Brandon Smith is an Executive Vice President at Milestone Financial Solutions, a firm that offers financial planning, investment, retirement, and estate-planning services to help clients reach key life goals. In his role, he provides comprehensive short-term and long-term financial and business planning catered to the needs of each client. His professional designations include CLU, ChFC, LUTCF, and CPFA. Before joining Milestone, Brandon began his career with AXA Advisors and later became a Registered Representative with The Leaders Group.

The financial services industry is constantly evolving, and new advisors face steep challenges as they enter the profession. From gaining client trust to learning complex planning strategies, early career professionals must find ways to build credibility and confidence. So what makes the difference between struggling to get started and building a sustainable practice?

According to Brandon Smith, a seasoned financial advisor and industry leader, the key is a strong foundation built through mentorship and education. He highlights how designations like LUTCF equip advisors with the skills to handle objections, develop meaningful client relationships, and avoid early missteps. Mentorship, he emphasizes, is "pretty much everything" in shaping a career; it helps new advisors learn from experience, accelerate their growth, and avoid costly mistakes.

In this episode of the Advisor Today podcast, Chris Gandy and Kathleen Owings are joined by Brandon Smith, Executive Vice President at Milestone Financial Solutions, to discuss building financial security through mentorship and education. They explore why professional designations give advisors an edge, how mentorship accelerates success, and where the industry is headed with new generations of advisors. Brandon also shares how balancing technology and health plays a role in long-term career growth.