By TEC Marketing Team
Financial planning is about more than just money. It’s about empowering others.
“I have always had a passion for building others up when I can, so teaching really helps me fulfill that passion.”
Brandon Perry, CFP, ChFC, CFA
As a career choice, financial planning is one of the most financially rewarding, with a median annual income of nearly $90,000. However, there are more than just financial benefits to be gained by pursuing a career as a Certified Financial Planner.
We recently caught up with Brandon Perry (BP) one of the instructors in our financial planning program, to learn about his passion for teaching and student interactions.
Can you please tell us how you got interested in the financial planner profession?
BP: I have always been interested in numbers and helping people, so financial planning just made sense. As a child my favorite board games were Monopoly and the Stock Market Game, so it seems that it has always been in my blood.
Could you please tell us a little about your teaching background, and what motivated you to teach?
BP: I first began teaching and training others in my role as a trainer at Ameriprise Financial. Later in my career I began writing financial research for a New York-based company and began speaking at conferences across the country, teaching on topics from portfolio design to hedging strategies. I have always had a passion for building others up when I can, so teaching really helps me fulfill that passion.
Why do you think this program is valuable to your students?
BP: This program is important for anyone in the finance industry wanting to better their career. The students get access to experienced leaders in the industry that want to give back. They get opportunities to learn much more than simply the book answers. They get real-life examples, experiences and learn some mistakes to avoid.
What do you like most about interacting with your students?
BP: I enjoy getting to know my students and what their goals and desires are. I love following the successes of my students well beyond my course. I still hear from students that I taught 10 years ago and am always excited to hear where they are today.
What is your favorite lesson or activity to share with your students?
BP: I most enjoy sharing my tips and strategies in financial planning. So often we make this job more complicated than it needs to be. I love simplifying where we can.
What do you think particularly sticks with your students after taking your course?
BP: The most common feedback that I get, is that students love hearing about the successes and failures that I share. They learn both what to do and what not to do. I’ve learned a few things from “the school of hard knocks,” and I want to help students avoid the pitfalls.
Have you ever heard back from your former students about how taking your course helped them in their careers? What did they say?
BP: I hear from my students all the time. I always encourage them to stay in touch. Some have moved on to start their own independent practices, and some moved on to highly successful careers in family offices or hedge funds. They generally say, we loved how you gave us real-life presentations and showed us how to make complicated topics easy to understand.
If you’re looking for a stable career that pays well, and you’re up for a challenge, look no further than financial planning. The number of financial planners needed is expected to grow much faster than average in the coming years.
Learning and professional growth go hand in hand. For regular career insights and information on continuing education programs offered by UT’s Center for Professional Education, subscribe to our monthly e-newsletter, It’s Your Career.
