's all kind of, you know, that spider web has gone out from there. So. So, yeah, I don't need a lot. And. And it's. It's spreading.

Speaker A: Well, I would encourage listeners to go to your website, fadeinfinancial.com because this is just like a textbook example of highlighting and focusing on your niche through your marketing. And I mean, again, the name of the firm, I mean, even the way your logo is designed, um, the. The way the financial planning process is broken out in Act 1, Act 2, Act 3. Like, these things speak to your clients. The other thing that I noticed, because I'm a nerd and I like advs, uh, was I pulled up your adv, and it is designed as a playbill. Like, I've never Seen this before. There's a little, you know, for folks go, go to finra, broker check. Or you can go to your website, go down to the bottom and there's a link there. But there's like corn or popcorn containers, uh, on the front page. I have never seen that before, but it, uh, but again, it just highlights. Like if I'm coming to, you know, if I'm coming to your, your website personally, I'm going to be like, I don't know what any of this is. Like, this isn't my world. But if I'm a screenwriter and I come to your website, I assume they're going to say like, oh, this guy gets me.

Speaker B: Uh, thank you. I love my adv. Uh, I love it. I designed it myself. It's all those movie posters. Um, it takes a little longer to update every year just to choose from that. But. But yeah, I love it. And funny story. Yeah. So I've had, you know, some clients know nothing about financial planning, but I send them the adv and they're just like, what the heck? This is amazing. Thank you. And no joke, I had somebody reach out to me, a prospect, reach out to me to schedule a meeting. Canceled the meeting. And the reason he canceled it said your advice, it just wasn't going to

Speaker A: be a good fit for him.

Speaker B: Like, perfect. We're not all right. I'm like, I'm, uh, like self selected out. He didn't get it, didn't want to know about it. Maybe he thought it was unprofessional. I have no idea. He didn't, he didn't brought up. But I was like, perfect, self selected out.

Speaker A: Saved yourself an hour.

Speaker B: I love that.

Speaker A: So a lot of times, you know, I'll hear advisors who are not totally sold on this whole niche idea, they'll say like, oh, well, financial planning is just financial planning. I can do that for anybody. Uh, you know, it's just niche is just marketing. It's not actual work with a client. So can you talk about what differentiates the work that you do? Like what, what do you know that I don't? What, what services are you providing, maybe that other advisors don't? Or, or maybe what situations your clients are dealing with. You know, like you mentioned like super variable income, uh, that, that, you know, make it, I guess, sort of to highlight more the technical side of your niche work that you're doing with clients.

Speaker B: Yeah, one of the big things that I focus on, well, the first thing I focus on with every client who comes on board, the first thing I do is call my initial budget report. So it's all about cash flow. It's all. They don't use the term cash flow, so I use the term budget. They all know what budget means, so, so I do a budgeting report.

