Make Money with Financial Planning | George Stefanou

Travis Makes Money

George Stefanou – First-generation Greek-American, Forbes “Best in State” Next Gen Wealth Advisor (2023, 2024), author of Two Comma Wealth, and founder of the financial planning firm Two Comma Wealth.

• Early Hustle:

  • Grew up working flea markets, managing a coffee stand by 14, learning firsthand about hard work and margins (selling hundreds of cups from a single bulk bag of beans).

  • Family stress on work ethic over formal education (first in his family to finish high school/college).

• Mindset & Upbringing:

  • Dad: 4th grade education, Greek immigrant roots, championed U.S. for its opportunity.

  • Education wasn’t pressured but encouraged as a path out of manual labor — “you can make a lot more money owning the business than swinging the hammer.”

• Professional Beginnings:

  • Started at CVS (Florida): progressed from cashier to store management, realized the corporate grind wasn’t for him.

  • Discovered financial advising, took the risk, and built a book of clients from scratch despite early financial hardship.

• Career in Financial Planning:

  • Earned numerous certifications (to build trust while young).

  • Stresses need for lifelong learning and combining IQ and EQ for real success with clients.

• About Two Comma Wealth (the book):

  • Written for both consumers and industry peers.

  • Focuses on actionable strategies for surpassing $1M net worth, but especially on what changes after you cross that threshold:

    • Complexity, emotional swings with market volatility, nuances around distributions, withdrawal rates, taxes, and estate planning.

    • Challenges of first-generation wealth (scarcity mindset, fear of spending, finding balance between living now and preserving legacy).

  • Aims to demystify wealth management for “everyday millionaires.”

• Certified Financial Planner Career Path:

  • Entry routes: Broker/dealer, fee-only/RIAs, or hybrid.

  • Education/licensing: Can get entry-level securities licenses in months; advanced credentials (CFP, CFA) take years but build a valuable career “moat.”

  • Highly front-loaded: Most start with low/no pay, lots of cold prospecting, high attrition/turnover. Significant success and six/seven figures possible for those that break through.

  • Modern firms now offer more support, salary, and training versus the old eat-what-you-kill model.

• The Power of Having a Moat:

  • High difficulty of becoming a trusted CFP means fewer competitors once you succeed, and deeper, more meaningful client relationships.

• Final Takeaways:

  • CFPs and financial planners can have massive, positive multigenerational impact—if they combine technical skill with empathy and true service.

  • The field is very challenging at first but extremely rewarding.

  • Barriers to entry and trust are a signal that the opportunity is real.

Connect with George Stefanou:

• Book: Two Comma Wealth

• Contact: Find George on all major social media or email directly (contact in show notes)

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