Instructor Q&A: Delia Fernandez, Personal Financial Planning

Why did you decide to become an instructor?

I love teaching and public speaking, and am energized by sharing information with people, especially in groups.

What’s your favorite lesson to teach and why?

Case studies, when we get to examine details of a sample client’s financial situation and apply our knowledge to both protect them and help them meet their goals. It’s what I do every day as a financial advisor, and it’s what I love.

Planners can make a real difference in people’s lives, helping them with such issues as buying a home, sending their kids to college, or retiring. I want my students to know they can have the same skills and realize the same satisfaction in their careers.

What’s unique about your teaching style?

I bring an enthusiasm for the topic that I try to transmit through examples – and humor – that relate to our everyday lives and that show the difference we can make for our clients. I love it when clients call and say “Thank you for that advice you gave me, it really helped.”

They often then refer their family or friends so I can help them as well. I want students to know they can do that, too. It’s a great feeling to know you’ve had such a positive impact on so many people.

What do you find most rewarding about being an instructor?

I really enjoy seeing a student grasp concepts and apply them later in class, either to a case or a current event in the news. And it’s very satisfying to have them email me later when they leave class or approach me at a professional industry event, once they’ve graduated our program and become planners themselves, and tell me how much they enjoyed my classes.

Some of them can even quote me or repeat one of my stories that illustrated a point. When I see them now in the profession and fondly remembering my teaching, I know I’ve had a positive impact.

What advice would you give to anyone interested in pursuing a career as a financial planner?

It’s a great time to pursue a career in this field because there’s a growing demand for new planners. Talking to several financial planners about what their day-to-day experience is like would be a great place to start.

If it still looks like a good fit, I recommend earning the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation, which has become a widely recognized and respected certification for financial planning professionals.