Speaker A: Um,

Speaker B: and things like an emergency fund, for example, you know, the, the rule of thumb is three to six months. You know, on the financial. That's cute. That's cute. Because most of my clients will go six months every single year without work. So a six month emergency fund is laugh at. Like it doesn't make sense. Um, I have a client who's gone two years without work, without any meaningful work. So, so that's a perfect example of the emergency fund and building that up based on how much you're spending each month. Which is why I do the initial budget report. Let's figure out what you're spending each month. And 12 to 18 months of an emergency fund is what, is what we start to work on. And some of them have that, it's just sitting in cash. They don't know what to do with it. Um, so that's a big part of it. And I have other, I got some clients who are, aren't comfortable with that. They make it two years because I'd gone two years without work. There was a strike that lasted, you know, seven or eight months. And so nobody worked for, you know, for a year. So, so they know that can happen again at any point. And so that's a big thing that, that we work come together is the emergency fund and the cash flow and that budget report. And, and I have this little system of how to, I guess make them more comfortable and relieve the stress for them with their spending. Um, you know, it comes down to, let's have one main account where all your money's coming in, um, another account for your entertainment purposes, you know, the fun account, and then your taxes, because a lot of them have their own S Corps. So we're gonna, we're gonna take 25 of everything you earn. We're going to put this in this other account because it's not your money, the IRS's money. Um, and then the other one is your investments and your savings. And so, so we kind of have this four bucket system, if you will. And we keep like three months of expenses in their checking account at all times because they can easily go three months without working. It's very common. But they're getting residuals at the same time. So sometimes the residuals are filling up that bucket even though they're not Working. So, so that's just a big. That's one of the really getting the nuts and bolts here of, of how we do it is that we really focus on, you know, these checking accounts and the savings accounts that they have and making sure their money's being put to work in the high yield savings accounts or Treasuries or the, you know, that kind of stuff. Um, yeah. And again, that's something that only comes with this knowledge of being in this industry and understanding their pain points. Because that's what they all come to me. They're like, what? Like I, they usually come to me with, am I, am I going to crash this bus? Like, that's the first thing. Like, am I crashing this bus? You know, am I investing anything? Like, so they want me to do that. But their other big thing is like, what do I do during these unpredictable months and maybe year when I'm not working? Like, they're, they're scared. They don't know what to do. So, so calming their fears and getting this emergency fund and separating their accounts and making them comfortable is, is a huge part of it. Leading with empathy, you know, meet the client where they are, always meet the client where they are and then, and then going from there.

Speaker A: So I'm trying to figure out the best way to ask this question because as you were talking about sort of the life that, that your clients live and the life that you lived for a long time and how now that you are a financial planner with recurring revenue, like, it feels like you had to undergo a pretty seismic shift in your own thinking about your personal finances. Like I, it kind of reminds me of the, the classic, you know, retired somebody who's working age and then retires, goes from being a, a saver to spending and like, that's a huge transition. We, we m. Talk about, like, it's no big deal, but like, that's massive. And I feel like you went through that a similar transition going from a variable income and not, you know, not sure how many months of, of uh, living expenses you needed to have in the bank to like, you probably know we're recording this here at the end of February. Like, you probably know what you're gonna make in March or pretty darn close. And like, was that a tough transition for you or did it, Was it just sort of a natural. Was it a relief?

Speaker B: Relief, yeah, big time relief. That was, that's what drew me to this industry. And of course the irony is it of it all was that I wanted to leave this unpredictable career and I Chose something that was so unpredictable, so crazy. Like, that's the irony of it all. Um, but I also knew that if I followed the path, if I followed the right steps, now I know there's no guarantee. And you've been really good about stating that. You know, this isn't, this isn't guaranteed and it's not easy. You know, you don't want to make it sound like it's easy for everyone, but it was, it was a no brainer for me because of the life that I've been living for 20 years. You know, other people have come on this podcast, whatever, and they, they talk about their struggles. That's just my life that was just, I'm like, that's not a struggle. That's how I'm living my life right now. So I just continue to do that and then at the end of this, I can have my own firm, my own clients, my own predictable income. Like that is like, why wouldn't I do that? Like, why wouldn't. It was. So it was a no brainer for me to go from that and just quote, unquote, struggle for a little bit longer. And then if I, if I follow the steps and trust the process, that I'm going to make it at the end that, you know, it's a lot, it's a lot more guaranteed than the previous industry because, uh, the previous industry is, yeah, I can write a script. And so, I mean, I know people who have written a script and it got made and it started, uh, an Oscar winning actress and you know, the next year he was looking for a roommate because he couldn't, you know, he had to help make rent. So I'm like, yeah, there's no Garrett. Like, that's a, that's bonkers. So, so this is, yeah, way more stable for me than, than anything else I've ever done in my life. Yeah.

Speaker A: It's fascinating to hear someone's story where entrepreneurship is actually more stable than, than their prior life. Usually this is the point of instability and then you get back to stability. So, uh, it's a great point.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker A: How did you approach. Like you were, you were clearly an expert at being a writer. You knew the industry, you started learning personal finance. Like, did you ever have challenges with imposter syndrome as you sort of hit reset on the career and having to establish a new identity and expertise and all of that as you made this transition?

