Podcast

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Hosted by Jody Jacobson, PhD, an executive coach and consultant who has interviewed dozens of top industry thought leaders, we explore success strategies from career entry through succession. Planning success involves making critical decisions at every stage; from building a firm and developing systems, to leading a team, planning for succession, and navigating the identity question of what comes next. In this podcast series you’ll learn from diverse success stories from our community of practice right here in America’s Finest City.

Jody Jacobson, PhD

Member at Large

Focus: Mentorship Program

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Episode 2: Aubrey Brown

In this episode, Dr. Jody Jacobson sits down with Aubrey Brown, CFP®, EA, of Weatherly Asset Management to explore his journey into wealth management—and the lessons that shaped it.

Aubrey shares how his early focus on technical expertise evolved into a deeper understanding of what truly drives success: strong client relationships.

They discuss the shift from technical skills to communication and curiosity, the role of organizations like the FPA in advisor growth, and the importance of collaboration across generations.

Whether you’re early in your career or thinking about the future of the profession, this episode offers practical insight into what really matters in financial planning.

Jody Jacobson, PhD is a coach and advisor to financial planners and the business owners they serve. Connect with her on LinkedIn.

Episode 3: Kim Benson

What really changes when an advisor becomes an owner?

In this episode, Kim Benson shares her journey from corporate accounting to financial planning—and ultimately into firm ownership. We dive into the real transitions behind that leap, from navigating imposter syndrome to stepping into leadership and thinking like a business owner.

We also explore what firm owners should consider when bringing in the next generation, and why succession is more about people than process.

If you’re thinking about ownership—or preparing someone for it—this conversation will help you see the path more clearly.

Jody Jacobson, PhD is a coach and advisor to financial planners and the business owners they serve. Connect with her on LinkedIn.

Episode 4: Brian Travis

Your FPA of San Diego membership has more to offer than you might be using. In this episode, host Jody sits down with Brian Travis, board chair, past chapter president, and one of the most connected people in the San Diego planning community, to talk about how planners at every stage can plug into the chapter in a way that actually moves the needle for their practice.

Brian makes the case for building relationships with centers of influence inside your chapter, and why that's one of the highest-leverage things you can do for your clients. He also brings his own specialty into the conversation: as a reverse mortgage expert with C2 Financial Corporation in San Diego, Brian has spent years helping retirement-focused planners offer more creative, personalized strategies, including solutions most planners haven't considered.

You'll also hear what's coming up for FPA San Diego this year and why now is a good time to get more involved.

Whether you've been a member for years or you're still looking for your entry point, this conversation is worth your time.

Jody Jacobson, PhD is a coach and advisor to financial planners and the business owners they serve. Connect with her on LinkedIn.

Episode 5: Art Dicker

What does it look like to build a career in financial planning with genuine curiosity and staying power? In this episode, host Jody Jacobson, PhD sits down with Art Dicker, JD, CFP®, a retired wealth strategist whose career moved through securities law, tax planning, and estate planning before he found the work he loved most.

Art shares how a career twist and a supervisor’s suggestion led him to the CFP® credential, what made the transition easier than most would expect, and how his legal and tax background shaped the way he served clients. He also offers practical wisdom for newer planners and those considering a career change and reflects on what chairing the FPA of San Diego Programs Committee has meant for his professional relationships.

A candid, thoughtful conversation about what it means to build an intentional career in this profession, and why Art still considers financial planning one of the most rewarding things a person can do.

Jody Jacobson, PhD is a coach and advisor to financial planners and the business owners they serve. Connect with her on LinkedIn.

Episode 6: Chrissy Chase

In this episode, host Jody Jacobson, PhD sits down with Chrissy Chase, an Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC®) and coach whose practice focuses on the behavioral and emotional dimensions of money management.

Chrissy spent years as a financial advisor before making the shift to coaching, a move driven by her work helping women navigate the financial realities of divorce. She explains how financial coaching complements financial planning, how money scripts and emotional triggers show up in client behavior, and why cash flow and budgeting are often more urgent than investment strategy for the clients she works with.

She also shares details on her new book, "Money Talks Before The Wedding", out July 24 on Amazon, designed to help engaged and newly married couples build a solid financial foundation before the hard conversations become unavoidable.

A practical conversation about what happens when you address the behavioral side of money, and why financial coaches may be an underused resource in a planner's referral network.

Jody Jacobson, PhD is a coach and advisor to financial planners and the business owners they serve. Connect with her on LinkedIn.

Episode 7: Carl Richards

This is a special re-release. In 2018, host Jody Jacobson, PhD conducted a series of 30 interviews with top financial planning thought leaders. This conversation with Carl Richards, CFP®, The Sketch Guy, was the one listeners returned to most. With Carl joining the FPA of San Diego chapter as a featured speaker at the Annual Symposium on September 24, 2026, the timing felt right to bring it back.

Carl Richards is a financial planner, speaker, and author known for using simple hand-drawn sketches to make complex financial ideas accessible. His New York Times column and books, The Behavior Gap and The One-Page Financial Plan, have shaped the thinking of planners around the world.

In this conversation, Carl and Jody explore what it really means to communicate well with clients: the power of visuals, the discipline of listening, how to keep your own values off your clients’ plans, and why Carl believes the future of advice is listening.

Note: This episode runs approximately 65 minutes.

Jody Jacobson, PhD is a coach and advisor to financial planners and the business owners they serve. Connect with her on LinkedIn.