About Future Planner Careers
Future Planner Careers is dedicated to building a stronger, more accessible financial planning industry, one career at a time. Future Planner Careers has cultivated relationships with 200+ universities across the country, as well as organizations that attract career changers interested in wealth management. Your firm will have access to an inspired and emerging candidate pool eager to begin their careers in the financial services industry, including financial planning, investment management, fintech, operations and client service supporting roles.
Our mission
We are committed to making the financial planning profession more accessible. We connect aspiring professionals with resources, mentorship, and opportunities to build successful careers in financial planning.
Our vision
A financial planning industry that reflects the communities it serves, where every aspiring professional has access to opportunities, resources, and support. We strive to cultivate a strong, inclusive talent pipeline of future industry leaders prepared to deliver exceptional service and shape the evolving landscape of financial guidance.
Behind the Mission
Our team
Suzanne P. Lawrence
Founder, Executive Director
Suzanne is an innovative financial industry leader for 20+ years specializing in guiding advisor relationships, building efficient teams and accountability in wealth management focused on fee-only and fee-based independent financial planning firms primarily founded by CFPs throughout the US. Suzanne passionately works with advisors in various stages of their career and in transition, looking to make better decisions for their future. She is an educator and has presented to financial industry organizations such as FPA, NAPFA, CFA Society, CALCPA and AAAFA. She leads and contributes to women advisor mastermind groups and enjoys mentoring NexGen professionals for career guidance. Suzanne earned her BA in Communications & Public Relations from California State University, Los Angeles. She is an outdoor enthusiast, loves adventure traveling and a huge fan of WTA. She shares her time bicoastal between Los Angeles and New York.
Guy Lawrence
Program Manager
Guy has an expansive background in human resources, operations and compliance, giving him a strong ability to recognize top priorities of decision makers and providing guidance with realistic expectations. He enjoys having strong relationships with a clear perspective on technical skills, communication, and cultural fit to identify suitable future team members. His accomplishments include establishing value added relationships at several top ranked national wealth management firms, successfully connecting hundreds of aspiring planners with internships, entry level supporting roles and credentialed professionals at companies across the US for over 8 years. Guy earned his BA in Political Science from California State University, Long Beach.
Ally Smith
Outreach Coordinator
Ally Smith is passionate with creating thoughtful, clever and fun digital communications for over a decade. She enjoys developing inspirational community campaigns for multigenerational audiences across various markets. She is known for her strength in content creation, strategic storytelling, and audience engagement rooted in data-driven insights. Alexandra earned her BA in Journalism & Media Studies from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Outside of work, she enjoys yoga and Pilates, playing pickleball, and being part of a book club with friends. She is based in Las Vegas, NV.
Alexandria Pierce, MA
Education Coordinator
Alexandria brings 13+ years of management and senior leadership background with experience developing program educational content, enhancing communication channels to reach audiences more effectively. With exceptional communication and organizational skills, sound judgment, and proven efficiency models, Alexandria can navigate environments of growth, transformation, and rapid change. She has led community efforts centered on policy and legislation, women’s health, financial literacy, food insecurity and access, and culturally relevant educational programming. Alexandria earned her BA from California State University, East Bay, her Masters of Arts from Texas Woman’s University, and is currently pursuing her Doctor of Philosophy and Religion with a concentration in Women’s Spirituality at California Institute of Integral Studies. She loves to garden and grows a variety of produce in her home garden, and she also cooks, runs 5Ks with her family, and enjoys reading and museums. She is based in the San Francisco Bay Area, West Oakland, CA.
Guidance & Governance
Advisory Board
Karmen Younes, ChFC®, PFP
Secretary, Education Co-Director
Karmen Younes is an operations and fintech specialist in wealth management, RIA operations and advisor custodial platform optimization. Her background includes 15+ years experience in financial services with deep expertise in developing client servicing workflows, enhancing onboarding processes, implementing scalable systems across CRM and portfolio management platforms. She supports technical skills training to advisory teams to enhance client experience and is known for driving efficiency with high standards. Karmen has longstanding and consistent leadership with the FPA Orange County, including her current position as Programs Director. She is actively supportive for the next generation of financial planners, helps expand awareness of the profession and supports pathways for individuals to enter and succeed in financial planning.
Karmen has a BA in Accounting from Ain Shams University, Egypt, has Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®) and Personal Financial Planning (PFP), University of California Irvine credentials. She lives in Newport Beach, enjoys traveling abroad and spending time with her family.
Ethan Namvar, MBA
CFO, Education Co-Director
Ethan Namvar is a managing partner and Chief Investment Officer of Centricity Financial based in Newport Beach, CA. He has consulted in the areas of investment strategy, portfolio management, and risk management for various investment advisories, hedge funds and fund of funds throughout the US for over two decades. He teaches as an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University and the University of California, Berkeley. He has taught courses in Financial Engineering, Mathematical Finance, Derivatives, and Investments. He is actively involved in bridging career focused initiatives including internships to support the next generation of investment professionals.
Mr. Namvar received a Masters in Financial Engineering from University of California, Berkeley and an MBA from University of California, Irvine. He is a CAIA Charterholder and holds the Series 3 and Series 65 NASD/FINRA licenses.