Latest / The Comeback Career Podcast with Fexingo: Returning After a Gap, Stay-at-Home Re-Entry / How a Stay-at-Home Parent Returned as a Financial Planner
Transcript
- Lucas: So Luna, I was reading a thread on a financial planning subreddit the other day, and someone asked how a stay-at-home parent could possibly return as a financial planner after a decade away. The top comment was basically, 'You can't, the industry has moved on.' Luna: Ouch. That's harsh. But also kind of the fear every returner has, right? That the gap means you're permanently behind. Lucas: Exactly. So I found a counterexample. A woman named Priya — she spent eleven years at home raising two kids, and last year she came back as a financial planner at a regional firm in Ohio. And her path is super instructive. Luna: Eleven years is a big gap. What did she do right? Lucas: First thing she did was get her Certified Financial Planner credential while still at home. Took her two years of studying, mostly at night and during naptime. That gave her a hard, current credential that said 'I haven't been idle.' Luna: So she invested in herself before she even applied. That's smart — it shows commitment. Lucas: And then she didn't try to hide the gap. She reframed it. On her resume, under 'Family Manager', she listed things like budgeting, scheduling, negotiating with contractors. Skills that literally translate to financial planning. Luna: That's clever. It's not pretending the gap didn't happen; it's showing how it made you better. Lucas: Right. But the real kicker was how she handled the interview. When they asked about her time away, she said it gave her a patient, long-term perspective that a lot of younger advisors lack. And she told them she'd been managing her own family's portfolio for a decade — not just talking about it. Luna: Did she get pushback on not having recent client experience? Lucas: Sure. But she countered by volunteering at a local nonprofit's financial literacy program for six months before applying. That gave her recent, relevant experience and a couple of references who could vouch for her skills. Luna: So she built a bridge. That's a great model for anyone trying to re-enter a client-facing role. Lucas: And honestly, the firm that hired her said they were drawn to her maturity and empathy. They have a lot of older clients who want an advisor who doesn't panic at market dips and who can explain things without jargon. Priya's life experience was actually a selling point. Luna: That's the thing — a career gap doesn't have to be a liability if you frame it as a set of assets. Lucas: Now, she did face some real logistical hurdles. The pay was lower than she hoped at first, and she had to take a part-time role that was basically a junior position. But within nine months, she had a full client book and was making more than she did in her previous career. Luna: So there's a patience factor. It's not an overnight success story. Lucas: No, and that's worth emphasizing. She didn't land a six-figure role immediately. She took a step back to get a foot in the door. But she had a plan. Luna: And that plan included getting current on regulations and tech. Did she mention how she did that? Lucas: Yeah — she took a couple of online courses on the latest financial planning software, and she listened to a ton of industry podcasts. She said the hardest part was learning the new tools, but she treated it like a part-time job. Luna: That's the kind of initiative that really stands out to hiring managers. Lucas: I think what's refreshing about Priya's story is it's not a hustle-culture narrative. It's methodical. She gave herself two years to get certified, one year to volunteer and network, and then she applied to ten firms, got three interviews, and one offer. Luna: Three interviews out of ten applications — that's actually a decent hit rate for a returner. Lucas: And she said the interviews were easier because she'd practiced answering the gap question so many times. She had a genuine, confident response. Luna: Which is half the battle, honestly — not sounding defensive or apologetic. Lucas: So for anyone listening who's thinking about a similar move, what would you say the key takeaways are? First, get a current credential. Second, build a bridge with volunteering or part-time work. Third, reframe your experience. Luna: And fourth, be patient. It's a long game. But it's doable — and you're not starting from zero. Lucas: Before we wrap, a quick thought — we keep this podcast ad-free, and that's thanks to listeners who chip in a little on buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. A couple of dollars a month genuinely helps us keep doing deep-dive episodes like this one. Luna: Yeah, it really does. Every bit counts, and we're grateful for it. Lucas: So if you've gotten something out of our shows, consider buying us a coffee. No pressure, but it makes a real difference. Luna: And we can get back to the topic — because there's one more thing I want to ask you about Priya's story. She had to deal with a spouse who traveled a lot. How did she manage the logistics? Lucas: Right. She was upfront about that in the interview. She had a backup childcare plan and was willing to be flexible with her hours. The firm was fine with it — they care about results, not face time. Luna: So being transparent about your constraints, but showing you've thought them through, is another plus. Lucas: Exactly. And it ties back to the broader lesson: returning after a gap isn't about erasing the gap, it's about making it work for you. Luna: That's a good note to end on. Priya's story shows it's possible with planning and persistence. Lucas: And for anyone in a similar spot — the industry might look different, but the fundamentals of trust and empathy never go out of style.