Speaker B: I still do, yes. Um, a couple things that I think of. Uh, Ryan Reynolds, the famous actor, Deadpool himself, he like somewhat recently said that he has imposter syndrome. This guy has what, one of the most famous people on the planet. He has imposter syndrome. So I'm like, okay, I gotta be okay with having imposter syndrome. Uh, but yeah, that was a big, that was a big deal for me. Um, therapy helps, that's for sure. Because one thing my, my therapist actually said was that, you know, your career doesn't define you. Um, you know, who you are as a person defines you. What you do and how you treat people defines you. But there's still something in the back of my head. I'm like, yeah, but I'm still kind of defined my, by my career. So it was a really tough transition to be like, oh, now am I going to be known as the guy who can't, you know, oh, now he's switching careers again. You know, what's the next thing he's going to do? Can we take him seriously? You know, that kind of thing. So there was that always going on in my head and now I'm past that and I'm like, no, I'm doing this for the rest of my life. Um, but yeah, but so, so having things, you know, like therapy is super helpful. Having, um, ah, a partner who's emotionally supportive. I mean, I have a partner. Like I said, we just celebrated her 27 years. She wasn't financially, she could, she can't be financially supportive. She's an actor as well. But I would argue that the emotional and psychological support was way more valuable than any financial support she could give me. Uh, she's been my biggest cheerleader, um, this whole time, biggest believer. And so, yeah, during those parts of imposter syndrome, and I don't think I can do this, she was always there and that helped, that, that really helped me. Um, my mastermind group, incredibly helpful. Like, they helped me get through the low points as well, of who am I, am I, you know, this identity and that kind of thing. Um, and uh, and actually one of my mastermind group members, Eric, he actually said, you guys, we hit the career lottery, right? We're all like, yeah, this is amazing. He's like, we're just going to do this till we die, right? Like, yeah, there's no other reason to ever quit this. So I love that. Yeah, so, so all those things kind of combined and again, going back to trusting the process, listening to others who came before me, knowing that they did this, all that stuff, uh, you know, was just, was just helpful through that process of the imposter syndrome. And no, I can't do this. And I'm going to run out of money trusting. I had the Runway using it because I know people who have a Runway and they freak out after three months. They're just like, uh, I can't get any clients. I gotta start, I gotta start preparing taxes for extra income. Like it's been like two months. You've got another 18. Like, use that, Use your Runway. Don't be afraid.

Speaker A: Yeah, I love that about the career lottery. Anytime I go talk to college students, I'm like, what if I told you you could have a career where you make, you can make really good money? Uh, much higher than sort of average or median household income. You can have a ton of flexibility and you can help people. And they're like, sign me up. Like, where, where do you find this? It's like, oh, that's financial planning. Like, welcome to our little corner of the industry. Uh, gets, gets to make that claim. And I, I don't know of any other industry that gets to make that. Usually you get one, maybe two of those things, but never all three.

Speaker B: Yeah, and, and like, like you have said, it's, you know, if I get fired by one and I've been fired six times I think, and I've only been doing this, you know, what, every three years. And my, you know, my income went down by uh, percentage points. Yeah, a few percentage points. So perfectly fine with me. So I can, and I'll be fired again. Our clients will leave again in the future and fine. Totally fine. Much, much better than me being fired and losing 100% of my income.

Speaker A: Which, you know, for some of us, like that was, that was sort of a one time thing that happened to me. That was a, uh, a big thing that happened to you. Like every year. You, you, you know, you didn't get fired necessarily, but it was like you lost your income. Like that's. I'm just trying to wrap my head around the, the main, this, the mental load of the instability. Uh, and, and therefore the work that you're able to do with your clients. The ex, just the, the lived experience. Because again, it's just really hard for someone who hasn't lived that to, to be empathetic for exactly what that client's going through.

