Book excerpt: Finally, together in one place, a comprehensive step-by-step process for launching your career as a financial planner. Here is everything you need to know - from getting the right credentials to getting the right clients. Over the next few decades, billions of dollars will be changing hands as millions of Baby Boomers retire. Learn how you can play an important role in ensuring the financial health of future generations! The 8th edition of So You Want to Be a Financial Planner is chock full of actionable tips to jump-start your career, including dozens of valuable new resources from proven business models and state of the art technology. Over 100 current links point the way to blogs and websites of giants in the industry, putting you on the cutting edge of today's thriving financial planning profession. Follow updated case histories from more than two dozen successful financial planners. You'll see yourself in one of their stories and know the steps to take to start your journey, while circumventing the mistakes they made. Learn which organizations will enhance your career, and which to avoid. Discover how to navigate the regulatory jungle with usable 'how to' guidance, including specific sources to get you educated, registered and up and running a profitable business as soon as possible.