Meet Marc Olynyk, Senior Lecturer and Course Director of Financial Planning.

Finance Friends

Career journeys are rarely straightforward, and Marc Olynyk's path from accounting to academia proves just that.

In this weeks episode, our host Fabian Ruggieri chats with his past professor Marc, now the Senior Lecturer and Course Director at Deakin University's renowned financial planning program. Marc takes us through the unexpected twists that led him to his passion.
What makes Marc's story particularly valuable for aspiring financial planners is his practical advice on breaking into the industry, he advises students every day who struggle to find their first opportunity. Having guided countless students into successful careers, Marc emphasises that relationship-building skills are integral in determining long-term success.
The conversation provides a fascinating look at how financial planning education has evolved—from minimal requirements in the 1990s to today's comprehensive degree programs. A field he initially knew little about but would come to shape for decades.

For any of our listeners considering financial planning as a career, Marc offers this reassurance: finding your passion may take time but your career path, like Marc's journey from pub audits to professorship, can take unexpected but rewarding turns.

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Chapters

1. Introduction to Mark Olenek (00:00:00)

2. Financial Planning Education at Deakin (00:03:33)

3. Getting Experience and Building Relationships (00:08:42)

4. Mark's Winding Career Path (00:12:02)

5. Evolution of Financial Planning Education (00:20:09)

6. Keys to Success in Financial Planning (00:24:32)

7. Episode Closing and Disclaimer (00:29:19)