Speaker B: Yeah. And actually um, Dean, uh, Norris, who is famous as uh, Hank in Breaking Bad, he was on the last show that I worked on in this, in the entertainment industry before making the switch. Carl, uh, Richards interviewed him on his 50 fires and he said the phrase he, he saw money as the tool to just Figure out how long he could go without work. That's. And that's what that industry is like. He's like, if I got a job, I can, I, I looked at it early on in my career and said, okay, that's going to last me three months without a job. Um, he's like, I, I need another job, acting job in three months. Like, then I got a better paying one and that will last like six months. And so that's what the entertainment industry is. It's just this job is going to last me how long without work. And that's how it's viewed and people outside this industry. Yeah, like you said, like, I can't really wrap my brain around living a life like that. But yeah, that's what it is. And it was normal for me for most of my adult life and it's normal for most of my clients.

Speaker A: Yeah, I know what it's like to have financial stability. I know what it's like to have no money. I don't know what it's like to go from money to no money to money to no money and live that, you know, year over year. So super interesting. Um, so I can't believe the time's flying that has flown by. So as we're coming to an end, I want to ask you sort of two questions, and I'll ask them at the same time, and you can kind of take it where you want to go. One question is just what are you most proud of when you look back over your, I mean, really your entire career journey, but, uh, maybe focused on the financial planning, uh, you know, part over these last few years, like, what are you most proud of? And what's one piece of advice that you would give other career changers, uh, that hear your story and think, oh, maybe I could do that? I didn't think that was an option for me.

Speaker B: The thing I'm most proud of, um, two things. Trusting the process and it working. Just doing the things the smarter people before me told me to do. Um, you know, like Runway, the 15 month thing is a huge, like, wow, that was, that was a big deal. Um, but the thing, really, the thing I'm most proud of is when my clients succeed. Uh, that's, I mean, it doesn't get any better than that. I have a client who came to me, just a scarcity mindset. You know, 96 of her money was in cash, like in a checking account. Didn't trust the markets, and she has got, like decades to retirement. Um, and then she went two years without work. Because of the strikes and she's a director and this kind of stuff. And that two years, you know, we met and I said, so how do you feel? And she said, actually pretty good. And it's because of the work that we did together to spend this up. And I was like, uh, boy, that felt so good. That so validating to know that I can make a difference in people's lives. And it happens often they tell me the difference that I'm making in their lives. So when I see my clients succeed, I'm succeeding. And that's not bs, that is honest to God truth. Like that keeps me up at night in such a good way. Like I toss and turn thinking of comments like that when I see my clients succeed. Um, the piece of advice I would give is that it's okay not to know everything. That was a big thing for me early on. You know, like the X, Y, P M Facebook page, for example, or the forum and in the portal is such a great resource where people are just selfless and they give their time and great place to ask questions and answer questions. But early on I was logging on, you know, four to six times a day and there were just questions in there that I didn't know anything about. I'm like, oh my God, I don't know that. Like this is, uh, what do I do? And then I'm starting to research all this stuff and then eventually I realized some of the people who were asking those questions were the, the advisors I admire the most and who have been doing this for maybe decades, who are really successful and really great at this and they don't know everything. So once that hit me, I was like, oh, I wish I had realized that sooner is that the people I admire most don't know everything. They're not going to know everything. I'm never going to know everything. So it's okay not to know stuff. You'll figure it out.

Speaker A: I love that. Thank you so much for taking the time to come on the show and share your story. This has been a lot of fun learning about your background and, and congratulations on the success. It's, uh, you know, it's easy to take it for granted once you have it, but looking back and really looking at what it took, um, it was a lifetime of, of effort to get to the point you are. So, uh, thanks again for the time.

Speaker B: Yeah, thank you. And thank you for everything that, that you do. And xypn, it's been, it's been invaluable to me. I really owe you guys a lot, so thanks for having me.

Speaker A: Thank you. All right, well, thanks for hanging out with us on behind the Advisor. Want more bonus content from this episode and future episodes? Subscribe to our email list@joinxypn.com BTA or behind the Advisor. Remember, it's all about helping people live their great lives here at xypn. We'll see you on the next episode.